Farmers as empowered intermediaries in nature markets?: Final report

Natural capital markets and payment for ecosystem services offer new income opportunities for farmers and landowners. Farmers have a choice between public and/or private funding that can help diversify their income while meeting the UK's climate and nature-based targets.
The role of intermediaries in these markets is critical
for providing advice, brokering contracts and supporting farmers to navigate the confusing landscape of carbon and nature-related payments.
The role of advisors has been recognised as a key node in the AFN+ agri-food ecosystem map.
There is, therefore, a need for additional research to
probe into the role of advisors and intermediaries in
supporting farmers to negotiate how they participate in voluntary and mandatory environmental markets and public payment schemes. The EFG case is particularly interesting as a new entrant model in the natural capital marketplace, as a farmer-led cooperative.
This project report summarises research about a mutual-based approach to navigating UK nature markets.