Regenerative business

Carbon Bank - Rabobank

Regenerative agriculture works when the business case works. We helped establish the Rabobank Carbon Bank to explore and scale viable revenue models around regenerative agriculture and forestry. With tangible results: forests planted, carbon stored, and farmers earning from nature restoration.

Research & Strategy Concept & Design Co-creation & Realisation 2020-2026
Carbon Bank - Rabobank. The image shows the boundary between nature and agriculture in a Brazilian rainforest. Carbon Bank initiatives in this area have led to reforestation funded through the carbon credit market. This new business opportunity for farmers is both good for nature and economically beneficial.
Carbon Bank - Rabobank. The image shows the boundary between nature and agriculture in a Brazilian rainforest. Carbon Bank initiatives in this area have led to reforestation funded through the carbon credit market. This new business opportunity for farmers is both good for nature and economically beneficial. 2
Carbon Bank - Rabobank. The image shows the boundary between nature and agriculture in a Brazilian rainforest. Carbon Bank initiatives in this area have led to reforestation funded through the carbon credit market. This new business opportunity for farmers is both good for nature and economically beneficial. 3
Carbon Bank - Rabobank. The image shows the boundary between nature and agriculture in a Brazilian rainforest. Carbon Bank initiatives in this area have led to reforestation funded through the carbon credit market. This new business opportunity for farmers is both good for nature and economically beneficial. 4
Carbon Bank - Rabobank. The image shows the boundary between nature and agriculture in a Brazilian rainforest. Carbon Bank initiatives in this area have led to reforestation funded through the carbon credit market. This new business opportunity for farmers is both good for nature and economically beneficial. 5
Carbon Bank - Rabobank. The image shows the boundary between nature and agriculture in a Brazilian rainforest. Carbon Bank initiatives in this area have led to reforestation funded through the carbon credit market. This new business opportunity for farmers is both good for nature and economically beneficial. 6
Carbon Bank - Rabobank. The image shows the boundary between nature and agriculture in a Brazilian rainforest. Carbon Bank initiatives in this area have led to reforestation funded through the carbon credit market. This new business opportunity for farmers is both good for nature and economically beneficial. 7
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Challenge

Rabobank wanted to help its farmer clients become more sustainable and gain access to carbon markets for CO2 storage. Regenerative agriculture and reforestation are only attractive to landowners when there is a strong business case behind them. New expertise is also required, and implementation partners need to be trusted.

Our role

Kim and Maarten played leading roles in setting up the Rabo Carbon Bank. Kim served as strategic lead, covering internal and external positioning and managing regenerative agriculture projects in the US, Brazil and New Zealand. Maarten founded a reforestation project for farmers in Brazil, launched the pilot, set up certification and successfully facilitated the transition to a third party outside the bank.

Result

10,000 hectares of regenerative agriculture were initiated, 100 hectares of biodiverse forest were planted and 1,000 hectares of existing forest were protected. The work became a showcase for other farmers in the region. Within Rabobank, projects like these are now recognised as investment opportunities and as inspiration for other departments.

All projects