imagine walking into a shop. The shelves are empty. No vegetables, no bread, no fruit.The land that once grew our food has turned to dust. Farmers have abandoned their fields. What was once green and thriving is now barren and lifeless.This isn't some dystopian future hundreds of years from now. If we don't change something, studies show that within 60 years, our soils will be too depleted to grow food. That's within our children's lifetimes.No soil, no food. No soil, no future. And yet we treat soil as if ...

NATURAL GROCERS: PROUDLY SERVING THE NATURAL STATEHeadquartered in Colorado, Natural Grocers opened its first store in "The Natural State" in Fayetteville in 2015. Today, the company proudly serves Arkansans at three locations: "Natural Grocers started back in 1955 from very humble beginnings. As we expanded beyond our Colorado roots, we were embraced by health-conscious communities seeking high-quality natural and organic products at our Always AffordableSM prices," said Raquel Isely, vice president of mar ...

Core Viewpoint - Mondelēz International, Inc. is launching a new wave of impact-first investments through its Sustainable Futures Impact Investment platform, focusing on scalable solutions that address climate, community, and circularity, aligning with its sustainability strategy and Vision 2030 ambitions [1][4]. Investment Approach - The company employs a three-pronged investment strategy consisting of direct investments, fund investments, and technical assistance to scale promising solutions that generate measurable impact [2][4]. Direct Investments - New additions to the Sustainable Futures portfolio include investments in regenerative agriculture, inclusive financing, and circular packaging through innovative technology [4]. Fund Investments - Mondelēz International supports impact funds that align with its goal of catalyzing positive change across various geographies [3][4]. Technical Assistance - The company provides capacity-building support to early-stage ventures, helping validate their technologies through larger-scale pilots and scientific approaches [3][4]. Specific Investments - eAgronom is an ag-tech company aiding farmers in improving soil health and reducing carbon emissions, with over 1 million hectares under sustainable practices [5]. - ZIRO is a fintech startup providing affordable inventory financing to small merchants, aiming to reach approximately 100,000 merchants in three years [5]. - Pack2Earth is focused on replacing 60,000 metric tons of plastic packaging with compostable materials by 2028, part of a coalition supporting the Circulate Capital's Ocean Fund [5]. Impact Metrics - In 2024, investments in the Circulate Capital Ocean Fund contributed to circulating or avoiding over 7,600 tonnes of plastic, reducing more than 10,700 tonnes of GHG emissions, and creating over 34,900 tonnes in recycling infrastructure capacity across Southeast Asia and India [5]. Strategic Importance - Sustainability is a key pillar of Mondelēz International's growth strategy, with investments aimed at addressing challenges and creating long-term business resilience [6].

Since launching pep+ in September 2021, PepsiCo has made significant progress on regenerative agriculture and water stewardship and positive strides on sustainable packaging and climate change, while accounting for external realities and business growth. "As circumstances evolve, PepsiCo continually adapts how we source ingredients; make, move, and sell our products; and inspire people through our brands," said PepsiCo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta. "This journey is underpinned by pep+ ...

Q1 2025 REPORT PREVIEW The full report is available through the PitchBook Platform. Contents | Agtech landscape | 3 | | --- | --- | | Agtech VC ecosystem market map | 4 | | VC activity | 5 | | Agtech VC deal summary | 24 | Institutional Research Group EMERGING TECH RESEARCH Agtech VC Trends VC activity across the agtech ecosystem Analysis Alex Frederick Senior Research Analyst, Agtech and Foodtech alex.frederick@pitchbook.com Ben Riccio Associate Research Analyst ben.riccio@pitchbook.com Data Harrison Waldo ...

Core Insights - The Vita Coco Company, Inc. released its 2024 Impact Report, highlighting significant progress in its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, particularly through its Seedlings for Sustainability program [1][2] Group 1: Environmental Initiatives - The Seedlings for Sustainability initiative has successfully distributed over 1 million seedlings, moving towards a goal of 10 million by 2030 [2][7] - The company completed its first climate impact assessment, identifying supply chain vulnerabilities to weather changes, and implemented two water-reduction projects estimated to conserve 1.5 million liters annually [7] Group 2: Social Contributions - Vita Coco built three new classrooms in the Philippines, increasing the total to 39 schools and positively impacting over 24,500 students [7] - The Growing Roots Grant Program was launched in the U.S. to create green spaces at underserved schools, starting with Oak Street Elementary in Los Angeles [7] Group 3: Governance and Community Engagement - Approximately 97% of the company's primary packaging materials met its responsible packaging definition, and 100% of its branded products are certified non-GMO [7] - The company provided cash and in-kind donations to various nonprofit and community-based organizations across the U.S., U.K., Latin America, and Europe, addressing food insecurity and disaster relief [7] Group 4: Future Outlook - The company plans to expand its regenerative agriculture programs, set climate targets, and grow the reach of the Vita Coco Community Foundation [5]