100 million Euros for agroforestry investments

Compagnie Benjamin de Rothschild (CBR) is working to raise around US$130 million for the Moringa Fund, for investment in agroforestry projects in Africa and Latin America. The fund is expected to last for 15 years.

The projects that will be funded will either demonstrate that they reduce the amount of money rural farmers are spending on fertilizers and pesticides or they must have clear means to substantially improve the condition of degraded soils.

According to the author Mark Nicholls, "CBR hopes to get financial help from development finance institutions alongside institutional and private investors".

"Investee projects will produce forestry assets to address local or international markets. Projects that the fund is considering will, in addition, produce crops such as manioc, cassava and cashew nuts or raise livestock, to name a few examples" said Martin Poulsen, the fund's co-head.

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