We’re proud to announce our continued partnership with Grow Your Own Potatoes for 2026!

Launched in 2005, the Grow Your Own Potatoes (GYOP) project has become one of the UK’s most successful food-education initiatives, with its main aim being to help primary school children learn about nutrition, sustainability and how to build healthy futures.

As Wales’ leading fresh produce supplier, our partnership with GYOP is the perfect alignment and we believe that all children should have the opportunity to learn about where their food comes from.

In 2025, GYOP once again proved why it is such a vital programme for the potato industry and for the thousands of schools it supports. Last year, a new milestone was achieved, with over 7,100 potato-growing kits distributed to schools across the UK, including nearly 400 schools in Wales, thus enabling over 210,000 children to plant, grow and harvest their own potatoes.

This experience saw children deepen their understanding of food, farming and the environment and take part in meaningful outdoor learning opportunities. Stories from classrooms underline the impact too, with one teacher describing children “digging for treasure” as they unearthed their first home-grown crop, while another noted that several pupils “didn’t know potatoes grew underground” before taking part. These experiences build food confidence and long-term healthy eating habits.

With the project going from strength to strength, we are delighted to continue our involvement for 2026. With sustainability central to our mission, from reducing food miles to investing in greener farming practices, supporting GYOP is a natural extension of our commitment to protecting the environment for generations to come.

Teachers who register (before the end of January each year) receive a FREE growing kit for their class, containing two varieties of seed potatoes and easy-to-follow instructions in February. Registration can be found here: growyourownpotatoes.org.uk/about-gyop/register/

GYOP is entirely funded by sponsorship, which is why it is so important for organisations to continue supporting the project, to allow it to continue across the UK.

Sponsor engagement enables the project to remain free at the point of use, and every contribution directly supports children’s learning, kit distribution and resource development. These funds ensure that children from cities, rural communities, and coastal regions all have equal access to hands-on agricultural learning.

We encourage other organisations to join us in supporting the project for 2026. Details about how to get involved as a corporate partner and how to register your school for a free growing kit can be found on the GYOP website: growyourownpotatoes.org.uk

A pioneering agricultural initiative, the Wales Landscape Enterprise Network (LENs), has reported strong environmental results for potato and dairy enterprises following its initial pilot year.

The collaborative funding framework has been successful in demonstrating a solution-based approach to supply chain and environmental challenges, paving the way for a full-scale roll-out in Spring 2026.

Founded by Puffin Produce Ltd and Pembrokeshire Creamery Ltd with support from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water , and developed by 3Keel , the initiative is the first of its kind in Wales. LENs has successfully demonstrated that by funding technology, innovation, and nature-based solutions, it can de-risk management changes and enable land managers to enhance landscape resilience. This, in turn, benefits supply chain profitability, environmental outcomes and the wider local community.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has been a key stakeholder, giving valuable support and guidance throughout the pilot, which focussed initially on the Special Area of Conservation Western Cleddau river catchment.

Landscape Enterprise Networks are a framework for stakeholders and organisations to co-fund nature-based solutions and on-farm innovation to deliver water quality management, resilient supply of agricultural products, carbon reduction, and biodiversity outcomes.

LENs brings private and public sector organisations together with a common interest in improving the resilience of the landscape and brokers deals between these ‘demand-side’ partners and farmers who are in a position to deliver them on the ground.

The measures delivered through LENs are both agile and flexible, giving greater ownership to land managers on how to deliver solutions to local challenges. Depending on what is to be implemented, agreements can be annual for options such as enhanced cover cropping or longer-term, such as the establishment of hedgerows.

