Fondaction Asset Management, the impact investing arm of Montreal-based pension fund Fondaction, and Dutch impact investor Triodos Investment Management are looking to raise €300 million ($354 million) to prove that regenerative agriculture and forestry can outperform conventional land management, financially and ecologically.
“There is growing momentum behind the idea that investing in nature is not only necessary, but viable at scale for institutional investors,” said Philippe Crête of Fondaction, which will manage the fund and is anchoring it C$25 million (US$18 million). “This new fund aims to demonstrate that regenerative land use, whether applied in a farming or forestry context, can deliver meaningful environmental and social outcomes and greater long-term value to investors,” Crête said.
Regenerative roadmap
The Value Nature Fund plans to deploy half of its capital in Canada and the US and the other half in Europe. The fund is looking to invest in agriculture and forestry assets managed by mission-aligned operators, and to acquire and restore degraded or commercially-managed lands.
“As a Canadian asset manager, we have a particular interest in identifying opportunities within Canada’s forestry and agricultural sectors, including partnerships with Indigenous-led and community-based initiatives,” said Crête.
