Acumen invests in Ecohome to restore one of Colombia’s most threatened ecosystems
Ecohome seeks to restore Colombia’s tropical dry forest and strengthen rural communities.
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- Sustainable agriculture
- Latin America
Ecohome’s business model integrates science, innovation, and the participation of rural producers to foster the ecological regeneration of 1% of Colombia’s tropical dry forest and create new sources of income for more than 700 rural families.
In response to the consequences of armed conflict, inequality, and lack of investment in certain rural areas, Acumen, with support from IDB Lab, Fundación Bancolombia, and other partners, has closed a investment in Ecohome, a Colombian social enterprise leading an innovative productive restoration model. The initiative aims to recover thousands of hectares of tropical dry forest, one of the country’s most threatened ecosystems, while strengthening society and contributing to the economic development of local communities.
With this investment, Ecohome accelerates its growth plan to transform historically marginalized territories through solutions that combine science, innovation, and the leadership of rural communities. Today, more than 220 families are part of the Red de Protectores del Chumbimbo (Chumbimbo Protectors Network), planting native Sapindus saponaria trees,locally known as chumbimbo, whose fruit is transformed into sustainable bioproducts that replace petrochemical ingredients in industries such as home care and personal care. The goal is to scale this model to 700 partner families by 2030, expanding not only the network of producers but also the opportunity to build a more just and regenerative rural economy in Colombia.
“Ecohome’s model demonstrates how Patient Capital can become a powerful tool to transform vulnerable territories. This investment reflects our commitment to innovative initiatives at the intersection of social and environmental impact, regenerating key ecosystems like the tropical dry forest while improving rural families’ incomes and resilience to climate change,” said Jorge de Angulo, Director of Acumen Latin America.
Ecohome’s productive restoration strategy combines ecological and social benefits: planting chumbimbo helps improve the local microclimate, attract pollinators, regenerate soil, and prevent erosion, while enabling rural producers to generate additional income through the sale of its fruit.
“The tropical dry forest is Colombia’s most threatened ecosystem, having lost over 90% of its original coverage. Restoring it is not only an environmental urgency but a strategic opportunity for the country. Through bioeconomy, we can create real incentives for its regeneration, improve rural families’ quality of life, and transform our biodiversity into sophisticated products with global potential. Ecohome is a concrete example of how science, community, and sustainability come together to open a new path for Colombia’s development,” said Maritza López, CEO of Ecohome.
According to the Humboldt Institute and the Ministry of Environment, the remaining 720,000 hectares of tropical dry forest in Colombia are highly fragmented, hindering ecological connectivity and increasing the vulnerability of unique species. This investment, led by Acumen, responds to both an environmental and social emergency with nature-based solutions, and promotes a model grounded in research and local development.
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