The results from two flagship pilot farms, one dairy and one potato-focused, have demonstrated significant uplifts in biodiversity while reducing emissions and reliance on artificial fertilisers without compromising agricultural yields. Independent monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) is conducted by 3Keel and ADAS to ensure industry-leading data reporting:

• Dudwell Farm (Potato and Arable): Implemented over 150 acres of measures, including a transition from granular to foliar fertilisers reducing nitrogen application on average by 27 kg/hectare. This led to a 16.85% reduction in the kg / CO2e per tonne of potatoes and a 25% total benefit across key wildlife species groups.
• Hendrewen Farm (Dairy): Utilised over 133 acres for intercropping, forage diversification and herbal leys, resulting in a 29% uplift in Small Habitats Score and a reduction of over 34 tonnes of CO2e, averaging a 82 kg/hectare reduction in applied nitrogen across the farm system.

Results suggest that if this success was replicated across Puffin’s Welsh potato tonnage and around 20% of the Pembrokeshire Creamery supply chain, over 76 tonnes of nitrogen could be removed from the Western Cleddau catchment in one year.

Emma Adams, Head of Sustainability for Puffin Produce and Pembrokeshire Creamery said:

“The pilot has proven that LENs is a pragmatic, tried-and-tested approach for delivering multiple environmental benefits on-farm. We are dealing with complex, interconnected systems, but this collaborative, inclusive approach has shown we can deliver both for nature and our food-producing businesses.

“By sharing the successes from our pilot farms, we hope that other stakeholders in the catchment area will join us to work on a range of positive outcomes, including water quality, biodiversity and decarbonisation. If we can build the programme to include more public and private sector partners, and more farms, we can significantly scale-up the beneficial impacts.

“By funding nature-based interventions, partners can materially improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, and secure the long-term resilience of Wales’ agriculture,” she said.

Wales LENs stakeholder workshops take place throughout the year, to express an interest in the initiative or to attend, please contact freya.chambers@3keel.com.

Further information about LENs Company can be found on the Wales LENs webpages.

We’re excited to share that we’ve been crowned Best Environmental/Sustainability Initiative at the British Potato Awards 2025!

As Wales’s leading fresh produce supplier, based in Pembrokeshire, we are extremely proud of our deep roots in Welsh farming, with roughly 80% of our produce supplied from within 50 miles and this award recognises Puffin Produce’s holistic approach to long-term sustainability, alongside tangible actions for growers.    

Our awards submission detailed a number of initiatives that run through the veins of our business, focussing on farm to fork improvements with measurable results. This included our ‘Sustainable Spuds’ grower scheme, a sector-leading framework that incentivises on-farm actions for positive environmental outcomes. Designed as a catalyst for change, the scheme which launched in Winter 2024, covers end-to-end crop production cycles, while creating a model for farmers to be paid a premium for improving nutrient optimisation, energy efficiency, soil health and biodiversity, and reducing emissions.

We also showcased our ROOT ZERO brand, the UK’s first carbon-neutral potato, which launched in 2021 with bold targets to cut carbon intensity by 51% per kg of potatoes by 2030. With progress tracking well, ROOT ZERO is known for its 100% plastic-free compostable and recyclable packaging. Alongside this, marketing centres around consumer education on food waste and energy efficient cooking methods, as well as support for wildlife partnerships, including a donation of 0.5p per pack sold to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Our dedication continues through the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), where we have pledged to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 46% by 2030, with at least 90% reduction across all scopes by 2040. Since baseline carbon assessments in 2019, operational emissions have reduced by 30%, with the installation of 2 Megawatts of solar panels on 6,000 m2 of roof space being a significant contributor. This investment provides 100% self-generated energy during summer months, with emissions savings of 2.4 tonnes of CO2e per day. We purchase energy from ‘zero-carbon’ sources to support operations during winter, as well as our ongoing transition away from fossil fuels.

Puffin strives to optimise technology and resource efficiency to minimise wastage and maximise crop utilisation – aiming for the greatest possibility that every potato grown reaches the end consumer. A commitment in 2015 through Courtauld 2030 (UK Food and Drink Pact) to reduce food waste by 50% has been exceeded five years ahead of schedule, with a 57% reduction reported despite increases in production volumes. Puffin Produce is also a Leading Food Partner for FareShare Cymru, this year reaching the milestone of contributing produce to create two million meals via the ‘Surplus with Purpose’ scheme.

