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The agricultural sector from NEFCO’s perspective. NEFCO a regional international financial institution established in 1990 by the 5 Nordic countries has as its purpose to promote cost effective solutions to reduce the environmental load from the adjacent region
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NEFCO • a regional international financial institution • established in 1990 by the 5 Nordic countries • has as its purpose to promote cost effective solutions to reduce the environmental load from the adjacent region • finances projects primarily in the Baltic Sea region and in NW Russia • mainly focuses on small and medium sized projects • provides equity financing, loans, soft loans, contingency financing and in some cases grants
AGRICULTURE – ENVIRONMENT - The agricultural sector is a significant source of emissions (primarily nutrients and pesticides) • - In the Baltic Sea the nutrient load is the single most important element of the environmental load • - In all countries of the Baltic Sea region agricultural emissions remain a problem
- Experience shows that it is difficult and time-consuming to reach significant reductions of agricultural emissions - A wide range of measures is required involving development of best practice methods & investment in appropriate equipment and technology
NEFCO ACTIVITIES - A limited number of pilot & demonstration projects in the agricultural production and food industry sectors - Positive experience from successful Polish program (NEFCO involvement through NEDF grant and EC-Phare-LSIF grant managed by NEFCO)
- Small scale loan scheme for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania under preparation in co-operation with the World Bank, GEF and Swedish BAAP - Development of agricultural credit is of importance as a means of non-subsidized financing. Subsidies will always cover only part of the costs - All financing (subsidies as well as loans) should integrate sustainability criteria - Effective monitoring important for fulfilling sustainability
STEPS FORWARD - Set realistic goals and timetables - Partial, stepwise solutions are necessary - Select cost effective technical solutions - Capacity building and training are critical