World Resources Institute (WRI) and Initiative 20x20 are proud to introduce the first cohort of the Land Accelerator Latin America, a group of 15 entrepreneurs whose businesses restore degraded forests, farms, and pasture.
Building off past Land Accelerators in Africa and South Asia, this four-month, first-of-its-kind program trains and mentors leaders who develop sustainable and profitable businesses in the reforestation, agroforestry, and regenerative farming sectors.
The Land Accelerator connects these entrepreneurs with a team of dedicated mentors, technical expertise, marketing and networking opportunities, and investors to scale up their work and help countries meet their commitments to protect and restore more than 50 million hectares of land in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.
The program is funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Good Energies Foundation and supported by community partners Asesorandes and Fair Connection.
The Companies
Adapta Group
Daniele Cesano, daniele.cesano@gmail.com | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Type: Agroforestry
www.adaptagroup.com/
Brazil’s Adapta Group spreads agroforestry and regenerative farming techniques with the help of their app and a network of medium and large food and beverage companies.
Andean Pastoral Livelihood Initiative (APLI)
Mauricio Nuñez Oporto, mno1992@hotmail.com | Cusco, Peru
Type: Sustainable grasslands
APLI uplifts community livelihoods and landscape function through regenerative rangeland management. In partnership with 135 pastoral families as partners in Southern Peru, it brings sustainably-sourced yarn and fiber products from its partner cooperatives and producer associations to the local market and garment manufacturers.
Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge
Marlon Flores, marlon@riosandinos.net | Quito, Ecuador
Type: Reforestation
https://www.bellavistacloudforest.com/
Ecuador’s Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge brings together three hotels, dozens of tourism providers and local community groups to conserve wildlife and restore hundreds of hectares of rainmaking cloud forests.
Forestbambu Esencia del Bosque
Noelia Trillo Mendoza, gerencia@forestbambu.com | Satipo, Junín, Peru
Type: Reforestation
www.forestbambu.com/
Peru’s Forestbambu transforms bamboo oil into sustainable soaps, cosmetics, and beer by working with local farmers.
HEVEA
Juan Fernando Letona, jfletona@heveacr.com | Guácimo, Limón, Costa Rica
Type: Reforestation
www.heveacr.com/
Costa Rica’s HEVEA is growing 150,000 natural rubber trees on over 300 hectares of degraded pasture, creating a long-term source of income for local farmers.
Inversiones Agroforestales Regenerativas (INARSAC)
Andrea Sabelli, asabelli@lush.com | Puerto Maldonado, Peru
Type: Agroforestry
Peru’s Inversiones Agroforestales Regenerativas grows 100% traceable, ethical, and natural ingredients for the cosmetics industry – along with 64,000 trees – on its farm.
Kiwa Holding
Martin Acosta, martin@kiwalife.com | Sangolqui, Ecuador
Type: Low-carbon agriculture and avoided deforestation
www.kiwalife.com/
Ecuador’s Kiwa has sold $4.5 million in potato, cassava, Andean carrot, and beet chips. Now it's working with community farmers to introduce organic and restorative farming techniques across its supply chain.
Nature Lab World
Carl Jouaneau, carl.jouaneau@gmail.com | Campeche, Mexico
Type: Agroforestry
https://www.naturelab.world/
Mexico’s Nature Lab World is generating carbon credits by growing 32,000 native trees and bamboo for the market, seeking to expand its plantation from 80 to 600 hectares.
Nicaforest Plantations
Jimmy Hernández Robles, jimmyhdez@gmail.com | Santo Tomás, Chontales, Nicaragua
Type: Reforestation and silvopasture
www.nicaforest.com/
Nicaragua’s Nicaforest works with local landowners to revitalize damaged pasture and grow 91,000 FSC-certified cacao, teak, and native trees across 550 hectares.
Prontal
Yaritza Abreu, prontalmx@gmail.com | Palizada, Campeche México
Type: Reforestation
www.prontal.com.mx
Mexico’s Prontal harnesses the power of 25,000 native, dye-producing palo de tinto trees to transform abandoned pasture into sustainable commercial plantations.
Rancho 4 Diamantes
Anaitte Aguirre, tete@rancho4diamantes.com | Escuintla, Guatemala
Type: Silvopasture
www.rancho4diamantes.com/
Guatemala’s Rancho 4 Diamantes is a tree-filled sustainable cattle ranch that is growing the country’s first ethically-raised beef.
Relicto
Simon Guerrero, simon.guerrero@relicto.cl | Santiago, Chile
Type: Reforestation
https://relicto.cl/
Chile’s Relicto restores and conserves areas with high environmental value. Established in 2017, it has since preserved around 200 hectares of land each year.
Salus Mundi
German Mejía, german.mejia@salusmundi.co | Bogota, Colombia
Type: Low-carbon agriculture
https://www.salusmundi.co/
Colombia’s Salus Mundi creates organic solutions for farmers, municipalities, and companies on over 600 hectares that heal soil poisoned by oil, pests, and decades of abuse.
Seamos Bosques
Jorge M. Bellsolá Ferrer, jorge@seamosbosques.com.ar | Buenos Aires y Tucumán, Argentina
Type: Reforestation
https://www.seamosbosques.com.ar/
Argentina’s Seamos Bosques is helping forest owners tap into the global voluntary carbon market by planning restoration projects and procuring, planting, and monitoring 70,000 trees.
Te´etik Vida Sustentable
Juan Carlos Franco Guillén, carlos@cecropia.org | Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico
Type: Reforestation
teetik.com.mx | http://mercadosporunfuturosostenible.org/aliados/teetik/
Mexico’s Te’etik produces designer furniture and home goods from certified, ethically-sourced timber grown across 3,500 hectares of forest.
Demo Days
Watch these 15 companies pitch to a (virtual) room of investors: