ACORN Acorn (Agroforestry CRUs for the Organic Restoration of Nature) is Rabobank initiative. It's aim is to increase the accessibility of the international carbon market for smallholder farmers in the developing world. By utilising their unique position and strong connections in the food and agri-sector, Rabobank are activating change by encouraging smallholder farmers to transform their agricultural practices into more sustainable ones. Find out more about Acorn > The Acorn approach Acorn's approach is simple and practical – agroforestry. Planting biomass, such as trees, helps recapture carbon whilst also improving soil quality and crop yield. Until now, potential risks and delays in rewards have inhibited smallholder farmers from embracing agroforestry practices. Acorn addresses these issues by increasing carbon market accessibility and therefore financially incentivises agroforestry practices for smallholder farmers. Additionally, Acorn's approach ensures at least 80% of the money obtained through the sale of CRUs (carbon removal units) flows directly back to the farmer. Delve deeper into Acorn's approach > What are Carbon Removal Units? Acorn's carbon removal units (CRUs) represent actual carbon stored in planted trees. Only after trees have converted carbon into biomass is an Acorn CRU sold. This is measured on a smallholder farmer's land with the help of remote sensing technology i.e. satellite imagery. Buyers can be assured that Acorn CRUs represent actual carbon that is no longer in the atmosphere with Acorn’s platform also making CRUs fully traceable. Acorn's CRUs explained > More on monitoring > The Plan Vivo - Acorn partnership Plan Vivo officially certified the Acorn framework and methodology in November 2021 (for more information see Plan Vivo news 10/11/21). We are the formal certification authority and continue to work closely with with the Acorn team, using our wealth of experience (gained over 20+ years) to ensure Acorn's CRUs are of the highest standard and credibility. The certification process for Acorn's CRUs are subject to formal reviews and Plan Vivo are closely supporting Acorn as they expand their project portfolio. Certification at Acorn > Acorn Documents Acorn's framework and methodology are Plan Vivo certified. Plan Vivo works together with Acorn to ensure CRUs are of the highest standard and credibility. We ensure Acorn projects provide a multitude of co-benefits for the smallholder farmers involved and any associated communities and have a close relationship with Acorn's certification, monitoring and reporting teams. Acorn Framework > Acorn Methodology > Acorn's ambition Acorn has already linked 15,000 farmers to organisations such as Microsoft and Standard Chartered via the Acorn platform. Throughout 2022 and beyond Acorn will work to reach millions of smallholder farmers globally, offering the opportunity to embrace agroforestry whilst striving to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of the voluntary carbon market. Queries or questions? If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Acorn team. They can be emailed at [email protected] Acorn website Acorn projects