The Environmental Farmers Group (EFG) has evolved from the very successful farm cluster groups which have been flourishing in the river Avon catchment area for over 10 years. A farmer’s cooperative was formed in 2022. It currently has 86 members covering some 94,000 acres with a further 43 landowners and farmers having expressed interest in the EFG. The organisation is run by farmers for the benefit of its farming members. Today we have members from across central southern England encompassing the following river catchment areas, the Hampshire Avon, Test and Itchen, the Dorset Stour and the Frome and Piddle.

The following are the Environmental Farmers Groups guiding principles.

Vision

Farmers protecting and enhancing nature for the public good.

Mission

To harness scale and member cooperation to secure the best environmental results and financial returns for a wide range of natural capital goods and services.

Desired outcomes to include:

Biodiversity and species recovery

Clean water

Net carbon zero farming by 2040

And alongside those key environmental outcomes to:

Provide a fair financial return for the farmers delivering environmental goods and services.

Have baseline environmental data produced and owned by farmers.

Be a highly credible brand and trusted trading partner with an excellent public image.

Benefits

The benefits for both Farmers and Organisations seeking trades share much in common and form the strength of EFG. Both sides match each other well in a transparent marketplace.

Why would you as a farmer or landowner think of joining EFG?

It’s your land – control and improve its environmental future on a large scale

By working together at a large landscape scale, you can achieve ambitious environmental outcomes.

Use the power of a group to negotiate and improve environmental trades.

Create a single point of contact and a brand to market your environmental benefits.

Increase opportunities to make contact with trade-seekers.

Remove duplication of effort in understanding new trading markets

Keep control of your existing E/HLS, CSS and future ELM schemes

Facilitates larger scale thinking if desired.

Be kept informed and updated on this new and exciting business opportunity.

Control of shared income via an agreed model

Advantages for the developer, local authority, business/commercial entity, finance house of dealing with EFG.

Deal with recognised counterparty

Secure farmer-led environmental credentials

Enjoy convenience of a single contact to discuss multiple trades.

Access your scale from the outset: individual farmer, Farmer Cluster or catchment.

Backed by science-led conservation charity Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

Recognise solid governance with transparent operating rules.

The Environmental Farmers Group have now completed their first major Phosphate Mitigation deal and were able to increase the value of the trade very substantially for the member. We have many more enquires from developers, builders and councils for Phosphate and Nitrate Mitigation together with some requests for Biodiversity Net Gain Credits. The total value of the enquiry funnel is now worth some £17,000,000.

The farming industry has to become net carbon zero by 2040, the EFG is helping its members achieve this goal. We also see great potential in trading any carbon credits once the business has achieved net carbon zero. The Environmental Farmers Group board have spent a considerable amount of time interviewing a number of potential carbon trading partners. We believe that it is critical to work with the correct organisation in this very important but complex area of trading. We have taken advice from one the leading carbon scientists in the country to assist in this task. Finding a suitable partnership with a reputable trading partner is our next objective.

We believe that the cooperative approach is correct for Natural Capital Trading. It is an opportunity to work together and unlock the potential in your land.

If you would like more information regarding the Environmental Farmers Group, please visit our website at www.environmentalfarmersgroup.co.uk or call me Colin Smart on 07970789999

Colin Smart

Environmental Farmers Group