Wyke Farms

Wyke Farms have yearly promises to reduce carbon emissions across every aspect of their business. Already ahead of the curve, Wyke have created a sustainable working farm where all electricity and gas are self-sourced from both biogas and solar, generated from farm and dairy waste which has no other value. This working model has the capacity to be scaled up and make a once in a lifetime industry change across the globe.

In 2023 Wyke Farms installed 104kW of solar arrays to their Butter Dairy and Effluent Treatment Plant to increase self-generation of electricity and reduce the demand from imported electric. This will be expanded upon this year as they install a 800kW Biogas CHP to ensure the sites electric demand can be powered fully from renewables.

Installation of 27 electric car chargers to power company vehicles and privately owned employee cars has been completed, along with, solar powered EV cars and vans that are used on the farm, and for local shop deliveries. Construction was also completed in their Lambrook cheese stores using energy efficient fridge panel insultation to minimise heat loss and energy consumption as well as efficient refrigeration units to minimise energy consumption and emission losses.

Wyke’s commitment to look after the land and community and this is reflected in staff retention; 33% of their colleagues have been employed for over ten years and 89% have been with them for more than 5 years. Their contracted milk suppliers are an integral part of the business and many of them have been working with them for over 40 years.

As an integral part of the rural community in Wyke Champflower, Somerset, their visitor centre at the AD Plant has hosted 5000 school children, to share knowledge and educate the next generation on sustainability. Wyke were the first dairy business to financially incentivise environmental best practice by paying a premium through their Sustainable Farmer Pillar System.

Wyke Farms has shown that actions taken to cut cost usually impact positively on the environment. Farmers and food producers are well placed to adopt renewable energy generation by already having the natural assets. As an example, already having available roof space for Solar PV or sources of waste suitable for AD, coupled with high energy requirements is a great fit.

Ongoing investment into further sustainable practices using the CRMP at Wyke Farms will help them reach net zero and will push the dairy industry in that direction. Sustainability makes good business sense and renewable energy generation diversifies the business and insulates against commodity swings. By embedding a sustainability strategy into working practice, it is possible to dispel the misconception that climate action adds cost and complexity.

Award sponsored by Water Plus