Danone strengthens support for British oat farmers through new partnership with LENs

Corporate news

Danone partners with Landscape Enterprise Network (LENs) to support regenerative farming in British oat-growing regions

Funding will help farmers improve soil health, enhance biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience

The partnership builds on Danone's commitment to source 100% British oats for its core Alpro oat drinks and its investment in resilient local supply chains

Danone has reinforced its support for British farmers and agriculture through a new partnership with Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) in the UK, helping farmers adopt long-term regenerative practices that strengthen the resilience of both farms and the natural environment.

Danone’s move in 2025 to source 100% British oats for its core Alpro oat drinks, resulted in, on average, a 25% lower carbon footprint and 70% less water use across the product life cycle in the UK. In 2025 it saved approximately 5,000 tonnes carbon emissions*. Now, Danone is going further to support the local supply chains and landscapes where those oats are grown.

Through LENs, funding will support farmers across more than 2500 hectares of land, including within Danone’s key British oat sourcing regions, enabling practical actions to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, increase water resilience, and reduce climate-related risks. Measures include implementing reduced cultivation systems, planting cover crops to keep soil covered during the winter and straw chopping to add organic matter to soil after harvest.** Regenerative agriculture measures are even more pertinent as seasons and weather conditions are becoming more unpredictable.

The partnership reflects Danone's ambition to support a more resilient food system while protecting and regenerating the natural environment. LENs brings together farmers, businesses and environmental experts as part of a co-funding model to deliver measurable environmental improvements that support farm resilience and make a positive impact in the wider agricultural landscape.

Agriculture plays a central role in Danone's mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible. Globally, the company works closely with more than 58,000 farmers and is committed to helping drive the transition towards more regenerative farming practices. Through this partnership, Danone will be able to provide targeted support to British oat growers and help build resilience across the landscapes on which future food production depends.

Hannah Cornick Sustainability and Social Impact Director, Danone North Europe, said: "The challenges facing farming and the environment cannot be solved alone. They require coordinated action, backed by evidence,and a shared commitment to maintaining healthy, resilient landscapes. We are delighted to join the LENs programme so we can more directly support British oat farmers within our supply chain. By bringing together farmers, businesses and environmental experts, this model helps drive coordinated action that delivers tangible benefits for soil health, biodiversity and climate resilience. Just as importantly, it provides the robust measurement needed to demonstrate impact over time, helping create a stronger future for farming, nature and local food systems."

Donald Lunan, LENs CEO, added: “Danone’s co-funding will achieve measurable impact even in year one. Oat farmers will be implementing regenerative practices this autumn that will help reduce and remove carbon, build soil health, improve water quality and increase biodiversity, all of which contribute to greater resilience across the whole sourcing region. It’s great to have Danone on board and we’re looking forward to seeing the difference to farmers and the landscape.”

Richard Maddever, an oat grower who will benefit from the funding, said: “Being a third-generation farmer means looking beyond today's harvest and investing in the future of the farm. As climate change presents new challenges, the support from Alpro and LENs is enabling us to take meaningful action now to improve the resilience of our land. It's an investment not just in our farm, but in ensuring we can continue growing oats for generations to come.”

Notes to Editors

*Comparative cradle-to-grave lifecycle assessment aligned with ISO 14044 and ISO 14067 conducted by Foodsteps (2025), using primary data where available and high-quality UK/EU secondary data and assumptions where needed, critically reviewed].

Regenerative agriculture measures:

Reduced cultivation systems: Instead of repeatedly ploughing and disturbing the soil, farmers use gentler cultivation methods. This helps protect soil structure, reduce erosion and retain more carbon and moisture in the ground.

Cover crops: After the main crop is harvested, farmers plant a diverse mix of plant species to keep the soil covered over winter. These plants help improve soil health, support biodiversity, reduce nutrient loss and prepare the land for the next crop.

Straw chopping: Rather than removing straw from the field after harvest, it is chopped and returned to the soil. As it breaks down, the straw adds organic matter, helping to improve soil fertility, structure and water retention.

Since 2017, Danone has supported the implementation of 25 regenerative agriculture projects in 20 countries. Globally 42% of the key ingredients we directly source come from farms that have begun their transition to regenerative agriculture.