Regenerative Fund for Nature
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Regenerative Fund for Nature
For the Good, from the ground up
From cotton to wool, or leather to cashmere, most clothing begins life as a raw material on a farm or rangeland. For this reason, the future of the fashion industry is inextricably linked with the future of agriculture. Though agriculture is currently a major driver of biodiversity loss and climate change, it can be transformed from a ‘problem’ to a powerful nature-based solution. To achieve this transformation, Kering and Conservation International launched the Regenerative Fund for Nature in 2021, with Inditex joining in 2023, with the aim of transforming 1,000,000 hectares of crop and rangelands in fashion’s supply chains into regenerative agricultural spaces by 2026
Regenerative agricultural practices have been proven to deliver the outcomes we need for the climate, nature and livelihoods. However, much more support is needed to drive this transition. This includes helping farmers and producers to make the change by introducing the right market mechanisms to scale up regenerative agricultural production. The Regenerative Fund for Nature was created to meet this need.
The Fund
Launched in January 2021, the Regenerative Fund for Nature is consistent with Kering’s Biodiversity strategy. It specifically illustrates the Group’s commitment to go one step even further in its efforts to preserve biodiversity, which is inextricably linked to the future of the luxury industry, but above all, that of our planet. On the one hand, the Fund seeks to show how nature, climate change and livelihoods can change for the better, thanks to transforming agricultural practices. On the other, it strives to support new responsible supply chain and sourcing approaches in the fashion industry by upscaling quality and quantity. Lastly, the Fund ultimately aims to provide concrete outcomes in terms of biodiversity and climate change, while at the same time supporting animal welfare and rural livelihoods by deploying the latest scientific tools and methods.
In practice, the Fund provides grants to farming groups, project leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders who are ready to test, prove and scale regenerative practices, which focus on working in harmony with natural systems.
For more information about eligibility, the application process, the funding cycle, and much more, please see the Fund's FAQ.
Act today for tomorrow
Current projects and grantees
Through grants and partnerships, the fund invests in farming communities, project leaders, and non-governmental organizations to implement regenerative approaches that create value and deliver measurable outcomes for nature, climate and livelihoods. With increasing positive impacts and the addition of new investment partners, the Regenerative Fund for Nature is at the forefront of reshaping the fashion industry’s relationship with nature.
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 fund we have the opportunity to expand the reach of the Fund and support additional projects.
Regenerative Fund for Nature: key figures
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Robert Rodale, son of American organic pioneer J.I. Rodale, used the term ‘regenerative’ to distinguish a kind of farming that goes beyond simply ‘sustainable’ regenerative agriculture:
“…takes advantage of the natural tendencies of ecosystems to regenerate when disturbed. In that primary sense it is distinguished from other types of agriculture that either oppose or ignore the value of those natural tendencies.”
While the way regenerative agriculture is practiced may vary depending on the region, soils, and type of crops or livestock, there are some key principles and outcomes that we use to define regenerative:
Regenerative agriculture both encompasses traditional, proven practices as well as innovation in management, measurement and practice. It is an alternative way of raising crops and animals that, by working with natural systems, ensures the long-term viability and resilience of the land to continue to provide for generations to come. The focus on restoration and regeneration of nature is about ‘doing more good’ through agriculture, rather than just ‘less bad’.
Discover what this means in cotton, leather, wool and cashmere
About our partnership
Conservation International is working to help introduce a new era in which regenerative agriculture is a global solution for people, nature and climate. By combining science, field programs, corporate partnerships and government engagement, Conservation International is aligning stakeholders around a common vision for regenerative agriculture, developing multi-stakeholder collaborations that incentivize and deliver on its promise.
With Inditex joining the Fund in 2023, we have the opportunity to expand the reach of the Fund and support additional projects. The Fund is open to other brands and holding companies and we hope others will join us to accelerate change.
