responsAbility Invests in India’s Largest Platform for Premium Fruits and Vegetables

January 20253 min readSustainable FoodAgriculturePrivate Equity

Zurich/Nashik, 23 January 2025 – responsAbility Investments AG, a leading impact asset manager, has invested in Sahyadri Farms Post Harvest Care Limited, India’s largest fully integrated and technology-enabled platform for premium fruits and vegetables.

India is one of the world’s largest producers of fruits and vegetables, playing a critical role in the global food supply chain. The sector is characterized by millions of smallholder farmers who are increasingly gaining access to global markets through innovative business models and partnerships. Sahyadri Farms is a pioneer in this transformation.1

Supporting smallholder farmers

Sahyadri Farms, headquartered in Nashik, Maharashtra, one of India’s most prominent agricultural hubs, collaborates with over 25,000 smallholder farmers. Through an innovative ownership model, these farmers are stakeholders in the organization. This unique structure places farmers at the center of Sahyadri Farms' business model. By leveraging advanced technology, sustainable farming practices, and international partnerships, the company helps farmers improve the quality of their produce, boost productivity, and build resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Domestic and international markets

In addition to supporting farmers, Sahyadri Farms is committed to making India’s agriculture globally competitive through sustainable and high-quality food products. While catering to the domestic market, the company exports premium products such as table grapes, citrus fruits, aseptic products, frozen goods, freeze-dried produce, juice concentrates, and dried fruits to over 40 countries. Sahyadri Farms' clientele includes leading global brands such as Tesco, Edeka, Hindustan Unilever Limited, and Coca-Cola.

Vilas Shinde, Chairman and Managing Director of Sahyadri Farms, said: “Our mission is to transform Indian agriculture and empower farmers to become successful entrepreneurs. With the partnership of responsAbility and other investors, we aim to further advance our vision of meeting international quality standards and building a sustainable and profitable ecosystem that fundamentally improves the lives of farmers.”

Rik Vyverman, Head of Sustainable Food Private Equity at responsAbility, said: “Sahyadri Farms is an impressive example of how sustainable innovation and entrepreneurial commitment can transform the agricultural sector. We are delighted to support a company that improves the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers and brings climate-resilient, high-quality products to markets globally.”

Impact goals of the Sustainable Food Asia II Strategy

The Sustainable Food Asia II Strategy focuses on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, promoting sustainable food production, and strengthening agricultural value chains. This investment contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions, introducing climate-resilient farming practices, and enhancing the economic resilience of smallholder farmers. It directly supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

About responsAbility Investments AG responsAbility Investments AG is a leading impact asset manager specializing in private market investments across three investment themes. These themes directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Financial Inclusion, to finance the growth of Micro & SMEs; Climate Finance, to contribute to a net zero pathway; and Sustainable Food, to sustainably feed an ever-growing population. All responsAbility investment solutions target specific measurable impact alongside market returns.

Since its inception in 2003, responsAbility has deployed over USD 16.3 billion in impact investments. With over 270 employees collaborating across 7 offices, as of 31 December 2024 the company manages USD 5.4 billion in assets across approximately 300 portfolio companies in around 70 countries. Since 2022, responsAbility has been part of M&G plc, the international savings, and investments business, and contributes to enhancing M&G’s capabilities in impact investing.

1 All data, statistics, and statements related to Sahyadri Farms mentioned in the following text are provided directly by Sahyadri Farms.

Contact

Richard Rogers
responsAbility Investments AG
+41 44 403 2151
media@responsability.com

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