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Bridging the Regenerative Agriculture Financing GapMembers only 
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This issue brief produced by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment examines the varying definitions of regenerative agriculture and details the three types of factors that make financing regenerative agriculture difficult: outdated financial models; difficult financial returns; and cultural differences between farmers and investors. Throughout, it highlights the innovative organizations attempting to overcome these barriers and the novel methods they employ and ends by considering a few promising approaches for the future.
2024 RI Food System FactbookMembers only Login
The Rhode Island Food Policy Council has released a first-of-its-kind resource providing a data-driven assessment of the status of Rhode Island's food system, incorporating the best available research and data, and presenting information on the state as a whole, as well as for each city and town. The RI Food System Factbook shares data on over 40 different indicators across five areas of food system health and well-being: Food Economy, Food Access & Security, Agriculture & Land Use, Commercial Fisheries & Aquaculture, and Climate Change.
USDA Equity Action Plan - 2023 UpdateMembers only Login
A groundbreaking report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Equity Commission features more than 60 recommendations designed to make policies affecting farming and rural America more fair. A few key recommendations include institutionalizing equity and accountability as well as improving staff diversity at the USDA; providing technical assistance and translation services to help applicants submit applications for programs; and improving access to nutrition for disadvantaged and underserved communities.
Upcoming Events
CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Financing Food Systems with Revolving Loan Funds
April 30, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern
During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, panelists will discuss how revolving loan funds can be used to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and microenterprises to strengthen local and regional food systems. The discussion will also identify how these tools can help unlock affordable capital for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Register
CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Driving Food Systems Investment with Tax Credits
September 24, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern
In this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we will look at tax credit programs that allow businesses and investors to claim a tax credit for committing resources to a food system project or business. We will also explore how these tools can catalyze investment in communities that have historically been discriminated against.
Register
CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Reframe, Build, Plan to Advance Food Systems Finance
November 26, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern
During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, CDFA will present this customizable framework and illustrate how it can expand financing and drive capital into local food systems. Speakers will explore how this strategy can help focus resources toward socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and small business owners across the food system.
Register
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-Programs Map
Search the map below for agriculture finance programs by state. This specialized search is part of
CDFA's State Financing Program Directory, the only online resource cataloging the development finance programs offered by state governments. Click on a state to see a sample of state energy programs available. Login with a CDFA Member account at the top of the page to view full results.
-Agriculture Data & Resources
-Resources
-Headlines
-Upcoming Events
CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Financing Food Systems with Revolving Loan Funds
April 30, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern
During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, panelists will discuss how revolving loan funds can be used to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and microenterprises to strengthen local and regional food systems. The discussion will also identify how these tools can help unlock affordable capital for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Register
CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Driving Food Systems Investment with Tax Credits
September 24, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern
In this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we will look at tax credit programs that allow businesses and investors to claim a tax credit for committing resources to a food system project or business. We will also explore how these tools can catalyze investment in communities that have historically been discriminated against.
Register
CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Reframe, Build, Plan to Advance Food Systems Finance
November 26, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern
During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, CDFA will present this customizable framework and illustrate how it can expand financing and drive capital into local food systems. Speakers will explore how this strategy can help focus resources toward socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and small business owners across the food system.
Register
View more Upcoming Events
-Previous Events
-About Agriculture Finance
Agriculture finance is one of the most important components of state and local development finance efforts. Agriculture remains one of the country’s most important and productive industries and is the primary economic engine for most rural communities. From beginning and established farmers to agriculture production and processing, the needs of the agriculture industry are vast. Resources are also very limited and the barriers to capital for agriculture are daunting. Dozens of states offer financing resources such as loan funds, grants and aggie bonds to assist with the agriculture industry. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides vast resources to rural communities to support agricultural development.
Learn about the
CDFA-NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Program
Subscribe to
CDFA Food and Agriculture Finance Update