Ground Up Investing, the impact investment arm of Corus International, has secured $6 million in the first close of its second investment fund, targeting $20 million to support agricultural businesses across Africa and Latin America.
Corus International is serving as the anchor investor in the fund, which aims to provide financing to small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises while improving livelihoods in rural communities.
The investment initiative is expected to support sustainable land management across more than 20,000 acres of farmland and generate approximately $200 million in additional income for smallholder farmers.
The fund targets a return of $10 in additional farmer income for every dollar invested, reflecting its focus on measurable social and economic impact.
Ground Up Investing plans to provide two-year working capital loans to agricultural businesses operating in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
These businesses typically purchase agricultural produce directly from smallholder farmers, connect producers with markets and create employment opportunities within local communities.
The financing will primarily target enterprises requiring between $250,000 and $1 million, addressing a funding gap for businesses that are too large for conventional microfinance but often too small to attract commercial investors.
Since launching its investment activities in 2017, Ground Up Investing has deployed more than $50 million in agricultural financing.
Its first fund invested $5 million across 15 agricultural enterprises, helping generate more than $50 million in payments to farmers, support over 800 local jobs and improve land management practices across more than 50,000 acres.
One of its portfolio companies, Ugandan coffee producer Mountain Harvest, sources coffee from more than 3,000 farming families and reportedly pays farmers a 30% premium.
According to Ground Up Investing CEO Mark Muckerheide, the organisation has a longer-term ambition to generate $1 billion in additional farmer income over the next decade.
The fund’s latest milestone highlights efforts to address persistent financing challenges affecting agricultural enterprises in emerging markets.
By directing capital towards businesses connecting smallholder farmers to commercial markets, Ground Up Investing aims to strengthen rural supply chains, improve agricultural productivity and create more sustainable income opportunities.
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