French luxury goods group, Kering and Conservation International, the American nonprofit environmental organization, revealed the first seven grantees from Kering's Regenerative Fund for Nature.

The Regenerative Fund for Nature's first round of financing will go to initiatives that will assist drive the transformation of 1 million hectares of land in the luxury and fashion’s cotton, wool, cashmere, and leather supply chains to regenerative methods.

In January, the Regenerative Fund for Nature was established with the goal of converting 1 million hectares of farms and landscapes that produce raw materials for fashion supply chains to regenerative farming techniques over the following five years.

The first seven grantees were chosen from 73 submissions from 17 countries and represent South America, Central Asia, India, Europe, and Africa.

Applications were evaluated based on their alignment with the Fund's goals, opportunities to scale the regenerative programs, important environmental indicators, and "game-changer potential." A scientific investigation has previously identified key priority locations to maximize the potential to contribute to beneficial climate, environmental, and livelihood outcomes through luxury and fashion supply chains.

Marie-Claire Daveu, chief sustainability and institutional affairs officer for Kering, said that this next phase of their Regenerative Fund for Nature's implementation is critical to Kering's objective of having a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2025. They received a tremendous response, and the first grantees were chosen from excellent proposals, demonstrating both the appetite and the opportunity to scale regenerative farming practices globally.

Daveu added that they’re exploring and leveraging different actions to support additional projects under the Fund that will maximize a positive impact on biodiversity restoration in the luxury and fashion supply chains.

The Regenerative Fund for Nature's inaugural grantees represents a varied and powerful portfolio of vitally important landscapes in need of better care. They will first assist the transformation of approximately 840,000 hectares to regenerative agricultural practices, directly benefiting 60,000 people working in local and large-scale farming systems.

The seven grantees include The Good Growth Company (GGC), partners with cashmere goat herders in Mongolia; Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA), works in transitioning conventional cotton farmers to regenerative as well as maximizing the adoption of regenerative practices by organic producers in India; Fundación Global Nature, restoring traditional grazing systems alongside goat shepherds in Spain; Solidaridad, works with indigenous smallholder cattle producers in Argentina and restoring native forests and vegetation; Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and The Wildlife-Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN), focusing on co-existence with wildlife and sheep wool production in Patagonia; Conservation South Africa, implementation of regenerative agricultural practices in South African biodiversity; and Epiterre, the increase in plant diversity for positive ecological outcomes.

Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International, said that global change always starts at home, which is why they're thrilled to partner with Kering to support grassroots conservation activities on four continents through the Regenerative Fund for Nature. They know that Indigenous peoples and local communities must be included on the path to a sustainable, nature-positive future, so as they move into the next phase of the Fund, they will continue to monitor progress with Kering to ensure that initiatives are delivering measurable environmental and, more importantly, local livelihood outcomes.