Featured Articles
From Honest to Just: How Coca-Cola’s Fumble with Honest Tea Turned into an Unexpected Gift
Two years ago Coca-Cola told me that Honest Tea, the brand I launched, would be discontinued. Despite its success as the first organic and Fair Trade certified bottled tea brand, supply chain disruptions during the pandemic made it a victim of Coke’s new strategy. But what felt like a huge setback turned out to be a gift, and an interesting lesson in the challenges big corporations have in scaling mission-driven brands.
Investing in Value Creation through Regenerative Agriculture
The Food and Ag industry contributes a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and its supply chains have become increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including changing patterns of drought, precipitation, and extreme heat. So, a new approach is needed and as investors, we can influence the move away from the extractive and exploitative status quo, which has significant negative externalities, and transition to a more resilient system that can thrive over the long term.
Weather’s Impact on Investing in US Agriculture: Navigating the New Normal
Napa cabernet. Florida oranges. Georgia peaches. Washington apples. Why are crops so associated with places? As an investor, it's crucial to recognize the impact that weather and climate have on Ag. Weather patterns dictate the success or failure of crops, influence land management decisions, and shape the financial landscape for Ag investments. Understanding these interactions, and their changes, is critical to not only the farmer working the land, but those investing in it.
Pioneers in Organic Winemaking
Frey Vineyards started as a commitment to organic Ag and winemaking when there was none. In 1980, Katrina and Jonathan Frey made their first barrel of wine. They both had become organic farmers, under Alan Chadwick's tutelage, and decided to embark on their enterprise: founding America's first organic winery. With the support of Jonathan's brother Matthew, they built the first winery, became certified organic, and started fermenting Frey wine. Pioneering the only organic winery at the time.
Additional Articles
Funding Local Food Systems to Meet the Impacts of a Changing Climate
The resilience of our food system requires diversification, which means an emphasis on localized processing, distribution, and retail. Ag and food system lending is an area that many mainstream banks hesitate to engage in. However, more CDFIs are prioritizing investment in food systems, seeing it as core to building community resilience and meeting their mission to provide capital access to more people, businesses, and communities.
Climate Change Could Increase Food Inflation Globally
Climate change will increase food inflation by as much as 4% in some parts of the world by 2060, a new joint study from a climate scientist and the ECB found. Looking at monthly price indices across 121 countries along with temperature and precipitation factors since 1996, the analysis found a consistent price increase in food and inflation as temperatures rose. The cost of food could increase by 1.5% to 1.8% annually.
Natural Industry Growth Accelerates
“Between 2007 and 2012 we added $40 billion in consumer sales. That growth doubled to $80 billion added between 2018 and 2023. And we're anticipating continued accelerated growth for our industry as consumers increasingly of all generations demand healthier, better for you, more sustainable, more regenerative, natural, organic and conscious products,” said New Hope Network’s Carlotta Mast
Pet Food and Regenerative Organic Agriculture
“We recognized the need for transparency and accountability in pet food production. We believe it is our responsibility to our pets to be good stewards of the land and replenish the soil that produces the food we eat. Our goals include rebuilding topsoil, increasing carbon capture, and growing food in the most sustainable way possible to transform the health of pets and the planet,” said John Dewberry, Cave Pets
Transformative 25: Catalytic Funds Raise $1 Billion for Non-extractive Finance
CAJF has released their new Transformative 25 (T25) list of impact first community informed capital funds, banks, and initiatives transforming the finance sector towards one that enriches people and the planet. T25 funds employ a mix of holistic strategies such as diverse leadership, integrated capital, creative financial tools, regenerative returns, values-aligned mission, and more to drive transformative change in finance.
Green Century’s Leslie Samuelrich Named to Prestigious Barron’s List
For the second consecutive year, Leslie Samuelrich, President of Green Century Funds, was named to the Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance, joining a corps of noteworthy women in government, technology, banking and financial powerhouses. Leslie has been a vocal and active leader, promoting environmentally and sustainable investing for the past 10 years at the helm of Green Century.
