North Lincs Environmental Farmers Group set for expansion

The Environment Farmers Group (EFG) is setting its sights on further expansion, with one of its subgroups having secured more corporate sponsorship.

The northern Lincolnshire EFG is one of ten groups in a UK-wide cooperative which helps farmers generate and trade their natural capital.

It is being supported with funding from law firm Wilkin Chapman, agricultural machinery supplier Peacock & Binnington, and accountancy business, Forrester Boyd.

See also: Environmental Farmers Group expands in Midlands

William Sowerby, a founder of the northern Lincolnshire EFG, said there are potential opportunities for farmers to support growth in the area.

This can be done through cleaner water projects, biodiversity and carbon mitigation for new industrial developments.

More than 40 farmers have so far expressed interest in joining this subgroup, he added, and it was now looking for more members to join the EFG’s network of 433 farmers across England.

The farms involved cover about 3% of England’s farmed area.

The first EFG was launched in May 2022, when a group of farmers came together in the Hampshire Avon area to strengthen their position for delivering environmental goods and services – in return for a fair financial reward. 

As England has transitioned away from the Basic Payment Scheme, membership has grown in both number and expertise, and it now operates as a cooperative.

It has been described as a voice for farmers who are mindful of their sustainability and financial success. 

The EFG’s goal is to use its scale and member co-operation to secure the best environmental results and financial returns for a wide range of natural capital goods and services.

Members get access to trading opportunities in natural capital markets, guidance on how to trade, and benefit from farmer buying power in natural capital markets.

The co-operative also aims to help farmers deliver increased food security through a blend of public and private funding, which would otherwise be difficult for individual farm businesses to access.