Our thinking

Autopiloted parsnips?

11 October, 2024

This might be one of the most bewildering Friday 5 titles yet – but yes, you read that correctly. This week, news emerged that M&S is trialling autonomously farmed parsnips to reduce carbon emissions while improving crop quality and yield.

The trial means that M&S is set to sell lower-carbon parsnips before Christmas. So, fear not eco-conscious, honey-roasted parsnip lovers – they’ll be on your plate with a futuristic twist. And how so, you ask?

In partnership with Huntapac, M&S is running an autonomous field trial that employs robots for bed forming, planting, and weeding, drones to monitor and maintain crop health, and scientific testing to assess soil health and carbon impact. The project aims to support farmers, create more highly skilled jobs in the industry, and attract new talent.

Carbon reductions are achieved through a minimum tillage approach, a sustainable farming method that promotes growth. The green fertiliser used in the process removes nitrogen dioxide from the air and converts it into nitrogen, which plants need for photosynthesis. Initial data shows a 46% reduction in emissions compared to standard methods, along with a 15% increase in top-quality parsnip yields.

This project is part of the M&S Plan A Accelerator Fund, which plants the seeds for innovations that reduce emissions and drive action toward net zero. It’s encouraging to see M&S putting these solutions into practice rather than just talking about them – so we’re certainly rooting for them.

By Bertie Bateman