Acorn

Yesterday, the County Government of Taita Taveta (CGTT) led by His Excellency Governor Dr. Andrew Mwadime, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Solidaridad East and Central Africa led by our Regional Managing Director Rachel Wanyoike and Kenya Country Manager Hellen Wanjiru. The purpose of the MoU is to establish a framework for cooperation between the parties to advance mutual objectives in agricultural transformation and locally led climate action. This includes collaboration in implementing the Acting Now for Food Security and Resilient Food Systems project, which aims to contribute to food systems resilience, by supporting producers to build more resilient farms and food systems that are prepared for future climate change impact and economic vulnerabilities. Key Solidaridad East and Central Africa interventions in the county include climate smart agriculture, water efficient drip irrigation infrastructure, facilitating farmer-led cooperatives/groups to transition to farmer service hubs for inclusive service delivery, aggregation and B2B engagements for inclusive market connections, gender and social inclusion and climate action through our partnership with Acorn to offset carbon through carbon trading of removal units (CRUs). His Excellency governor Mwadime recognized Solidaridad for its impactful farmer-first interventiosn and pledged his administration's support for the Acting Now project and rolling out of the Acorn carbon project. The signing of the MoU marks the crowning of a thoroughly participatory process and is a critical step in our strategic partnerships with like-minded stakeholders in driving #ChangeThatMatters. Wairimu Kung'u Boniface Kirago ROBERT MUIGANA

What a great honour to accompany the Climate Envoy of the Netherlands, His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme during his visit to Colombia. Last week we had a unique occasion to not only discuss the progress made on the ground with our partners Cenipalma, IDH Colombia and Corporación APSColombia, to enable smallholder palm oil producers to better adapt to climate change, but also to highlight the mitigation contribution of the Acorn collaboration between Solidaridad Network Colombia and Rabobank on coffee and cocoa farms by removing #carbonemissions through #agroforestry, while regenerating soil health, conserving #biodiversity, restoring water quality and improving farmer incomes. It is encouraging to see a genuine dialogue between a global climate diplomacy leader and the local communities on the ground that lead the implementation of nature-based solutions. During a conversation with one of the Arhuaco spiritual leaders (so-called mamos), they explained their vision of their land, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta as a living organism, in which both material and spiritual relationships are structured. Peaks represent its head, the lagoons its eyes, rivers and streams its veins, the layers of soil are its muscles, and the trees are its hair. We discussed with the mamos the importance of Payment for Ecosystem Services (carbon, biodiversity, water) as a mechanism to expand the restoration of degraded land. But foremost, the need to balance agriculture and conservation, to sustain the livelihoods of rural communities in the future. Much appreciation for the work of ASOARHUACO SNSM, the support of Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken and the leadership of HRH Jaime de Bourbon de Parme.

We’re proud to share the prototype of our "Agroforestry Feasibility Tool", developed in partnership with Wageningen University & Research! 🌱 This dynamic, user-driven platform is designed to help transform agroforestry land-use planning, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions about potential agroforestry projects. This tool represents a big shift to interactive, customizable, context-sensitive planning. By integrating Acorn’s remote sensing expertise with research insights from Wageningen University, the interface allows users to prioritize the different metrics that are built into the tool’s step-by-step process, like soil conservation and water management. With continued collaboration from Professor Martha Bakker and Dr. Diego Valbuena, future plans for the tool include validating assumptions with field data, expanding the tool’s geographic scope, further development of the user interface, and adding further metrics to include biodiversity outcomes. A huge applause to our Geospatial Data Analyst, Tracy Chepkorir for leading this tool development at Acorn! 👏 Explore the tool yourself (link in the comments) Read more about the tool on our blog: https://lnkd.in/eyRpND9Z How do you see tools like this transforming land-use planning in your sector? #Sustainability #Innovation #Agroforestry #LandUsePlanning #TechForGood

Cereal Growers Association (CGA) and the County Government of Kericho have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a public-private partnership aimed at empowering smallholder farmers in the county through collaboration on various programs. The MOU signing was presided over by Governor H.E. Dr. Eric Mutai, Hon. Judith Chirchir, the County Executive Committee Member for Education and Acting County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock. CGA representatives included Dr. Moses Osia Mwanje, Business Partnerships and Development Lead, and Duncan Oalo, Regional Agribusiness Coordinator, among others. Also present were 20 farmers closely working with CGA in #Kericho County. CGA is implementing the Agroforestry Carbon Removal Units for Organic Restoration of Nature Project (Acorn) in Kericho County, alongside 11 other counties. This project aims to integrate sustainable agroforestry practices within farming communities, focusing on restoring degraded lands, enhancing soil fertility, and contributing to carbon removal efforts. Through this initiative, farmers will benefit from a more favourable environment for agricultural productivity while simultaneously helping to combat climate change by generating carbon credits. The County Government has committed to supporting the CGA-Acorn Agroforestry program. This MOU is expected to greatly enhance the services provided to smallholder farmers in Kericho County. #TogetherWeGrow