More recently, Puffin Produce has co-founded the Wales Landscape Enterprise Network (LENs). The LENs framework enables collaborative funding and implementation of nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, biodiversity, and climate resilience. This year through the new Wales LENs initiative alone, on-farm initiatives have resulted in:

• over 150 acres of enhancements across potato production systems to support resilient and productive agricultural landscapes.
• 25% increase across five key wildlife species groups
• 17% reduction in carbon emissions per tonne of potatoes, with 40kg less nitrogen used per hectare without a yield penalty.

 Speaking of the award, Emma Adams, Head of Sustainability, shared:

“This award is a superb achievement for all those involved in our sustainability initiatives, from farm to fork. It shows how collaborative actions can work alongside agile investment to provide rapid, measurable, solutions that really make a difference to the environment around us. Agricultural systems are complex, but they also provide opportunities to meet the challenges of the climate crisis, if we work together”.

Congratulations to all other winners and thank you to the British Potato Review for their ongoing services to our sector.

Puffin Produce, the home of ROOT ZERO, is Wales’ leading fresh produce supplier. It is known for its commitment to resilient farming systems and supply chain sustainability, from field to fork. Providing the British consumer with British produce from resilient, nature-rich farms is central to its overarching business strategy.

As a business it is ambitious, committing to reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46% by 2030, with a Net Zero target of 90% reduction of Scope 1, 2, and 3 by 2040.

Having recently been shortlisted for the Net Zero Impact Award, in the 2025 FPC Fresh Awards, we explore how ROOT ZERO has contributed to the overall business’ sustainability success.

Launched in 2021, as the UK’s first carbon-neutral potato, the ROOT ZERO brand made a bold statement, building upon existing company targets with its own ambitious commitment to cut carbon intensity by 51% and operational emissions by 46% by 2030, a unique target within the sector.

To meet these aspirations, ROOT ZERO undertakes annual cradle-to-grave carbon assessments across the entire supply chain to measure, identify and minimise sources of emissions. From here, an action plan of measurable changes progresses at pace.

Investments to date have included installing 2 megawatts of solar panels on 6,000m2 of unused roof space, which allows us to use 100% self-generated energy during the summer months, saving  2.4t of CO2e per day. We have also switched most of our fleet vehicles to electric or hybrid and installed charge points on site allowing for ‘zero-carbon’ energy charging.

We have planted over 1,400 native trees, equating to 3 acres (nearly 2 football pitches!). The ground in between the trees has been left to grow wild, to provide a blooming habitat for beneficial insects, pollinators and beloved farmland wildlife.

On farm, we measure emissions produced as well as emission sequestration, allowing us to focus on combatting areas of high carbon intensity, therefore providing the highest reduction potential. To provide a catalyst for change that will enable us to meet our impressive targets, we recently launched our ‘Sustainable Spuds’ grower scheme. This sector-leading scheme incentivises environmental outcomes, associated with reducing emissions, for growers. Centred around nutrient optimisation, energy efficiency and soil health, alongside enhancing biodiversity and the farmed environment, our holistic approach also helps to reduce production costs for farmers and boost wildlife on farm.

Turning to production and packaging achievements, ROOT ZERO developed its iconic 100% fully compostable and recyclable, plastic-free packaging, without impacting product quality or shelf life. Alongside the technical success of the packaging itself, the bag also provides a canvas to educate consumers with factual information on the carbon footprint, and ways to reduce food waste and cook efficiently.

To date, these achievements have resulted in us being almost halfway to our 2030 emissions target.

Our measurable impact and successes also include the work we do with charities who share our values on sustainable food supply in the UK. The overarching business is a Leading Food Partner of Fareshare Cymru, having recently hit the milestone of donating produce to create 2 million means through its ‘Surplus for Purpose’ redistribution scheme. ROOT ZERO also has an ongoing partnership with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, donating 0.5p of every sale to the trust. This supports ongoing efforts to protect the UK’s bumblebee populations, without whom, food production would be severely impacted.

