The Newbie consortium will publish regularly practice descriptions. These descriptions outline an current challenge for new entrants, and opportunities to deal with this challenge.
A first practice abstract published deals with Access to land with a farm related land fund and was developed by Wageningen University. For many start up farmers, finding and particularly financing land is very challenging. Purchasing land is often above the financial possibilities of a young business and lease, or rental, is much more common. This is often in the form of a one year contract that give little security and makes it difficult for farmers to plan for the future.
A new opportunity recently realized by two companies (De Groote Voort in Lunteren and De Hooilanden in Bennekom) is a farm-related land fund. This is a land fund that leases land to a specific farm, for a reasonable price. The land fund purchases land and leases it for a reasonable price to the farmers who are connected with the land fund.
A second practice abstract deals with Access to land through the Land Mobility Service and was developed by the Irish partner Teagasc. The Land Mobility Service is a support service for farmers and farm families who are contemplating expansion, changing enterprise, or stepping back. The service allows people explore their options and helps match farmers interested in long leases and collaborative arrangements.
