Mountain Hazelnuts facts for kids
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| Industry | Agroforestry Agribusiness Sustainable Agriculture |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Daniel Spitzer Teresa Law |
| Headquarters |
Lingmethang
,
Thimphu |
| Products | Hazelnuts |
Mountain Hazelnuts (often called 'MH') is a special kind of company. It works with over 12,000 farming families and groups in the country of Bhutan. Their big goal is to plant 10 million hazelnut trees across the Himalayan mountains.
MH is the biggest private employer in Bhutan. This means they provide the most jobs outside of the government. The company aims to help mountain communities, its owners, and the environment all at the same time.
In May 2010, a magazine called Forbes wrote about Mountain Hazelnuts. They said it was the "first major foreign direct investment" in Bhutan's history. This means it was the first time a large amount of money from outside the country was invested directly into a business there.
The company gives young hazelnut trees to farmers. They also provide tools and expert advice. Once the trees grow and produce hazelnuts, Mountain Hazelnuts buys them back from the farmers. These hazelnuts are then prepared and sent to special markets around the world.
Who Helps Mountain Hazelnuts?
Mountain Hazelnuts works with several important groups to grow their project. These groups provide money and support.
International Partners
In 2015, some big international organizations joined to help MH. These included the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). They offered a mix of funding, including money that didn't need to be paid back right away. The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) also helped.
In 2018, MH received US$3 million in funding from a group called Ceniarth. This money helped the company continue its work.
In 2019, Mountain Hazelnuts made a US$9 million agreement with the Land Degradation Neutrality Fund (LDN). This fund is connected to the United Nations. It is managed by Mirova/Natixis. This long-term agreement helps MH keep planting trees and supporting farmers for many years.
