Laudes Foundation, IDH and WWF India come together to power a regenerative production landscape
14th October, 2020 - Laudes Foundation, IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative and WWF India, have launched ‘Regenerative Production Landscape: People, Nature, Economy’, a landscape programme based on regenerative and restorative farming principles in Madhya Pradesh, India.
The landscape programme offers an opportunity to develop business models that work on conserving natural resources such as soil, water, biodiversity and give more power to the producers who are lowest in the supply chain so that they can get a fair value for their efforts. This holistic approach will shift from a commodity focused lens to a place-based development model, bring companies together to source responsibly and make inclusive decisions with community and producer organisations the norm.
Regenerative Production Landscape: People, Nature, Economy will build a sustainable landscape with administrative jurisdiction as the boundary in Chhindwara region of Madhya Pradesh, India to begin with. This will be a first of its kind partnership in the region to shift focus from a single commodity to the entire district. Chhindwara, as a sustainable landscape will become a geographical region that endorses synergies between economic, social and environmental goals with various stakeholders.
“For a transition to a just and regenerative economy, it is important for all stakeholders, producers, businesses, governments, investors and donors, to act as agents of change. Putting to test such an approach can bring innovative and inclusive solutions that are co-developed around a common agenda and vision. We must begin to face the fact that for system level shifts business as usual will just not cut it,” says Anita Chester, Head of Materials at Laudes Foundation.
The programme is an innovative jurisdictional model that will foster agricultural ecosystems to create, catalyse and scale a model where:
- a locally driven, multi-stakeholder governance structure drives market transformation of commodity value chains like cotton, food crops, fruits and vegetables;
- producers grow agri-commodities using natural and regenerative farming principles that restore natural resources and reduce emissions from farming systems;
- smallholder farmers and communities thrive, through improved economic stability, enhanced livelihoods and greater participation in decision making;
- government institutions enable sustainable and green growth; and
- businesses are able to source responsibly while creating inclusive supply chain relationships.
IDH will bring its Production, Protection and Inclusion integrated landscape approach to the region for long term development. “We strongly believe in the proposition of this approach – investing in sustainable production, improving smallholder livelihoods, growing the economy and in return, managing our natural resources sustainably. It is a partnership between the business, community and the government – and one that is locally owned and locally driven. Our plans and approaches start from a vision that sustainable impact will only last when there is a viable business case for farmers, as well as an infusion of investment that drives the supply chains - traders, buyers – in moving sustainability from niche to norm. We are excited about this partnership, to collectively drive transformation in Madhya Pradesh” says Pramit Chanda, Country Director – India, at IDH.
Building a coalition for change
Over the last five years, Laudes Foundation and WWF India have engaged with farmers and farmer groups, private sector and government as they developed farm centric interventions in Madhya Pradesh, India. IDH brings a track record of convening landscape programmes in 16 countries in Asia, South America and Africa – and catalysing markets and investments for sustainable change at scale. The collective vision is to now transition from a farm-centric approach to a contiguous landscape, that leverages a diversified cropping system, enabling farmer communities to earn a decent livelihood and practice farming that heals the environment.
“Conserving natural resources, forests and wildlife is the cornerstone of sustainable development. Forest Agriculture Mosaics that exist in biodiversity rich areas, such as in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh should be effectively managed through sustainable agriculture practices, strengthening of market linkages and support to farmers to develop economically viable agriculture practices. This platform allows various stakeholders to come together contribute to a regenerative production landscape and strengthening farmer resiliency to shocks in the future” Says Dr. Vidya Soundarajan, Director Ecological Footprint at WWF India
Regenerative Production Landscape: People, Nature, Economy is a first step towards a reimagined future with these three organisations. The time is now for others to join in and do more together.
About Chhindwarra: The implementation district
This phase will be implemented in the Sausar and Mohkhed blocks of the Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, India. The region is ecologically sensitive and is at a great risk of biodiversity and habitat loss. Major crops grown in Chhindwara include cotton, soybean and maize. Other crops include fruits (orange, mangoes and guava) and spices (such as turmeric, chili and black pepper). Working in the region would focus on supporting the smallholder farmers in transitioning towards sustainable farming through capacity development and creating a market value for sustainable produce, while also have a positive impact on the region’s ecology.
About Laudes Foundation
Laudes Foundation is an independent foundation joining the growing movement to accelerate the transition to a just and regenerative economy. Responding to the dual crises of climate breakdown and inequality, Laudes supports brave action that will inspire and challenge industry to harness its power for good. Part of the Brenninkmeijer family enterprise and learning from six generations of entrepreneurship and philanthropy, Laudes Foundation advances the work of C&A Foundation to work collaboratively and persistently to both influence capital and transform industry, starting with the built environment and fashion industries.
About IDH
IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative convenes companies, CSOs, governments and others in public-private partnerships and drives the joint design, co-funding and prototyping of economically viable approaches to realize green & inclusive growth at scale. In 12 sectors and 16 landscapes in over 40 countries worldwide, IDH leverages business interest to drive sustainability from niche to norm, creating impact@scale on the Sustainable Development goals. For sustainable landscape management, IDH has developed a three-pronged approach of Production, Protection & Inclusion – where agricultural products are grown sustainably (Production), forests and natural resources are safeguarded (Protection), and communities thrive (Inclusion).
About WWF India
WWF India is committed to creating and demonstrating practical solutions that help conserve India’s ecosystems and rich biodiversity. Marking 50 years of conservation journey in the country, WWF India works towards finding science-based and sustainable solutions to address challenges at the interface of development and conservation. Today, with over 70 offices across 20 states, WWF India’s work spans across thematic areas including the conservation of key wildlife species and their habitats, management of rivers, wetlands and their ecosystems, climate change adaptation, driving sustainable solutions for business and agriculture, empowering local communities as stewards of conservation, combatting illegal wildlife trade and inspiring students and citizens to take positive action for the environment through outreach and awareness campaigns. WWF India is part of the WWF International Network, with presence in over 100 countries across the globe. http://www.wwfindia.org
For more information, please contact
Mrinalini Prasad
Assistant Manager, Communications, IDH
For media queries, please contact
Stephanie Klotz
Sr Brand & Communications Manager, Laudes Foundation
