Impact — Pela Terra

Our Vision

Why impact is at the heart of what we do

Humans need food to survive. But modern agriculture is harming both the planet and those it feeds. It contributes to climate change, fuels biodiversity collapse, and produces less nutritious food — while remaining among the industries most exposed to the very climate risks it helps create.

At Pela Terra, we see this as both a problem and an opportunity. By applying regenerative approaches at scale on Portuguese farmland, we can begin to reverse the damage that decades of intensive agriculture have caused: rebuilding soil health, reducing chemical inputs, conserving water, protecting native species, and sequestering carbon.

In doing so we can produce the healthy food we need and secure more resilient returns for our investors.

The solution is literally in the ground beneath our feet.

Our Approach

How we create impact

Soil health is the central thread connecting almost every form of environmental and social impact a farm can create. Healthy soil sequesters carbon, retains water, supports biodiversity, and produces more nutritious food.

By transitioning our farms towards regenerative practices, we set in motion a chain of positive outcomes: improved soil biology and structure; more carbon sequestration; reduced water consumption; thriving native flora and fauna; safer, more nutritious food; and economic opportunity in rural Portugal.

The core practices we apply

Replacing chemical inputs

We substitute synthetic fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides with organic alternatives such as manure, compost, and woodchips.

Keeping the soil covered

Cover crops protect soil between orchard rows. We also 'chop and drop', leaving pruning residues and organic matter on the ground.

Managing for biodiversity

We set aside areas of each property, unplanted but actively managed, to protect and restore native habitats and species.

Precision irrigation

We ensure crops are only watered when they need to be, and as much as they need to be, reducing waste and pressure on local water tables.

Impact Strategy

Six areas where we aim to make a difference

Pela Terra's impact strategy is built around six interconnected themes, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and tracked using a set of fund-level KPIs.

Soil

Between 60 and 70 per cent of EU soils are estimated to be unhealthy. We restore soil health through reduced tillage, cover cropping, and organic inputs, tracking progress across biological, chemical, and physical indicators.

Water

Agriculture accounts for ~70% of global freshwater withdrawals. We apply precision irrigation, improve soil water retention, and restore native vegetation along waterways to reduce runoff and protect quality.

Climate

By improving soil health, our farms sequester increasing quantities of carbon. By reducing synthetic inputs and transitioning to renewable energy, we work towards a net negative greenhouse gas balance.

Biodiversity

Portugal is home to rich biodiversity. We work to reverse habitat destruction by setting aside land for nature, creating connectivity, and implementing targeted species conservation plans.

Human Health

By reducing chemical inputs and improving soil health, we aim to produce food that is safer and more nutritious, researching the links between regenerative agriculture and human health outcomes.

Society

We invest 100% of capital in rural areas, creating direct employment, supporting local supply chains, and demonstrating that profitable regenerative agriculture is achievable.

Measurement

Rigorous measurement, honest reporting

Claims about impact must be grounded in evidence. For each fund, we have developed a set of long-term KPIs designed with input from partners, farm operators, and external experts — combining input indicators directly within our control with outcome indicators that track real-world change.

We establish baselines for each property at acquisition and report progress annually, including an honest assessment of where further work is needed. On the ground, our partners NBI and AgroSystemic conduct soil sampling, ecological surveys, habitat assessments, and agronomic monitoring, complemented by drone and satellite imagery.

We are committed to making our measurement methodology more robust over time. Our annual impact reports give a full account of progress.

By 2030, we are committed to achieving:

Theme	Target Indicator
Soil	20% average improvement in soil health indicators across all assets
Water	10% decrease in water wastage through more efficient irrigation
Climate	30% reduction in synthetic fertiliser inputs per hectare
Climate	Net negative greenhouse gas emissions per hectare
Biodiversity	Reduce herbicide use by 30%
	Reduce pesticide use by 20%
	Net positive biodiversity across all assets (vs. baseline)
	At least 20% of total land managed primarily for biodiversity
Human Health	10% increase in nutrient density of all produce at harvest
Human Health	Pesticide residues on all produce below 50% of EU Maximum Residue Limits
Society	100% of capital invested in rural areas of Portugal
Society	Create 5 good jobs in rural areas of Portugal

* Full methodology and baseline data published in our annual impact reports.

Soil

20% average improvement in soil health indicators across all assets.