A cooperative for environmentally conscious farmers in North Lincolnshire secures crucial legal backing.
- Wilkin Chapman, a major law firm, joins in supporting the Northern Lincolnshire Environmental Farmers Group (EFG).
- The EFG aims to enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and achieve net carbon farming by 2040.
- The cooperative spans a significant portion of England’s farmland and opens new trading pipelines worth £10 million.
- Local farmers spearhead this initiative, seeking more members to expand environmental and sustainable efforts.
The Northern Lincolnshire Environmental Farmers Group (EFG), a newly established cooperative, has successfully obtained the necessary funding to open trading opportunities for sustainable farmers in the region. This milestone was achieved with the support of Wilkin Chapman, the largest law firm in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire. By joining forces with agricultural machinery supplier Peacock & Binnington, Wilkin Chapman sponsors the EFG’s mission to promote positive environmental change through natural capital trading.
The EFG’s objectives are ambitious yet crucial: to increase biodiversity, enhance water quality, and achieve net carbon farming by 2040. This group marks the tenth of its kind in the UK since 2020, representing 433 farmers and covering approximately 3% of England’s farmed area. Collectively, these efforts have generated a trading pipeline valued at around £10 million, illustrating the significant impact and potential of such initiatives.
Local farmers Andrew Jackson and William Sowerby, from Pink Pig Farm and Farming Forward respectively, established the Northern Lincolnshire EFG. Their efforts focus on areas surrounding Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Immingham, Louth, Crowle, and Epworth. The group is actively seeking more members to join their initiative, thereby bolstering regional efforts toward sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.
Catherine Harris, head of the agriculture sector at Wilkin Chapman, highlighted the power of collaboration among farmers, stating, “When farmers work together, they can have a great deal of power. While there are groups that represent farming as a whole, the EFG is a rapidly growing voice for farmers who are particularly mindful of their sustainability, as well as their financial success.” Her comments underscore the importance of environmental custodianship within the agricultural community.
The inaugural Environmental Farmers Group was launched in May 2022 in the Avon area by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). The model it employs has strengthened local farmer clusters, enabling them to deliver environmental goods and services while ensuring fair compensation. It acts as a navigator for farmers in the natural capital sector, leveraging scale and cooperation to secure optimal environmental and financial outcomes.
Northern Lincolnshire’s group was the first EFG established outside southern England. From early demand, a steering group formed and has been meeting since July 2023, with over 40 farmers expressing interest. Proximity to the Humber bank presents unique opportunities for this group to engage in activities like cleaner water projects, biodiversity enhancement, and carbon mitigation aligned with industrial developments.
The Northern Lincolnshire EFG’s expansion highlights growing regional commitment to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.
