Food & Farming

Supporting the North Highland farming community

Farming is at the heart of the North Highlands, supporting rural communities, managing our landscapes, and contributing to the local economy. As the sector responds to changing environmental, economic and policy challenges, collaboration and innovation are becoming increasingly important. Through initiatives such as our Farm Clusters Project, we are helping farmers and crofters work together to build a more resilient and sustainable future.

Building a Sustainable Future for the North Highland Farming Supply Chain 

North Highland Initiative (NHI) has long championed the vital role that farming plays in sustaining rural communities, protecting landscapes, and supporting local economies across the Highlands. Through our longstanding partnership with Sainsbury’s and supply chain partners ABP and Dunbia, we continue to support North Highland beef and lamb producers while helping to strengthen the future resilience of the sector. 
To build on this successful partnership and support the long-term sustainability of our farming supply chain, NHI launched a pilot programme focused on developing baseline environmental, animal welfare and livestock performance data across participating farms. 

A Collaborative Approach to Future Farming 

The pilot programme was designed to establish a clear picture of current farming practices and performance across a range of key measures. Drawing on recommendations from the previous Jude Capper Report, participating farms collected baseline information covering: 

  • Animal health and welfare 
  • Biodiversity 
  • Carbon emissions 
  • Soil analysis and soil health 
  • Livestock performance standards 

The project was developed in line with Scottish Government Whole Farm Plan requirements, helping farmers prepare for future policy, market and sustainability expectations. 

Recognising that meaningful progress requires collaboration, NHI brought together a wide range of industry partners and organisations to support farmers and help shape the future of sustainable farming in the North Highlands. 

To manage and analyse the information collected, NHI partnered with Soil Association Exchange, providing a central platform for data collection, reporting and farmer support. 

North Highland Initiative Farm Cluster Groups 

In May 2025, NHI established a pilot group comprising 21 beef and lamb farms from across: 

  • Morayshire 
  • Ross-shire 
  • Inverness-shire 
  • Aberdeenshire 
  • Angus 
  • Caithness 

Data collection took place throughout the summer of 2025, providing each participating farm with a detailed assessment of its current position across the agreed measures. 
Following the data gathering phase, NHI and Soil Association Exchange advisers facilitated a series of group workshops during November and December 2025. These sessions helped farmers understand their individual results while identifying common themes and opportunities emerging across the wider group. 

The programme continued into Spring 2026, when each farm received a dedicated one-to-one advisory session. Together, farmers and advisers reviewed individual reports and developed tailored action plans to support future improvements and business resilience. 

Working Together for Positive Change 

This pilot programme demonstrates the strength of partnership working across the farming supply chain. By bringing together producers, retailers, processors, environmental organisations and rural support bodies, NHI is helping create practical solutions that benefit both farming businesses and the wider environment. 

We would like to thank all our partners and supporters who have contributed to the project: 

  • Sainsbury’s 
  • ABP 
  • Dunbia 
  • The Royal Countryside Fund 
  • Dounreay 
  • NatureScot 
  • RSPB Scotland 
  • Soil Association Scotland 
  • QMS 
  • NFUS 
  • HIE / Focus North 
  • UHI 
  • Soil Association Exchange 

Looking Ahead 

The insights gained from this pilot programme provide a strong foundation for future activity across the North Highland farming community. 
Over 2026 and 2027, NHI will continue to support participating farms through: 

Knowledge Sharing and Workshops 

A programme of workshops, events and online learning opportunities will be delivered around the key themes identified through the project. These activities will be supported by our collaborative partner organisations and industry experts. 

Farming Resilience Support 

The pilot group will benefit from a further programme of Farming Resilience workshops designed to help businesses adapt to changing environmental, economic and policy challenges. 

Grants and Practical Support 

NHI is developing future funding opportunities, practical support packages and educational programmes to help farmers explore innovative approaches to farming and land management, while navigating evolving sustainability standards. 

Scaling Up the Programme 

We are actively seeking additional funding and engaging with the Scottish Government and other partners to expand the programme and create opportunities for more farming groups across the region. 

Supporting the Future of Highland Farming 

Sainsbury’s, ABP and Dunbia remain strongly supportive of the programme and its future direction. Together, we are committed to creating a resilient, sustainable and thriving farming supply chain that delivers benefits for farmers, communities, consumers and the environment across the North Highlands. 

Read the full project report and findings here.