SaafConsult BV Water and Environment

Environmental degradation and unsustainable use of natural resources has led to severe constraints on development. While in economic terms the impact of a degrading environment on economic growth has not been fully integrated into planning and modelling of national or regional authorities, the brunt of it tends to be felt most acutely at grassroots level. Therefore, most major international financing institutions (IFIs), development organisations and corporate entities are starting to seriously account for the cost of environmental degradation in their policies. Even in countries where overall development and poverty alleviation are the overarching priorities, the importance of inclusion of environmental parameters in dealing with these priorities is becoming self-evident.

Regrettably, in many cases, investments in projects and ventures that contribute meaningfully to the sustainable use of natural resources are impeded by access to financial instruments and support. Treatment of water, renewable energy, tradable resource rights, organic agriculture and environmental services are often not seen as commercially reliable areas for investments. To address the three parameters of sustainable development—economic, social and environmental security—the RENEW® Fund aims to provide the impetus needed to promote and sustain investments in the environmental sector at a modest scale.

What is the RENEW Fund?

In accordance with the mission statement of the company, the RENEW® Fund is a small equity fund within Saafconsult BV that invests in projects, companies, other funds or ventures that contribute to the responsible sustainable use of natural resources. In principle the Fund invests in:

Renewable energy (wind power, solar power, biogas, biomass, hydropower, tidal power, etc.);
Negotiable/tradable rights (water rights, carbon credits, emission rights, etc.);
Environmental infrastructure (water/wastewater treatment, energy efficiency, water conveyance, etc.);
Management contracts (water supply, sanitation, irrigation, solid waste management);
Managed Aquifer Recharge Storage and Treatment (MARS-T or Aquifer Storage and Recovery ASR) projects;
Organic agriculture;
Any other related activity within the overall objectives of the fund.

The fund is oriented towards the Middle-East/South Asia region. It is in this region that a vast potential for these investments exists, and where serious investments in environment and (re-)use of natural resources, such as water, are vital.

Latest Investment

The SaafConsult RENEW Fund has recently invested in the Raitong Organics Farm (Thailand) in November 2009 after many months of negotiations. The total 6-year capital investment will be used to help develop the small organic business in various pragmatic ways, from small-scale infrastructure development to product processing and packaging.

The Raitong Organics Farm was established in early 2009 for the purposes of cultivating, producing, processing and selling certified 100% organic and natural products, primarily focusing on various types of Hom Mali (Jasmine) rice for both the domestic and international markets. Raitong is also currently also exploring the cultivation of heritage and semi-domesticated crops, including herbs and spices, edible flowers, and lesser-known varieties of fruit and vegetables; all grown under organic and seasonal natural conditions.

The 28-rai farm, about 4-and-a-half hectares, is certified by ACT / IFOAM and is also the first certified organic and internationally accredited farm in Sisaket province, Thailand.

For more information about the Raitong Organics Farm, please contact Ms. Lalana Srikram (Co-founder) via email at lalana.srikram@gmail.com or visit them online at http://www.raitongorganicsfarm.com and/or http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140808370801.

Through this investment and many other activities Saafconsult and the RENEW Fund have an average return of 12% per year before taxes.