The TRANSFORM Initiative

Mindanao faces significant challenges in terms of rural incomes, economic growth, and climate change. Recently, Kennemer has taken a proactive step to address climate issues through landscape approach to development and tied-up with USAID by launching Transforming Rural Agricultural Norms for a Sustainable Mindanao or TRANSFORM. TRANSFORM addresses these key issues and promotes climate-smart agriculture, land restoration, and forest protection/biodiversity conservation in the region. By leveraging partnerships and implementing various initiatives on a landscape level, Kennemer and USAID seek to improve climates with co-benefits in improving the lives of smallholder farmers and indigenous communities.

Kennemer recognizes the need to address climate change to benefit smallholder farmers by securing a steady and predictable supply chain. Low agricultural productivity resulting from climate-related factors threaten the region's agri-commodities enterprise. To ensure its continued viability, Kennemer aims to provide farming communities with a combination of support such as off-take agreements, technical trainings, agri credit, and benefits from carbon credits. 

Over the past two years, Kennemer has made strides in carbon certification using the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS). Partnering with around 2,200 smallholder farmers, Kennemer has implemented a cacao-based agroforestry system across approximately 1,000 hectares. This effort will result in the first-ever certified carbon under the VCS-CCB standard on Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) in the Philippines early 2023.

Looking ahead, Kennemer plans to scale-up its climate-related projects and its partnership with USAID provides critical support for knowledge-sharing and local collaboration, strengthening indigenous forest governance and leadership, and continued training and education.

By promoting agroforestry, reforestation, and forest and biodiversity conservation, Kennemer aims to address low farm incomes, stabilize microclimate, contribute to climate change adaptation, and protect the rich biodiversity of Mindanao. The region, declared a biodiversity hotspot, requires a mix of restoration, conservation, and protection efforts to ensure its sustainable future.

Through the TRANSFORM project, Kennemer, represented by Kennmer Eco Solutions or KenEco, is implementing a comprehensive and community-centered strategy for sustainable development in Mindanao. This initiative aims to address multiple interconnected challenges such as poverty reduction, climate change mitigation, and the preservation of Mindanao's natural heritage. By adopting a holistic approach and actively involving various stakeholders, Kennemer seeks to achieve long-term positive outcomes in the region while establishing a blueprint for sustainable agricultural practices and climate resilience.