Supermarket chain Waitrose will work with certification scheme LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) to source sustainably produced 'commodity ingredients', such as wheat and rapeseed oil.

On Friday, Waitrose said it would begin work with the environmental certifier to source its commodity crops, expanding an agreement which already sees Waitrose supplied with certified fruit and vegetables.

LEAF is active in 36 countries and 487 farms in the UK operate under the scheme. These producers adhere to Integrated Farm Management (IFM), "a whole farm approach enabling farmers to maintain high standards of food production with minimum environmental impact," according to LEAF.

Waitrose said the agreement would further boost the environmental credentials of its food ingredients. The supermarket has held steadfast as the only remaining large retailer in the UK with a commitment to sourcing eggs and poultry meat from birds fed on a diet free from genetically modified grains.   

Alan Wilson, Technical Manager Agronomy, Waitrose said on Friday, "This is an important decision and signals the beginning of a new opportunity to work with progressive farmers who share the values of Waitrose and LEAF." He said the move was part of a wider initiative to "support farms that operate in an environmentally responsible way."

Under the new agreement, the retailer said it hopes to ensure all of its UK rapeseed oil will come from LEAF Marque growers by 2016, although no target date has been set for certified wheat.

LEAF director Jeremy Boxall added that the Waitrose agreement should provide an incentive for farmers in the UK to consider certification. He said, "It's becoming increasingly important for food businesses and retailers to ensure and demonstrate that they are sourcing responsibly and sustainably and the LEAF Marque is an ideal way to do this."