A few themes we explore in this session:
- How can we build bridges between food businesses and the next generation of Black farmers?
- What are the practical and cultural aspects of regeneration and how can they work in tandem to create a more regenerative system?
- What is the best financing model for organizations looking to invest in Black farmers?
Olivia Watkins
Black Farmer Fund
A lot of young farmers are coming out of school with lots of student debt and have poor credit. What would it look like for us to be able to give a farmer a small loan with a low principle and a low-interest rate in a shorter time period? That way they can demonstrate the ability to pay the loan back on time and they can increase their credit score, and access larger amounts of capital. What would it look like for a farmer who needs a tractor, rather than getting financing from John Deere, what would it look like for us to give them a grant to be able to pay down that tractor?
