Shaping a Regenerative Future for Natural Fibres
The Natural Fibre Connect 2025 (NFC 2025) event held in Edinburgh brought together over 160 delegates from 27 countries and engaged more than 1,000 virtual participants in discussions focused on mobilizing finance to restore global rangelands through sustainable livestock fibre value chains. This global platform, featuring key organizations in the lamb, alpaca, cashmere and mohair industries, moved beyond merely discussing sustainability; it aimed to actively identify collaborative solutions that can transform the entire natural fibre industry.
Unlocking Investment for Rangeland Restoration
Central to the discussions at NFC 2025 was a session emphasizing the need to blend finance for rangeland restoration. Lennart Hientz, a Global Livestock Investment Specialist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), illustrated how combining public, philanthropic, and private investments can lower risks associated with capital costs. This ‘blended finance’ model is designed to attract private sector investment into crucial rangeland projects while ensuring measurable climate change benefits.
The Economic Imperative of Healthy Rangelands
Speakers long stressed that restoring rangelands is not just an environmental goal, but an economic necessity. As Una Jones, CEO of the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) pointed out, health rangelands directly support the livelihoods of a large segment of Mongolia's population dependent on livestock herding. It's a clear reminder that when land is treated well, it yields beneficial results for both communities and the environment.
Collaborative Approaches for Long-Term Solutions
The conference highlighted that successful restoration efforts necessitate the inclusion of all stakeholders—from producers and policymakers to consumers and investors. The focus was not purely on government-led initiatives, as highlighted by Xenya Scanlon from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Collaboration across sectors is crucial. The upcoming International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026 is anticipated to catalyze these partnerships further, emphasizing that every stakeholder has a role to play in sustainable land management.
Convergence of Science and Investment
A critical takeaway from NFC 2025 is the growing necessity for credible, science-backed monitoring systems. Investors now demand clear data on the environmental impacts of their investments. This emerging consensus underscores the importance of aligning financial performance with environmental goals, ensuring the future competitiveness of natural fibre industries. Moving forward, the focus will be on translating discussions into actionable strategies.
This event marks a significant step toward sustainable livestock fibre production and the restoration of vital rangelands, making the convergence of economic incentives and ecological integrity more critical than ever.
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