Marisa led an inquiry into what was need to support small scale farmers and identified the problem was a lack of infrastructure that helped them process their livestock affordably and add value to it. The impact of this was that large scale intensive producers were undercutting them and facilities like small local abattoirs were going bust. In 2020 Marisa wrote a high profile report identifying the problems and outlining the solutions. Since that time she has been instrumental in getting a Government task group set up, changing legislation and speaking at farming and small rural business events across the country. Funding for the work to support the provision of infrastructure and services for small scale farmers was announced in February 2023 and Marisa has been working over the summer with organisations like the National Craft Butchers and Sustainable Food Trust with DEFRA to define how the funding could best work and Government are due to launch the fund shortly.
Marisa said,
"I am so proud of the work we have done to stop the number of small scale farmers selling their land and giving up. These farmers are crucial to local businesses - the high street butcher, the artisan pie maker, the gastro pub, the petfood start up. Everyone wants vibrant high streets and farmers do play a huge role in delivering that. I am really hopeful that we can use this funding to make a substantial difference although I recognise we still have much more work to do."
