Following conversations with partners and a review of our strategy, we’re pleased to share a new report by Vicki Hird exploring how agricultural supply chains are limiting progress towards nature friendly farming - and where Esmée could play a stronger role in supporting change.
Esmee supports a widespread transition to Nature Friendly Farming. Specifically, we are looking to fund work that restores soil health, creates a fairer food system that improves outcomes for nature and communities, and supports farmers to lead the transition to nature friendly farming at scale.
Our mid-strategy review in 2023 identified work on supply chains as a key potential driver to achieving our outcomes. However, Esmée has funded relatively little in the way of engagement with supply chains and major retailers to-date. Rather, our support in this area has largely focused on short supply chains and alternative routes to market, and supporting those who work directly with producers or at a community level.
From conversations with our partners, we saw there was limited NGO activity seeking to influence or address the issues in the supply chain that are undermining outcomes for people and nature. We were therefore keen to better understand whether and where there are potential collaborations and interventions we could make or enable. We commissioned the consultant Vicki Hird to undertake further research and provide some recommendations on areas we could support.
Download or view the report in full screen. If you would like to see the report in an alternative format, please email communications@esmeefairbairn.org.uk.
The resulting report shows that we need a comprehensive approach to reforming agricultural supply chains in UK and globally to deliver better outcomes for nature, people and producers. The extractive supply chains drive farmers in the opposite direction via prices, standards and specifications. It’s a long-standing, complex system with much investment in deeply harmful processes.
The report highlights that current UK, EU and relevant global policies such as on fair dealing are useful but are relatively new, too weak and don't go far enough. From the mapping, it’s encouraging to see a growing consensus in NGOs, the farming industry, and wider society of how the current food supply chain is severely at fault and that current public finance, environmental, health or employment regulations, nor private investment, can adequately deliver nature friendly farming and the many other outcomes needed.
Next steps
But, there are good opportunities for action in the UK that Esmee, working with others, could support. This includes several potential opportunities in 2025-26, described in full in the report, and longer-term work including research gaps and campaign opportunities. The routes for change include challenging existing assumptions, adopting new and better approaches, and leveraging political opportunities. Collaboration among stakeholders, good economic analysis and prioritising government intervention are crucial for creating fairer and more sustainable supply chains.
We hope that those in the sector with an interest in this area will find the report interesting and useful. We will be considering the reports recommendations over the coming months.
Let us know what you think
We would welcome feedback or responses from the sector, and will use any feedback we get to help us shape and deliver our strategy. If you have any questions or views, please contact funding@esmeefairbairn.org.uk
