Latest news with #sustainableAgriculture
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Cutting nature-friendly farming budget would be ‘devastating', Government warned
Cutting the budget for nature-friendly farming would be 'devastating' for wildlife and rural communities, the Government has been warned. Environmentalists warned that cutting the spend on the post-Brexit farming schemes, which pay farmers and landowners to deliver public goods such as hedgerows, wildflower habitat and clean water, would 'remove all hope' of the Government meeting targets to reverse nature's declines. And farmers, who have already been hit by changes to inheritance tax and the abrupt closure of this year's sustainable farming incentive (SFI), the biggest strand of the environmental land management scheme (Elms), said cuts would be 'disastrous'. The warnings come in the face of reports that the Environment Department (Defra's) nature-friendly farming budget, which has replaced EU agricultural subsidies based mostly on the amount of land farmed, will be cut in the forthcoming spending review. The Government announced a 'record' £5 billion spending over two years on sustainable farming, but the long term future of the funding looks threatened by looming departmental cuts, while there are concerns cash could be targeted at small farms or in certain areas rather than across the countryside. Environmentalists warned that the nature-friendly farming budget was the UK's biggest spend on nature and, with 70% of land used for farming, key to meeting the Government's manifesto pledge to achieve targets to halt declines in nature by 2030. Barnaby Coupe, senior land use policy manager at The Wildlife Trusts, says: ' Rumours of further cuts to the farming budget are deeply concerning and, if true, would cripple funding for restoring nature and remove all hope of reaching the Government's targets for wildlife recovery.' He warned the £2.5 billion a year in the current farming budget 'already falls short' of what was needed, adding: 'Whittling this down further will see progress stall and reverse.' 'If the cuts go ahead, the Government's promise to bring back wildlife will be in tatters – and farmers will be left unsupported to adapt to extreme climate change and exposed to the whims of market forces demanding unsustainable and intensified food production.' Richard Benwell, chief of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: 'Cutting the nature-friendly farming budget would be devastating for nature, farmers and rural communities.' He said that a transition to nature-friendly farming could help reverse declines in rivers, woodland, wildflowers and wildlife, at the same time as reducing air, soil and water pollution, and supporting a thriving profitable farming sector and rural communities. 'But without a decent budget to pay farmers for the environmental benefits they provide, the future of entire ecosystems will be in doubt.' Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), said: 'These cuts would be disastrous if implemented, with the negative impact felt far beyond farming and reaching the wider public. 'Investing in nature-friendly farming helps protect communities from the devastation of flooding. 'It reduces the impact of climate change by protecting and restoring carbon-storing habitats such as peatland. 'It also supports the delivery of affordable, renewable energy.' He said that if the Government was serious about sustainable growth and long-term food production, it needed to invest in England's landscapes, adding: 'Farmers are ready to play their part, but they are being let down by ministers turning off the funding tap. 'The simplest, most cost-effective solution to the problems we face is to invest now. 'If we fail to act, and wait until the impacts of climate change worsen, the cost will be far higher,' he warned. National Farmers' Union president Tom Bradshaw said: 'Alongside numerous rural, environmental and nature groups, including the RSPB and National Trust, we have repeatedly called for government to honour its commitments, with budget and partnership, to protect nature and restore habitats through agriculture. 'But without funding, this will be government giving up on its own environmental targets – targets which it relied on farmers to deliver.' He warned that farmers would be left 'prioritising economic returns and balancing tough choices between farming the land as hard as they can just to make a living and continuing to focus on environmental works they have been proud to deliver'. And he said farms of all sizes had a key role in helping deliver for food, nature and climate. Defra said it would not comment on speculation.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Afreximbank wins mandate as sole financial advisor for South Africa's $1.7bln Suiso Project
CAIRO, Egypt/ -- African Export-Import Bank's (Afreximbank) ( Advisory and Capital Markets (ACMA) department has been appointed and mandated as the exclusive financial advisor to raise capital for the US$1.7-billion Suiso Project, a transformative coal-to-fertiliser facility to be developed in Kriel, Mpumalanga Province, in South Africa. As financial advisor, ACMA's role will involve leveraging its network and expertise to structure and mobilise the capital required for the project's execution. The Suiso Project, which aims to promote sustainable agriculture, will use cutting-edge fertiliser technology, such as air products gasification, and is expected to enhance the food security situation in the region. Sponsored by a consortium of leading energy and industrial companies committed to sustainable development and economic growth in the region, the project represents a significant investment in South Africa's industrial agriculture sector aimed at reducing dependency on imported fertilisers. This appointment is a reflection of the increasing recognition of Afreximbank's capacity and commitment to supporting large-scale projects with the potential to drive industrialisation and economic development across Africa. Suiso was formed recently to focus on the manufacture of ammonia and fertiliser, using a fossil-fuel gasification process. It intends to build a more resilient and sustainable fertiliser and agricultural market across Sub-Saharan Africa with more efficient fertiliser application rates and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Suiso plans to establish a blue ammonia production facility with a capacity of 2,200 tonnes per day (TPD). This facility will produce approximately 2,600 TPD of Urea, 1,600 TPD of Ammonium Nitrate (TAN), and a low-density Ammonium Nitrate using prilling technology, with any excess ammonia being sold in bulk. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. Media Contact: Vincent Musumba Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations) Email: press@ Follow us on: X: Facebook: LinkedIn: Instagram: About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. For more information, visit:
