Natural Capital: Risks and Rewards
New project with CUSP researchers at Middlesex University responding to emerging opportunities for environment and farmers’ livelihoods
May 2022
There is growing interest in how farmers can be paid for the environmental benefits they can provide with a number of businesses now creating new opportunities such as carbon capture, payment for wildlife areas or planting crops that reduce risks of flooding and pollution.
CUSP researchers at Middlesex University will be exploring these new markets for natural capital together with the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) and the Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF).
Putting monetary value on nature can create unintended consequences but also provide an important incentive for changes in land use. The research project is looking closely at opportunities and risks for farmers across the UK—aiming to bridge the gap between large scale, sustainable financial investment, and everyday farming practice.
CUSP deputy director Prof Fergus Lyon, leading the research, said: “At a time of dramatic change in farming, there is a need for new opportunities that are good for both the environment and farmers’ livelihoods. With lots of new ideas emerging, we need to understand how these new sources of income work, and identify any risks early on. While the natural capital markets are changing daily, this project will identify how these initiatives help different types of farmers.”
For enquiries, please email info@cusp.ac.uk.
