June 11, 2024

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Mirova, an affiliate of sustainability-focused investor Natixis Investment Managers, has formed a strategic partnership with The Rainforest Alliance to scale up locally led and nature-based solutions. 

This partnership has its foundation in the mutual dedication to promote sustainability across food and agriculture, biodiversity, conservation, and climate resilience. 

With 35 years of expertise, the Rainforest Alliance forges alliances among farmers, citizens, companies, and investors to advance regenerative practices across more than 60 countries. 

And, as a Certified-B Corp., Mirova has participated in financing more than 70 projects and companies contributing to the protection and restoration of nature in emerging economies and developing markets.

With a goal to unlock a better future for climate, biodiversity, and local communities, the pair will leverage Mirova’s second investment strategy – a €350 million(US$375.4 million) vehicle dedicated to sustainable land use that will target impact investing initiatives across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. 

By bringing access to Mirova’s financing and the Rainforest Alliance’s certification to these regions, the partnership aims to bridge the nature-based solutions (NBS) financing gap – a requirement of tripling current levels to $542 billion per year by 2030. It also will advance the Rainforest Alliance’s mission by accelerating both the speed and scale of its impact toward its goal of impacting 100 million farmers and workers by 2030. 

“Mirova and the Rainforest Alliance share a common vision: to accelerate the transition from nature-dependent economic value chains to a more sustainable model which improves the incomes and rights of local communities, it is essential to foster collective intelligence and collaboration among all stakeholders,” said Anne-Laurence Roucher, deputy CEO and head of private equity and natural capital, Mirova. “This partnership will allow more developers of nature-positive projects to access high-quality certification and funding to grow their business.”

Through its process, this partnership will highlight:

Collaborative efforts: Beginning with Mirova’s investment strategy, this collaboration will facilitate the identification of investment opportunities for promoting locally led and nature-based solutions, such as agroforestry and regenerative agriculture, drawing on the Rainforest Alliance’s presence on the ground. 

Shared belief in NBS: Regenerative agriculture enhances soil health, carbon sequestration, and water retention, while agroforestry integrates trees into agricultural systems, promoting biodiversity and generating extra income streams for farmers. 

Geographic focus: The partnership will focus its efforts where sustainable impact investment is needed most – Africa, Latin America, and Asia. As partners, Mirova will also collaborate directly with project holders to assess their eligibility for certification, while the Rainforest Alliance will help promote Mirova’s financing solutions to farmers already enrolled in its programs. 

“We need partnerships like this to accelerate the shift of agriculture and forestry to net-positive at a meaningful speed and scale,” said Santiago Gowland, CEO, the Rainforest Alliance. “By connecting impact investors like Mirova with the Rainforest Alliance’s proven on-the-ground impact, we can mobilize private capital for a just, regenerative transition.”

“Together, we can help address the green finance gap and provide farmers with the capital they need to adopt more sustainable and regenerative practices, enabling both them and the land to thrive.” 

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and Agtech Intel News. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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