More than 60 per cent of individuals surveyed by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), in a recent Vision survey, say they are considering environmental stewardship and the use of environmentally friendly management practices to reduce their environmental footprint and provide financial value for their business.
The results suggest that environmental impacts are gradually becoming a factor of day-to-day business for many producers and agribusinesses.
“The green economy is here to stay. It’s a reality for our customers and for the Canadian agriculture industry,” says Brenda Frank, FCC Senior Director of Strategy and Business Insight. “The green economy integrates environmental impacts with how we do business. Some producers and agribusiness owners are using what is sometimes called a triple bottom line approach, factoring people, profit and the planet into their success criteria.”
To help make sense of the green economy and what it means for Canadian agriculture, FCC has released a new edition of Knowledge Insider. To download the semi-annual publication, visit www.fcc.ca/insider.
Frank says that because the green economy is a new way to do business, there can be new risks to consider.
“Up and down the value chain businesses are responding to consumer demands for sustainability. They are changing what they produce and how they produce it,” says Frank. “Exploring possible green solutions can help readers modify their business with the potential to improve their bottom line.”
The green economy presents opportunities for entrepreneurs in agribusiness and agri-food, from finding savings through conservation and innovations to rethinking waste products.
“We invite agriculture business owners to explore options to find value in green today, in order to better position them to make informed decisions for the future,” says Frank.
