The Regenerative Fund for Nature has started inviting proposals for the 2024 grant cycle. The Fund is inviting project applications related to four raw material supply chains: cotton, leather (bovine, caprine, ovine), cashmere and wool.
- Qualified applicants can submit a short letter of inquiry (LOI) prior to a full application for this grant cycle. The deadline for submitting the letter is 12 November 2023. This is required before qualifying for the full application submission.
- On 15 December 2023, qualifying applicants will be notified and invited to submit a full proposal. Final awards will be announced in March 2024.
The Funding: The current funding is open to raw material projects in the following eligible countries: Argentina, Mexico, Peru, the United States, Turkey, Uganda, India, Tanzania, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Greece, Morocco, South Africa, New Zealand, Uruguay, China (Inner Mongolia), and Mongolia.
- For projects within these supply chains and countries, the Fund is offering grants ranging from $120,000 to $620,000 (or €100,000 to €500,000) with a project duration of 3–5 years.
- Eligible applicants include micro, small & medium enterprises, farming groups, project developers and raw material aggregators committed to regenerative agriculture.
The Fund: The Regenerative Fund for Nature was established in 2021 by Conservation International and the global Luxury group Kering—with Inditex joining in 2023. The mission is to support innovative agricultural practices and transform the supply chains that provide the raw materials for fashion.
- The Fund provides grants to farming groups, project leaders, non-governmental organisations and others that are ready to test, prove and scale practices that ensure the long-term health of the land while delivering benefits for farmers, nature and the climate.
The Regenerative Fund for Nature focuses on five core principles, which guide project selection and design:
- Soil health: Increasing lands’ capacity to sequester carbon, hold and filter water, and improve other elements of soil functionality.
- Biodiversity: Protecting, restoring and enhancing biodiversity, both on farms and in surrounding lands.
- Livelihoods: Supporting the livelihoods of farmers and local communities.
- Synthetic inputs: Reducing and eliminating the use of synthetic agrochemicals by favouring ecological solutions.
- Animal welfare: Enhancing the welfare of farmed livestock and surrounding wildlife.
The Projects: The Regenerative Fund for Nature’s first grants were funded by Kering and awarded to seven projects that are supporting cotton, wool, leather and cashmere producers in their efforts to transition to regenerative agriculture across 840,000 hectares (2 million acres) of land.
- With Inditex joining the initiative, the Fund can now expand its reach and support additional projects.
