Amazon Food & Forest: Regenerating the Amazon and Empowering Local Communities

The Amazon Food & Forest is a groundbreaking initiative envisioned by Gabriel Ribenboim, CEO of Impact not a Bank, with significant contributions from the dedicated Impact team. This innovative program addresses climate change and social inequality on a large scale by providing support, blended financing, and empowering local regenerative businesses to enhance, monitor, and monetize their positive impact.

One of the program’s core components is the Tucum Fund, which focuses on financing the Indigenous bioeconomy through sustainable and impactful income-generating initiatives with controlled risk. These initiatives not only drive economic development in Indigenous communities but also uphold traditional knowledge and natural resources while ensuring environmental and cultural preservation.

The Amazon Food & Forest also stands out for its strong ecosystem of partners and accelerators. In March 2023, the program was selected by The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). This milestone represents a major step forward in creating more attractive financing mechanisms for investors while maximizing impact for local communities and the environment.

My Role

As an Advisor to the Amazon Food & Forest program, I contribute to the strategic vision and implementation of its initiatives. My role includes fostering partnerships, leveraging my network to connect with key stakeholders, and supporting the design of sustainable models that align with the program’s goals of regeneration and impact.

Goals for the Future

Over the next five years, the Amazon Food & Forest aims to achieve:

• 20 million tons of CO₂ avoided and/or increased carbon stocks.

• 5 million hectares of conserved areas.

• 50,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, enhancing community resilience and adaptation.

• Support for more than 100 Indigenous and traditional ethnic groups.

A Vision Rooted in Collaboration

At the heart of the program is its robust Collaborative Partnership Initiative (CPI) and ecosystem of accelerators, which bring together organizations, investors, and local communities to scale impactful solutions. This collaborative approach ensures that the program not only delivers measurable results but also fosters long-term sustainability for the Amazon and its people.

The Amazon Food & Forest is more than a program—it’s a movement that integrates finance, ecology, and community empowerment to create a sustainable future. By regenerating the Amazon and uplifting its local populations, the program demonstrates how innovative solutions can address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.