Ensuring a just transition to green, or regenerative, agriculture requires both public and private funding, according to a new WWF report that brings together expert stakeholder views. It requires a fundamental change in the way food and agriculture is financed and supported. across the UK food value chain.
The report, sponsored by NatWest, comes as farmers across the country face unprecedented levels of change and uncertainty due to changes in government payment systems coinciding with supply chain disruptions and price pressures. Many of these are related to climate change and nature loss.
Announced at this year's Oxford Agriculture Conference and following important discussions on food and nature at COP28, Roadmap for financing the regenerative agriculture transition in England The report calls for a government-led shift to support renewable food production in the UK.
Roadmap
The report warns that tackling climate, nature and food systems together will be the „triple challenge“ of the next decade. The report calls for an 'all hands on deck' approach across the UK food value chain to support a vision of wild landscapes where wildlife recovers, fish return to rivers and farmers are profitable and supported. and ensure that farmers don't face the burden of transition alone.
The report says that businesses need to work together across the food value chain to fairly spread the costs and risks associated with the transition to greener agriculture, and government intervention is essential to ensure this. claims. It shows that strong ambition, policy and funding from governments can accelerate a transition that benefits farmers and works for the planet.
In response to the UK Government's commitment1 to publish a green investment roadmap for the agriculture sector, the WWF Roadmap highlights the power of collaboration and sets out actions for all parts of the food system.
Agriculture
For the UK Government, key areas of action include harmonizing data for farmers to ensure consistent data standards, regulating emerging high-reliability carbon and natural markets to increase transparency; This includes introducing new legislation to integrate policy-making on food, climate and nature. This is how he positions regenerative agriculture as a core solution to all three problems.
This roadmap focuses on practical actions and explores all parts of the financial ecosystem surrounding agriculture to help produce healthy, nutritious food, tackle climate change and restore nature. We aim to ensure that farmers receive the support and fair market returns they need.
Kate Norgrove, WWF's Executive Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, said: „Agriculture and land use are at the heart of any action to address climate change and nature loss, but farmers are rightly at the center of implementing regenerative practices. They need assurance that they will be fairly compensated for their transition.“ .
“Our food systems are vulnerable to shocks, disruptions and price pressures caused or exacerbated by climate change and nature loss. This report shows that the power of collective action and investment can be supported by governments. It shows how, if supported and promoted, agriculture can create a brighter future for people. It makes both economic and environmental sense.“
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Ruby Harbor is a freelance journalist. This article is based on a WWF press release.