Shoppers in the UK will be able to add "highly sustainable" spuds for the first time to their weekly shopping lists.

The potatoes have been grown at a first-of-its kind low carbon concept farm in Lincolnshire.

Now thanks to a partnership between Tesco and industry leader Branston this ground-breaking crop of potatoes are availble to buy.

The low carbon concept farm was established last year to help farmers and suppliers to reach their net zero targets with innovative solutions.

It has produced successful results including 500 tonnes of customers' favourite potato variety, Georgina - now available in Tesco.

According to the supermarket giant the spuds have been grown using a combination of low carbon growing methods, such as circular economy fertilisers like CCm.

This locks in CO2 as part of the process, with other techniques used including minimum cultivations that do not impact the yield or quality.

As part of the process machinery fuel has also been transitioned to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, which has an up to 90% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional fossil diesel.

According to Tesco the results are the same in taste and texture that customers expect from traditionally farmed potatoes. but with more than 50% lower carbon emissions.

Andy Blair, Branston’s field technical manager overseeing the operation at the concept farm said: “The ambition of the low carbon concept farm is not only to see how close we can get to a net zero potato, but to understand the interactions between crops as you move from one to the next."

Blair said that the low carbon concept farm will also act as a test bed to roll out the practices with the plan that the aspects are transferable to other farms and growers across the country.

The team behind the spuds have their eyes on future crops of Georgina and other varieties.

This will include a focus on cover crops to help with soil structure and retaining nutrition, investing in R-Leaf fertiliser and trialling a biomethane tractor.

Meanwhile Natalie Smith, head of Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries at Tesco, said:"Increasing funding for innovation in UK agriculture is one of the key recommendations in our Greenprint for UK Farming report.