The Fair Finance Fund, a social finance fund for Ontario's local food and farm sector, released Ontario's first sustainable food bond back in 2018 and is transforming Ontario's agri-food sector. A range of community-minded individual and institutional investors have shown their support, with close to $2M committed to sustaining the local agri-food sector that benefits both people and the planet.
The Fund supports local food and farm projects that bring social, environmental and economic benefits into Ontario communities through the issuance of loans. In the last three years, they have financed 22 projects, investing over $1.3M. Over 70% of the Fund's clients are women-led and owned, while 18% are BIPOC entrepreneurs. Over 70% use organic or ecological methods. All of them increase climate resilience in Ontario with regenerative agricultural practices, innovative delivery methods, improved operations for water and energy use and more.
"We are here to build this ecosystem. Social purpose and environmental purpose make our clients strong in the face of economic and environmental challenges. Investors contribute to the growth of regional food systems and receive a modest financial return. We are looking at building the entire food ecosystem in a more circular economy, from field to fork." says Sally Miller, the Fund's Project Manager.
Other impact investment opportunities are popping up around the country, with billions currently invested in businesses with a strong social and environmental focus. Raven Capital in British Columbia aims "to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs and revitalize the Indigenous economy with credibility, accountability, and transparency." INDwell offers investment in affordable housing communities that support people seeking health, wellness and belonging. Union Co-op has developed a ground-breaking property model for "permanent affordability through community ownership."
"Having an investment that helps the food system directly was an amazing opportunity for us; we were elated when we discovered the Fund. The Fund's simple financial terms and agreements made it that much easier to partake in an investment with a real impact," says recent investors Josh Baker and Katie Robinson.
The Fund recently released their 2022 Offering Statement, engaging investors committed to advance the organization's goals of creating solutions to social, environmental and economic challenges across the province. You can support this important movement with the purchase of a Community Bond. Visit their website to learn more about the impact your dollars can have on your local community.
The Fair Finance Fund is a non-profit social finance fund dedicated to providing loans and mentorship services to local food and farm enterprises that value strong local food systems, local economies, and a healthy planet. Building on seed capital, the Fair Finance Fund implements an ongoing investment opportunity for community-minded investors, that is, individuals and institutions who want to invest their capital to build local food systems in Ontario to support food that is grown, raised, and processed in their backyards.
source: media release
