CDFA is researching the feasibility and market demand for a national food systems loan guarantee program to help unlock investment for food- and agriculture-related businesses and projects. This research includes surveying loan funds operated by private, public, and quasi-public development finance agencies (DFAs) around the country to learn more about existing lending programs. Please take a few minutes to share your expertise in this short survey!

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is receiving $5.6 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program to improve food supply chain operations and strengthen food systems throughout the state. The state department is developing a state plan to establish the priorities for this funding and is seeking feedback from the public for the development of this plan. 

Feed The Hunger Fund, a nonprofit that provides loans to entrepreneurs working to create a more diverse local food system in Hawaii, announced more than $260,000 in funding for three small-scale food entrepreneurs. The funds are part of a more than $1 million financial collaboration with Kamehameha Schools and Hawaii Pacific Health. Each contributed $525,000, mostly in loans, to Feed The Hunger Fund to support food security and sustainability in Hawaii.

PepsiCo and Walmart announced a 7-year collaboration to pursue $120 million worth of investments focused on supporting U.S. and Canadian farmers in their pursuit to improve soil health and water quality. By establishing and scaling financial, agronomic, and social programs, it aims to enable and accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices on more than 2 million acres of farmland. 

Three Lancaster County projects are among the eight new projects receiving more than $3 million in grants and loans through the Commonwealth Financing Authority, the Department of Community and Economic Development. The projects provide funding to strengthen Pennsylvania's agriculture industry and improve the state's infrastructure.

Venture capital firm, Supply Change Capital, announced the close of its inaugural $40 million fund. One of the largest Latina-led funds, the firm has deployed over $13 million across 15 early-stage food and agriculture technology companies since June 2021. The company's investments include deep-tech food, agriculture, and ingredient companies, supply chain technology, and enterprise software.

Montana State's Buffalo Nations Food System Initiative was awarded $2.15 million as part of a larger grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to rebuild Native food sovereignty and recover Indigenous ways of knowing. The $5 million grant from the USDA's National Institute for Food and Agriculture is in collaboration with Michigan State University and the tribal Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, North Dakota.

Mayana Chocolate bars are sold in every Whole Foods in the country and company sales hit $1 million in the first half of 2023 alone. The company took off when connected with the Northwest Regional Planning Commission, one of about 400 Economic Development Administration (EDA)-designated Economic Development Districts (EDD) around the country that supports regional economic development.

One year after launching one of the first farm financing programs in the U.S. that rewards environmental stewardship, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Farmers Business Network announced that 83% of participating farmers who completed program requirements met environmental standards for fertilizer efficiency and soil health practices, while also meeting or exceeding national crop yield benchmarks. Farmers who met the standards received a 0.5% interest rate rebate.

SSBCI Learning Series - Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
August 24, 2023 - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern

CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Investment Tools & Food Systems
August 29, 2023 - 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern

>>> VIEW THE FOOD SYSTEMS RESOURCE CENTER   
>>> VIEW THE AGRICULTURE RESOURCE CENTER   

The "Reframing Farmland as an Investment: A Compelling Opportunity in an Inflationary Environment" report explains why interest in the farmland asset class has never been higher - from historically being one of the most stable asset classes delivering investors positive returns without significant deviation to being an effective inflation hedge.

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>>> SEARCH AGRICULTURE RESOURCES