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt: Al-Mashat, FAO review strengthening cooperation in food security
Arab Finance: Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation of Egypt, discussed expanding cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate projects, as per a statement. In her meeting with AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO's Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, Al-Mashat outlined joint efforts to promote economic development in light of the comprehensive partnership between Egypt and the UN. Al-Mashat also reviewed the ministry's priorities and responsibilities to achieve qualitative and sustainable growth. She noted that the merger of the two Ministries of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation contributes to boosting integration between local resources and international partnerships. The minister also asserted the government's commitment to maximizing the benefits of its constructive partnership with the FAO in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDCF) until 2027. The program focuses on investment in human capital, inclusive economic development, transparency and governance, women's empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Al-Mashat highlighted the growth in investments pumped into the agriculture and land reclamation sector within the economic and social development plan, which jumped by 20% during fiscal year (FY) 2024/2025, compared to the previous FY. The two sides reviewed joint efforts within the framework of implementing the national platform for the NWFE program that focuses on interacting water, food, and energy projects. This includes key projects to support sustainability in the water and food sectors, while contributing to enhancing food security efforts in Egypt. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Invests in innovation to power low-carbon future
MUSCAT: Oman is advancing a climate-resilient investment model by integrating environmental goals with strategic economic growth. Two standout initiatives backed by the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) signal this shift: a large-scale lemon tree plantation for carbon sequestration and the localisation of cutting-edge water treatment technologies through the US-based firm Gradiant. In Dhofar's Rahab Farm, Nakheel Oman Development, under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and funding from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), has planted 30,000 Omani lemon trees. This landmark project is one of the first nature-based carbon sequestration investments in Oman and is expected to play a dual role—capturing atmospheric carbon while enhancing national food security. The lemon trees are projected to increase Omani lemon production by 38 per cent, reaching approximately 11,000 tonnes annually. Beyond output, the project strengthens Oman's alignment with its net-zero emissions target by 2050. Using groundwater and smart irrigation systems that respond to soil moisture, the initiative maximises resource efficiency—offering a scalable model for sustainable agriculture in arid environments. 'This is more than a farm—it's a carbon sink with economic yield,' a senior OIA official noted. 'It shows how local ecosystems can be turned into assets within the global carbon market, while directly supporting food production and rural employment.' Equally transformative is OIA's investment in Gradiant, a global leader in water and wastewater treatment. Through the full acquisition of Muscat Projects and Engineering Services (MPES), Gradiant has established a strong operating base in Oman, providing engineering and procurement services to key clients including Nama Water Services, the Ministry of Defence, and PDO. The move brings advanced technologies into Oman's utilities sector, especially as climate pressure mounts on water infrastructure. In August 2023, Gradiant launched 'Turing,' an AI-powered digital platform that enhances desalination performance, predicts network leaks, and enables real-time water quality monitoring. These technologies are now being deployed in collaboration with Nama to modernise wastewater treatment systems across the country. In November 2024, OIA supported the launch of the Oman Innovation Labs Center, a research and development facility operated jointly by Gradiant and Nama. The centre is equipped with engineering workshops, electromechanical testing units, and laboratories, designed to accelerate the adoption of smart water technologies tailored for Oman's climate and infrastructure conditions. The localisation of these solutions reflects OIA's broader investment philosophy—prioritising long-term national value, sustainability, and knowledge transfer. 'We are not just investing in foreign companies,' an OIA executive explained. 'We are bringing the most advanced global solutions into Oman and anchoring them locally to build capability and resilience.' Together, these initiatives exemplify the new face of Oman's sovereign investment: rooted in Vision 2040, climate-aligned, innovation-led, and grounded in real economic and environmental returns. From carbon farming to AI-enhanced utilities, Oman is shaping a green economic model that speaks not just to financial growth, but to national transformation. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
