Boston, MA -- (SBWire) -- 01/18/2012 --Alternative investment advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has announced its support for an impact investing conference coming to Hawaii on February 9.
The conference, focused entirely on impact investing, is to take place in Hawaii in an attempt to raise more awareness and interest in socially and environmentally responsible investing in the island nation.
Chenoa Farnsworth, a local venture capitalist, has organised the event at the Honolulu Centre, aimed firmly at philanthropists, as well as at traditional investors, entrepreneurs and those simply interested in diversifying their portfolios to include an ethical, alternative option.
Impact investing is increasingly attractive to those who may not have thought of themselves as philanthropists or even alternative investors, Anthony Johnson, AAA’s analysis partner has claimed. “Ms Farnsworth is an example of those who are seeing the light as a result of the economic crisis and the greed and ignorance that led banks down such a disastrous route,” added Johnson.
Farnsworth explained, “About a year and a half ago, I became interested in impact investments, which is looking for both financial returns and social and economic benefit.”
She added, “Hawaii has a tremendous growing climate and conditions and several crop-related companies are starting or moving here to test their crop viability. These include biofuels feedstock and petroleum-based ingredients substitutes such as algae.”
Growing sustainable crops and forests are central to AAA’s support for impact investing in developing countries, where generating foreign investment in sustainable forestry projects can help reduce deforestation while providing healthy returns. “Projects like the plantation schemes run by Greenwood Management in Brazil offer the chance of strong, reliable returns through timber price increases and natural growth, while helping to safeguard the future of the sustainable Brazilian forestry industry for generations to come,” explained Mr Johnson.
Representatives from several Hawaii-based impact investing schemes will be attending and speaking at the event.
Impact Investing Conference Welcomed by AAA
Alternative investment advocacy group, AAA, has announced its support for an impact investing conference coming to Hawaii later this year.