The firm’s natural capital vehicle has invested in a 400ha regenerative almond project in Spain, while its carbon strategy has backed the two million ha Restore Africa initiative.
Eric Cooperstrom says Manulife’s Forest Climate Fund will support both internally developed projects and collaborations with established carbon development companies familiar with regional methodologies and regulation.
The New York-headquartered agribusiness firm will target 20-25 percent gross IRR through a mixture of control and growth equity investments from the fund.
Fifteen percent of the vehicle’s strategy will be devoted to loans of up to $25m to row and permanent crop operators who will be advised by the firm’s network of regional farm managers.
Frederik Östbye says the investment falls under Aliaxis Next’s remit to focus 30% of investments in markets that could impact the water engineering parent company’s business over the long term.
The firm’s latest forestry vehicle is eyeing price projections suggesting a single credit could sell for more than $30 on the voluntary market by 2030.