Dunbia, a division of Dawn Meats, has announced a new phase of its Plan Four Zero Activate programme – Dunbia Activate Leaders.
The sustainability initiative involves a new network of progressive beef and lamb suppliers from across the UK who are committed to pioneering change.
The network has been formed following a careful review and recruitment process and the farmers involved will now play a key role in demonstrating the on-farm potential for carbon reduction, through the adoption of proven techniques and many regenerative practises. This will help to identify broader supply chain opportunities to build more resilient, sustainable and profitable farms.
In total, nine farms are involved and range from beef to sheep, and which may also include other farm enterprises such as arable.
Through the Activate programme, Dunbia has strategically collected, analysed and actioned over 500 carbon footprints from across their UK supply base, supporting a data-driven approach to scope 3 emission reduction in the beef and lamb industry.
Tailored action plans are being implemented through the programme to support farmers in adopting practical measures to reduce emissions, increase carbon removals, and improve overall farm business efficiency and sustainability for participating farms.
In parallel, the Activate Leaders programme will also measure and improve biodiversity, soil, water and animal welfare, emphasising the vital role livestock farming plays in nature conservation and carbon storage.
To ensure a comprehensive and science-based approach, Dunbia will partner with the Soil Association Exchange. This will provide the farms with holistic environmental assessments, benchmarking, and insightful data to guide decision-making and track progress.
A core component of the Dunbia Activate programme is knowledge transfer. Those interested can keep track of updates, case studies and progress from the Activate programme on Dunbia’s social channels, following the hashtags #FarmGreen and #PlanFourZero
Dawn Meats Group has committed €100m-plus to its sustainability strategy, Plan Four Zero to support the transition to a climate resilient future.
The latest Plan Four Zero sustainability update reported a 9% reduction in Scope 3 emissions intensity for Dawn Meats Group.
Gill Higgins, Sustainability Director, Dawn Meats Group, said: “As part of Plan Four Zero we are delighted to partner with the Soil Association Exchange on the Activate Leaders’ programme. Each of the 9 farms will be provided with expert advice and insights, enabling data-based decisions and the adoption of techniques tailored to their individual farms, including best practice management such as testing and monitoring soil health, and adoption of regenerative practices such as multispecies swards and adapting grazing rotations, amongst other key measures.”
Sarah Haire, Head of Agriculture, Dawn Meats Group, said: “Our commitment to supporting our farmer suppliers as they navigate an increasingly complex sustainability landscape – and doing so through simple, practical on farm actions, reflects our belief in what’s possible when we work together. We’re confident that the Activate Leaders will serve as an inspiring example of the impact we can achieve through true collaboration toward our shared climate goals.”
Joseph Gridley, CEO, Soil Association Exchange said: “We’re proud to be working with Dunbia and Dawn Meats on the Activate programme. At Soil Association Exchange, we help farmers turn robust data into practical action — giving them clear insights, tailored advice and the confidence to make changes that improve both environmental outcomes and farm profitability.”