The Russian government is currently planning to start financing «green» (environmentally friendly) projects with extrabudgetary funds.
This also applies to agriculture.
Improving the environmental friendliness of their industries, reducing the harmful impact on the environment — this is a wide scope for the activities of agricultural producers.
However, many of them do not at all strive to pay much attention to this problem, and especially to spend their own funds on it.
However, everything can change.
The Russian government is launching a system to support green projects. Under this system, those businesses that are transitioning to green technologies can count on financial support.
It is planned to be carried out primarily with the help of bonds, as well as issuing loans to businesses on favorable terms.
The list of activities that agricultural producers could implement in order to become participants in such a program:
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Reduce the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides.
Switch to closed loop production.
Optimization of crop rotation, land reclamation.
Conserve forests and natural ecosystems.
Energy saving technologies.
As noted in the Russian government, “the adopted order will help create economic incentives for the transition to advanced environmental standards.
As a continuation of this work, in the near future, the criteria for the selection of «green» projects will be presented and a mechanism for their verification will be approved. »
How can agricultural producers receive financial assistance?
The answer to this question was given by Alexander Kirevnin, Director of the Department of Financial and Banking Activities and Investment Development of the Ministry of Economic Development.
He explained that the green company would be able to issue its green bonds, which would be listed on the stock exchange. This is a good opportunity to quickly raise money on favorable terms.
According to Kirevnin, such initiatives in Russia are just beginning to develop.
Green bonds worth about 23 billion rubles are traded on the Moscow Exchange today. Sounds good, but the global volume of such bonds is over $ 1 trillion.
Currently, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is developing a scheme to support start-up issuers of green bonds for the first three years.
For example, it is planned to reduce the tax on profits from the coupon income that the owners of such bonds bring.
This would make them more attractive so that issuers can raise finance faster and launch projects that are beneficial to the planet.
