The Compleat Food Group is installing devices across its estate that listen out for the buzzing of insect pollinators, in a bid to improve biodiversity across its sites.
The company – which owns brands such as Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Company and Squeaky Bean – has partnered with AgriSound to roll out its ‘Polly’ listening devices to provide real-time data on pollinator activity.
The monitoring devices will be installed across a variety of habitats within the company’s estate, including grasslands, wildflower meadows, woodlands and rewilded areas. This would enable it to evaluate the effectiveness of its landscaping efforts and make informed decisions to support biodiversity, it said.
“We believe that food should make you feel good. Our journey isn’t just about the meals we create, but the impact we have on people, the planet, and the communities around us,” said David Moore, Compleat group head of ESG. “Partnering with AgriSound allows us to leverage cutting-edge technology to monitor and enhance biodiversity across our estates, aligning with our commitment to become a net zero business across scope 1, 2, and 3 by 2040.”
Compleat – which employs more than 5,500 people across 16 sites and has an annual turnover in excess of £1bn – said it hoped the initiative would help create a model for sustainable land management that could be extended across all its supply chain sites over time.
Its ambition was “to become the UK’s number-one chilled prepared food company measured by ESG, culture and business performance” the company said.
Agrisound’s Polly device recognises pollinator sounds through algorithms, and also monitors temperature, humidity and luminosity. It feeds back the data via 2G cellular networks. Users of the devices include Tesco, M&S, Innocent Drinks and AB InBev.
“We are excited to collaborate with The Compleat Food Group in its efforts to promote biodiversity,” said Casey Woodward, founder of AgriSound. “Our technology is designed to provide actionable insights into pollinator activity, helping organisations like Compleat make data-driven decisions to support and enhance natural ecosystems.”
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