“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
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.
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.
From May 2024 Issue – 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.
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.
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.
This series of nine new global benchmarks, underpinned by the Sustainalytics Low Carbon Transition Ratings, will help investors target a broad range of companies that are leading their peers in their readiness for – and action towards – transitioning to a low-carbon economy. A few companies included in the indexes for leading the way in their approach to climate transition and net zero include Taiwan Semiconductor and BMW.
Now in its 13th year, the ImpactAssets 50 is the most recognized free database of impact investment fund managers. This list is a gateway into the world of impact investing for investors, financial advisors, and philanthropists. The IA 50 offers an easy way to identify experienced and emerging impact fund managers and illustrates the breadth of impact fund managers operating across geographies, sectors and asset classes.
As far as life goes, priorities can’t get much bigger than Water. As far as the financial markets, Water is such a huge fundamental risk that it could cause another recession or financial crisis when we reach a tipping point. Studies have found that companies with poor Indigenous Peoples (IP) risk management also had low ESG social performance ratings and higher risk.
Water is the essence of life, and yet it is almost universally taken for granted. This is at a time when we are seeing unprecedented and dire water issues globally. Water is managed as a resource (i.e., drinking water) and a waste product (i.e., stormwater) while also being managed as both a business and as a common good. Population growth and new housing development are two major issues underlying the need to find more water, yet water is often not linked to land use management.
