Kennedys joins global accelerator programme to tackle biodiversity and climate change

We are partnering with environmental consultancy Bright Tide to deliver a Regenerative Farming Accelerator. Bringing together land and ocean farming practices, the ground-breaking global programme ensures a holistic approach to sustainable food production by supporting businesses addressing biodiversity loss and climate change.

The world is facing an unprecedented convergence of environmental crises. As highlighted in our 'Global Forecast 2024: Evolving insurance risks report', biodiversity loss is emerging as a parallel challenge to climate risk. Our global food system is not helping, with the United Nations Environment Programme estimating that it is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, with agriculture alone being the identified threat to 24,000 of the 28,000 species at risk of extinction.  

Technological change will be instrumental in resolving the climate emergency. This global endeavor will see 20 businesses developing regenerative land and ocean farming solutions around the world, as part of an eight-week programme beginning in March.

As a founding partner, Kennedys will provide technical and advisory legal support to the cohort to help build and develop each businesses’ impact. In addition, we are curating and taking part in a series of events being held at the House of Commons, amongst other venues, to network and connect with each of the ventures involved. Kennedys will bring its deep expertise and insights on global sustainability and innovative solutions, by drawing upon colleagues from around the globe, to speak at various events and webinars.

Other founding partners are: Bankers for Net Zero, Hogan Lovells, Credit Nature, Eco Suli, Cadman Capital Group and Base Business and Sustainable Enterprise.

The programme will conclude with a showcase event hosted at Barclays, where each business will use their newly acquired knowledge and expertise to pitch their work to secure future investment and corporate support.

The businesses selected to take part are:

• On land: Nunwell Farm, New Foundation Farms, Wildfarmed, Gentle Farming, Sea Water Solutions, Agreed Earth, Tierra Foods, Chirrup AI, ReGeneration and Afro Valley.
• At sea: Algapelago, Atlantic Mariculture, Pine Island Redfish, Aquit, Three-Sixty Aquaculture, Ficosteera, Healthy Seaweed Cafe, Oyster Restoration Company, Ole Blu and Sea Ventures.

Monica Tocarruncho Mantilla, a partner at Kennedys, explains: "Our lawyers across the globe are intimately involved in guiding clients as they look to devise and implement sustainable, innovative solutions to meet the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change. As a responsible global business, it is integral that we immerse ourselves in these issues and are at the forefront of driving change and bringing new ideas to our clients, colleagues and wider ecosystem to ultimately have a positive impact.”

Deborah Newberry, corporate affairs director for Kennedys, says: “I am looking forward to meeting and working with the businesses involved. The programme is designed to bring together a wide range of solutions, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology. The combined values of such transformative technologies should deliver new opportunities for addressing the current challenges. We feel strongly that by working in partnership and embracing the concept of open innovation, this cohort can make a real difference.”

Kate Hursthouse, global head of responsible business for Kennedys, adds: “As a business serving all corners of the globe and many industry sectors, we are uniquely positioned to make a real difference. We want to be a business that does the right thing, leads by example and proactively seeks opportunities to make a positive impact on people and the planet.

“As such, we have an unwavering sense of purpose when it comes to looking for innovative solutions and forging partnerships that ensure we are making a significant contribution to solving shared challenges with our clients, suppliers and community partners.”

Kennedys’ latest responsible business report for 2023 can be found here.