2 Sisters Food Group (2SFG) announced a major step forward in its sustainability journey, unveiling an expanded deforestation-free commitment and a significant shift toward British-grown protein in poultry feed. These initiatives form part of the company's wider "NextGen" strategy, aimed at achieving net zero by 2035.
Expanded deforestation-free commitment
2SFG will extend premium payments to South American soybean meal farmers to cover all land conversion — not just deforestation — helping protect vital ecosystems such as native grasslands and supporting biodiversity beyond standard industry pledges.
Sourcing from farms where deforestation and land conversion has not occurred for more than 18 years, meaning there are very low greenhouse gas emissions associated with land use change, reduces the carbon footprint of soybean meal for 2SFG chicken feed by approximately 70% from July 2026.
Increased use of British-grown protein and removal of soybean meal in Scotland
The company has redeveloped its chicken feed to replace nearly one quarter (23%) of imported soybean meal with British-grown oilseed rape and beans, purchasing 150,000 metric tons annually from British farmers. This investment injects £50 million into the British agricultural economy and strengthens food security.
This ingredient replacement has already been gradually reducing the carbon footprint of a 2 Sisters chicken by 15% over the last 30 years, compared with the same bird fed a standard soybean meal inclusion diet, while improving soil health, reducing artificial fertilizer use and supporting pollinators across 46,000 hectares of British farmland. This latest move is expected to further reduce carbon emissions by almost 670,000 metric tons, representing a reduction of more than 20% in Scope 3 emissions for 2SFG.
By the end of 2027, 2SFG will completely remove soybean meal from the diet of chickens at its Coupar Angus facility in Scotland, replacing it with British-grown peas, seeds and beans.
Welfare standards
Chickens on 2SFG farms are all grown to Red Tractor standards, with 80% at lower stocking densities and a significant amount grown to Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) requirements, which includes the use of a slower-growing breed. The announcement on the procurement of low-carbon soybean meal for chicken feed will significantly lower the carbon footprint of all 2SFG chicken. This move will align welfare and sustainability goals, enabling the business to scale up higher welfare production while also reducing carbon emissions.
Kate Stein, group director of quality, sustainability and agriculture at 2 Sisters Food Group, said: "This is a transformation moment for British poultry. By going beyond deforestation-free standards and backing British farmers, we're making a meaningful commitment to both the environment and animal welfare — building a sustainable, resilient food system for the future as part of our NextGen Strategy."
