Across the sector, growers are shifting towards regenerative farming—refocusing on soil health, biodiversity, and resilience.
Scott Walker of McCain offers a clear-eyed insight: there is rising “clear appetite” from consumers to learn not just what they’re eating, but how it’s grown. People want their spuds to come from systems that nurture, not deplete, the land.
This consumer momentum has empowered farmers to move away from traditional monocultures and heavy chemical usage. Instead, they’re planting cover crops, practising minimal tillage, rotating crops, and incorporating organic matter.
The results? More vibrant soils, enhanced biodiversity, improved water management, and stronger defences against extreme weather.
Importantly, McCain isn’t just talking the talk—they’re backing it with action. They’re providing growers with training, agronomic support, and a regenerative framework that guides each step of the transition. As Walker notes, “the industry was receptive to making changes.”
Potatoes may seem humble, but their global importance cannot be overstated. So when major players in the supply chain shift to regenerative methods, it sends a powerful message: this isn’t niche, it’s mainstream. It proves a staple crop can be grown in harmony with nature—scale-ready and transformative.
Why this matters:
- Scale meets sustainability. A ubiquitous crop like potatoes demonstrates that regenerative techniques are viable at large, commercial levels.
- Consumer-driven change. As shoppers demand transparency, the industry responds—with soil-friendly farming backed by major brands.
- Blueprint for the future. If potatoes can lead the way, other sectors can follow, scaling up regenerative practices that benefit both farmer and planet.
This isn’t simply about one crop—it’s about cultivating the future of agriculture, one field at a time.