Farmers producing in balance with #nature is one of the outcomes that Solidaridad East and Central Africa works to achieve in order to score its strategic objective of good #practices. Not only do we support farmers to transition from conventional farming ways to sustainable and #climate smart agricultural practices, but we also support them to reap the payment for #ecosystem services through promotion of #agroforestry and access to #carbon markets. This week Solidaridad East and Central Africa participated in a #carbon project verification and #validation in Nandi County in #Kenya led by Ahalee Bhowmik form Carbon Check (India) Private Limited to assess the adherence of our carbon projects to the Acorn framework and methodology and also conformity to the Plan Vivo Foundation carbon projects certification standards. Verified carbon removal projects generate quality #carbon removal units that fetch higher prices in the carbon markets and the carbon credits received diversify farmers' #income which is also a number one source of motivation for adoption of good #practices. Solidaridad East and Central Africa Rachel Wanyoike Stephen Kithuka Margreet Muizebelt Alex Amanya Hellen Wanjiru Sweeny Binsari Wairimu Kung'u Tatambuka Samuel Ahalee Bhowmik mugo kamau faith maingi Betty Musembi Austine Ochieng

🌳 Tree planting update! 🌳   Happy to report that our Tanzania partner Kaderes Peasants Development PLc, have planted over 3.1 million seedlings during the 3 year period that they have been in partnership with Acorn! They have managed to do this by establishing two district nurseries in Missenyi and Muleba, with a capacity of 4 million seedlings per annum.   It has been an honour to see #smallholderfarmers in the Kagera region transform their farms into #agroforestry systems! Through the Acorn initiative, Kaderes farmers have been able to generate CRUs for 3 consecutive years. Farmers have continued to use the income from #CRUs to improve their farms and their livelihoods. Special thanks to Leonard Kachebonaho for leading his team to impact lives through agroforestry systems!   Update shared by Mary Wangari Chege Acorn Africa Partnerships Manager

🌳 Tree planting update! 🌳   Happy to report that our Tanzania partner Kaderes Peasants Development PLc, have planted over 3.1 million seedlings during the 3 year period that they have been in partnership with Acorn! They have managed to do this by establishing two district nurseries in Missenyi and Muleba, with a capacity of 4 million seedlings per annum.   It has been an honour to see #smallholderfarmers in the Kagera region transform their farms into #agroforestry systems! Through the Acorn initiative, Kaderes farmers have been able to generate CRUs for 3 consecutive years. Farmers have continued to use the income from #CRUs to improve their farms and their livelihoods. Special thanks to Leonard Kachebonaho for leading his team to impact lives through agroforestry systems!   Update shared by Mary Wangari Chege Acorn Africa Partnerships Manager

𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞 🤝 𝐑𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐀𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧: 𝐊𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧 𝐯𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐎𝟐-𝐨𝐩𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐮𝐫𝐳𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐰   Al ruim 13 jaar werken Rabobank en Koffiebranderij Peeze actief samen als het aankomt op koffie, zowel in de landen van oorsprong als op de Rabobank kantoren. Daar komt nu een nieuwe dimensie bij door de samenwerking aan te gaan met Rabobanks Acorn voor carbon insetting, ofwel koffieboeren financieel belonen voor CO2-opname door duurzame landbouw.   𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠? 🌳 Koffieboeren die de koffie voor Rabobank verbouwen, planten bomen op hun plantages in de transitie naar boslandbouw. 🌳 Acorn meet de CO2-opname met slimme technologieën en genereert op basis van deze metingen Carbon Removal Units (CRU’s). 🌳 Peeze koopt deze CRU’s om de CO2-uitstoot in de keten te compenseren. 🌳 80% van de CRU opbrengst gaat terug naar de boeren, als beloning voor het aanplanten en beheren van de bomen op hun land. Zo belonen we boeren voor hun transitie naar duurzamere landbouw en compenseren we ondertussen onze CO2 emissies in de keten.   Wil je meer lezen over deze innovatieve samenwerking en carbon insetting? https://lnkd.in/eRGvaAGg In samenwerking met Vebego en MAAS International BV

Today at Kiptulwa Ward, Bomet County, we had the pleasure of joining over 1000 farmers and officials from the National Government, Office of the Assistant County Commissioner (ACC), and County Government-Dept of Environment in distributing more than 10,000 tree seedlings to local farmers. This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation through our Acorn-Agroforestry Project. The event was well-attended, with over 17 Farmer Service Centers (FSCs) from across the county joining other farmers. FSCs play a crucial role in registering farmers for the Acorn-Agroforestry Project, which is being implemented by the Cereal Growers Association (CGA) and aims to enhance agroforestry practices that take out carbon from the atmosphere. During the event, farmers received teachings on various topics, including the benefits of agroforestry, proper tree-planting techniques, and sustainable farming practices. Experts from both the MoA and CGA provided hands-on demonstrations and answered questions, ensuring that farmers were left with a deeper understanding of how to integrate trees into their farming systems effectively. In addition to the educational sessions, there were also interactive workshops where farmers could share their experiences and learn from each other. The day concluded with a commitment from all participants to continue working together towards a greener and more sustainable future for Bomet County. #TogetherWeGrow Anthony Kioko, Oswald Miriti

This week marked a significant milestone for the CGA-Acorn Agroforestry team, led by Project Manager Oswald Miriti and Project Officer Simon Mwinzi, as they gathered in Naivasha for a Planning and Review Meeting under the theme "Laying a Firm Foundation for the Future." These planning and review meetings are crucial to the team's success, providing a structured opportunity for members to unite and align on their goals and objectives. The team engaged in comprehensive discussions to map out strategic plans for upcoming projects and initiatives. They also reflected on past performances, celebrating successes while identifying areas for improvement. This collaborative process not only establishes clear directions for future projects but also strengthens the team's unity and commitment. #TogetherWeGrow Anthony Kioko, Vyonne mukami