June 30, 2021

On June 30th, Croatan Institute in collaboration with the New Economics Foundation released a new report on financing a just transition to agroecology  in the aftermath of Brexit. The report takes a deep dive into the various obstacles and opportunities associated with financing a more rapid transition to agroecology in the UK, as well as a number of emerging funding models and mechanisms that could be established with the support of grants and investment. It then lays out recommendations on how policy makers, financial institutions, philanthropists and impact investors can support the agricultural transition beyond the common agricultural policy.

Chris Williams, senior researcher at the New Economics Foundation, said:

“How we farm has a major impact on our health, our communities, our climate and nature. The way we farm has contributed to the UK being one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. But UK agriculture is now at a crossroads. Access to land and access to finance are crucial for this transition to genuinely sustainable agriculture and this report sheds light on how finance can be used to aid a just transition to agroecological farming.”

Sue Pritchard, chief executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, said:

“This ‘super year’ for action on the climate and nature emergencies is an absolutely critical time for governments across the UK to step up, with bold and coherent policies, backed by the right resources commensurate to the challenge. To meet its ambitions, the government needs to pay attention to essential discussions, like those in this report, about how we finance a just transition to more sustainable agriculture and land use. NEF’s clear and practical proposals will speed the necessary shift to agroecology and regenerative farming.”

Read the full report here.