First Milk owned Golden Hooves has announced farmers supplying the brand will be able to access an emissions reduction bonus that rewards demonstrable cuts in their carbon footprint.
The payment, which is accessible from April 2026, complements existing incentives for regenerative farming practices already adopted across the First Milk co-operative, the brand said.
The scheme has been introduced by parent co-operative First Milk to ensure farmers are financially recognised not only for regenerative actions such as grazing cows, protecting waterways and enhancing biodiversity, but now also for making measurable progress in reducing emissions across their farms.
The business said it reflected a growing shift within British agriculture, “where environmental progress is becoming part of everyday farming decisions”.
“Our farmers have already taken on much of the heavy lifting – working to enhance nature, using grazing systems that can potentially lock more carbon into soils, protecting waterways, enhancing biodiversity, and continually looking for ways to reduce their overall impact,” said Leona McDonald, sales and marketing director at First Milk.
“Co-operatives like ours are investing heavily to support that transition, but farmers cannot fix the food system alone.”
Golden Hooves has called for regenerative and sustainable principles to sit at the heart of commercial decisions from end to end – from farmers to processors, buyers and retailers.
New data from the brand’s annual consumer survey has revealed 95% of consumers say they want to see more regeneratively farmed food where they shop, but Golden Hooves said making products accessible and easy for people to find was key to maintaining momentum.
McDonald added: “If we want a genuinely sustainable food system, everyone across the supply chain needs to step up – backing farmers, helping to engage consumers, and making sustainable choices the easy choices.
“Without that shared commitment, progress will only ever be limited.”
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