We are incredibly proud of our progress and the recognition it receives, but our work continues! As we remain focused on Net Zero aims, we keep resilient farming and nature at the heart of our actions.

Find out more: Read our Manifesto as published on the ROOT ZERO website

We are incredibly proud to share that Puffin Produce, has been named Farm to Fork Producer of the Year, at the Wales Food and Drink Awards 2025.

The food and drink sector in Wales is going from strength-to-strength and the annual awards sees hundreds of Welsh producers and suppliers come together to celebrate the achievements across our industry.

The Farm to Fork award category recognises farmers and manufacturers with strong Welsh farm supplier partnerships. It focusses on the work they do to grow and diversify agriculture in Wales.

So, what have we at Puffin Produce done?

With decades of farming sector knowledge built into Puffin’s heritage, our team had plenty to talk to the judges about!

Puffin is the only BRC AA+ accredited vegetable processing facility in Wales, adhering to the highest food safety standards which allows us to supply UK supermarkets with fresh produce from local growers. We are also the sole supplier of Welsh Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes PGI (Protected Geographical Identifier), Welsh Leeks PGI and Daffodils, something that we hope helps put the Welsh food and drink sector on the map.

But beyond a story of quality and scale, sits the story of community, which is at the heart of everything we do. Around 80% of our produce comes from within a 30 mile radius of our factory. We are committed to the farmers and growers around us, but we also feel privileged to engage with multi-generational communities in Wales, whether that’s through educational events or agricultural shows. Our reach and impact extend beyond our local region via partnerships such as the one we hold with FareShare Cymru. Having pledged to be a Leading Food Partner, we have recently reached the milestone of donating produce to create 2 million meals through their ‘Surplus with Purpose’ redistribution scheme.

Turning the judges’ focus to sustainability, we shared how providing the Welsh consumer with Welsh produce from resilient, nature-rich and sustainable farms is central to Puffin’s ethos of overarching farmer support and business success. In Winter 2024, we built upon existing foundations and launched our new ‘Sustainable Spuds’ grower scheme. This sector-leading scheme incentivises environmental outcomes in the potato production system associated with carbon foot printing, nutrient optimisation, biodiversity, energy and soil health.

Looking further ahead, Puffin is currently leading a Wales-first initiative that will connect corporates, Welsh Government, utility providers and NGOs with one clear goal: to safeguard the natural resources that are so vital to ongoing food production and farm resilience. We’ll share more on this very soon!

Finally, our award entry looked at our own brands, which balance our strategic pillars of Welsh and Sustainability beautifully.

• Blas y Tir or ‘Taste of the Land’ as it translates, has been known for bringing the highest quality Welsh produce from local farms to homes in Wales since 2011. More recently the brand expanded into dairy, offering Welsh shoppers 100% Welsh milk and the chance to support the Welsh economy further.
• ROOT ZERO, our Sustainable Spuds that launched in 2021 as the UKs first carbon neutral potato. The brand has ambitious targets to cut carbon intensity by 51% and operational emissions by 46% by 2030, as well as having a positive impact on the planet and innovating in areas such as packaging, with its 100% plastic free compostable bags.

 For us, this award win represents not only all the work that has gone on to get to this point, but it also represents the determination that we share with our growers to continue to support agribusiness in Wales.

Speaking of the win, Huw Thomas CEO shares:

“Our roots are set deep in the Welsh countryside. We have been making farm-to-fork possible for Welsh produce for decades. Farming and food production is all about building resilience through great partnerships, to work in harmony with the full supply chain. I’m incredibly proud of the work our teams do to make that happen. But this award also represents the innovation that sits on top of that foundation of delivery. We continuously look forward to responsibly driving scale that has meaningful impact for Wales and its food and drink sector.”