EDD’s State Plan identifies sustainable and value-added agriculture as one of 9 target industries for economic development to build a diverse and robust economy that engages local talent, cultivates innovation, and delivers prosperity for all New Mexicans.

The following excerpts from the State Plan speak to the need for technical assistance and financial tools tailored to small-midscale food processing and agricultural operations.

Learn more about sustainable and value-added agriculture in the state plan.

“Agriculture, particularly of the sustainable variety, is a capital-intensive industry with significant up-front costs associated with investments in land and industrial infrastructure, such as heavy machinery. The ability for agricultural firms to easily access capital is a necessity for the establishment of a technology-enabled and sustainable agriculture industry…

…Stakeholders have indicated that New Mexico’s agriculture industry remains well-positioned to expand into the future. However, this expansion will require the state and stakeholders to capitalize on a number of opportunities arising in the near- and mid-term; many of these opportunities will require investments in financing mechanisms, education and training programs, and industry-relevant infrastructure development…

..Increasing food processing capacity in New Mexico will require additional and more stable funding mechanisms for producers in the state…the establishment of a revolving loan fund or non-traditional lending program for New Mexico’s agriculture industry could help the state expand food processing operations in rural and urban regions of the state.”