Mountain Hazelnuts ('MH') is a social enterprise partnering with over 12,000 farmer households and community groups to plant 10 million hazelnut trees across the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.[1] MH is Bhutan's largest private sector employer, and endeavors to create shared value for rural mountain communities, shareholders, and the natural environment.[2][3]

Mountain Hazelnuts
IndustryAgroforestry
Agribusiness
Sustainable Agriculture
Founded2009
FounderDaniel Spitzer
Teresa Law
Headquarters,
ProductsHazelnuts
WebsiteMountainHazelnuts.com

According to a May 2010 article in Forbes, the Company "represents the first major foreign direct investment in Bhutan’s history."[4]

The Company provides young hazelnut trees, inputs, and technical assistance to rural smallholder farmers.[5] Once the trees mature, the Company purchases hazelnuts harvested from their partner growers, which are then processed for export to premium international markets.[5]

Partners

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In 2015, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) joined the venture to offer a blended financing package – combining equity and non-traditional debt.[6]

In 2018, MH secured US$3 million in debt financing from Ceniarth.[6]

In 2019, MH secured a US$9 million long-term financing agreement with the United Nations-affiliated Land Degradation Neutrality Fund (LDN), managed by Mirova/Natixis.[6]

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References

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  1. ^ Lee, Louise (June 6, 2012). "Big Business in Bhutan: How the Humble Hazelnut Could Help Bhutan". Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
  2. ^ Shared Value Project Hong Kong (April 2, 2020). "Creating Shared Value in Bhutan – How Hazelnuts Impacted an Entire Nation". Shared Value Project Hong Kong.
  3. ^ Chandran, Rina (4 August 2020). "Tech helps cashmere herders, hazelnut farmers fight soil erosion in Asia". Reuters. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. ^ Andelman, David A. (May 2, 2010). "Happiness and Hazelnuts". Forbes.
  5. ^ a b Business Call to Action (June 2020). "Mountain Hazelnuts: Impact Management Case Study" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b c Avery, Helen (October 10, 2019). "How Bhutan built conservation finance into its DNA". EuroMoney.