Farmers for Forests
Farmers for Forests is a hybrid social enterprise using open-source AI (TreeLens drone imagery platform) and community-led programs to enable agroforestry, forest protection, and reforestation with smallholder farmers and tribal communities in Maharashtra, India.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersPune, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Farmers for Forests does
Farmers for Forests (F4F) is a hybrid social enterprise founded in December 2019 and headquartered in Pune, India, with a US 501(c)(3) entity (Farmers for Forests Inc) registered in San Francisco. Its mission is to make biodiverse farms and forests economically viable for rural India through agroforestry transitions, forest protection, and technology-enabled monitoring. F4F operates five program lines: agroforestry with smallholder farmers, forest protection and restoration with 22,000+ tribal households in Gadchiroli, human-elephant conflict prevention in partnership with the Maharashtra Forest Department, urban biodiversity hubs, and climate education including a Mobile Science Lab. The organization serves primarily smallholder farmers with degraded or barren land and tribal communities adjacent to forests, generating impact metrics such as 3-5x income increases for farmers, 60% firewood reduction via efficient cookstoves, and 2-3 tonnes CO2 prevented per cookstove annually.
The company's technology core is Project Anāhitā, an open-source AI suite comprising TreeLens (drone-imagery computer vision for tree counting, species identification, and carbon estimation built on DeepForest and Detectron2, with reported over 90% accuracy in mature tree detection), ChutkiAI (multilingual WhatsApp-based NLP chatbot for farmer engagement), FieldHQ (operational data hub), and Impact/Forest Protection Dashboards (outcome visualization). The tech stack combines drone imagery, satellite data, and field inputs to deliver tree-by-tree precision monitoring from year one of planting, with code published openly on GitHub alongside a published technical white paper.
F4F's revenue model blends three streams: Results-Based Payments to farmers tied to verified tree survival and carbon sequestration, individual donations through its website (INR and USD tax-exempt), and carbon credit financing channeled through carbon project investments. Grant funding from institutional sources (Mulago Foundation, Salesforce-Fast Forward, Cisco/Villgro TVARAN, King Climate Action Initiative at J-PAL, Fast Forward) and corporate partners (Zerodha, Accenture, WRI, HPE) underwrites the bulk of program costs. Go-to-market is community-led, working through local NGOs, Gram Sabhas, and elected leaders for farmer enrollment, with results-based financial incentives designed to drive multi-year stewardship rather than one-time planting.
Farmers for Forests firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Farmers for Forests
- Legal name
- Farmers for Forests Inc
- Website
- https://farmersforforests.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Farmers for Forests is a hybrid social enterprise using open-source AI (TreeLens drone imagery platform) and community-led programs to enable agroforestry, forest protection, and reforestation with smallholder farmers and tribal communities in Maharashtra, India.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Farmers for Forests industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Reforestation and Environmental Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reforestation & Afforestation Services (Planting, Site Prep, Regeneration) (IMAMAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tree Planting & Establishment Services (Manual/Mechanized) (AFAMACAE), Post-Planting Maintenance (Weeding, Mulching, Fertilization, Irrigation) (AFAMACAG), Monitoring, Survival Surveys & Carbon/MRV Services (Remote Sensing, Field Audits) (AFAMACAO), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF)
Keywords
Where Farmers for Forests is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pune
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Farmers for Forests business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Carbon Credits: F4F helps farmers generate carbon credits through reforestation and agroforestry. Farmers receive results-based payments for nurturing trees over years, with carbon sequestration monitored via TreeLens drone-AI platform. Carbon markets provide finance for ecological restoration work.
- Results-Based Payments: F4F operates on a Results-Based Payments model where farmers are rewarded not just for planting trees, but for nurturing them over years, ensuring survival and long-term impact. Landowners who help expand green cover receive payments tied to verified outcomes.
- Donations and Grants: Direct donations from individuals and organizations through the website (both INR and USD). Donors can track their investment through an Impact Dashboard. Tax-exempt donations available for US donors via 501(c)(3) status.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Protect Forests - INR donation amounts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Grow Forests - Tree planting sponsorship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Farmers for Forests product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Farmers for Forests (F4F) runs on-ground reforestation, agroforestry, forest protection, and human-elephant conflict prevention programs with smallholder farmers and tribal communities in Maharashtra, India. These programs are supported by a proprietary AI monitoring platform (Project Anāhitā) that combines drone imagery, satellite data, and field inputs to track tree survival, species, carbon sequestration, and cookstove impact, and to deliver results-based payments to farmers.
Product overview
Farmers for Forests (F4F) is a hybrid social enterprise that combines a proprietary technology platform with on-ground environmental programs. The technology suite, branded as Project Anāhitā, centers on open-source AI tools: TreeLens (drone imagery AI for tree counting, species ID, and carbon estimation), the Impact Dashboard (outcome visualization for survival rates and carbon captured), the Forest Protection Dashboard (cookstove adoption and logging reduction tracking), ChutkiAI (WhatsApp-based multilingual farmer engagement chatbot), and FieldHQ (field operations data hub). Together these products provide end-to-end transparency from drone-based tree measurement through to farmer payments and funder reporting. F4F's programs apply this tech stack to agroforestry transitions, forest protection and restoration, urban biodiversity hubs, human-elephant conflict prevention, and climate change education across India.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Agroforestry Program Results-Based Payments program that helps smallholder farmers transition degraded or barren land into biodiverse, multi-layer agro-forests through enrollment, training, planting, four years of post-plantation care, and drone-AI monitoring via TreeLens.
- Forest Protection & Restoration Program Large-scale program partnering with 22,000 rural and tribal households in Gadchiroli to protect old-growth forests and restore degraded land through community fire-prevention trainings, efficient cookstove distribution, assisted natural regeneration, and targeted reforestation.
- Human-Elephant Conflict Prevention Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Smallholder farmer incomes increased 3 to 5 times
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Farmers for Forests
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Farmers for Forests technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
Farmers for Forests partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ZerodhacoreRewilding partnership with Maharashtra Forest Department at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to restore ecosystems and improve biodiversity. Project overseen by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with tiger numbers rising to over 80 recorded.
- CiscocoreTech for Social Good Hackathon where Cisco mobilized 160+ expert volunteers across 27 teams to develop AI-powered solutions for F4F. Focus on building internal AI capability for operational bottlenecks with ethical implementation.
- Maharashtra Forest DepartmentcoreAuthorized F4F to undertake elephant movement study in Gadchiroli district using GIS technology and thermal drones. Partnership for Tadoba tiger reserve restoration. Community-based forest protection programs with 22,000 tribal households.
- University of California BerkeleycoreResearch partnership for pilot program assessing PES (Payments for Ecosystem Services) model for forest protection and reforestation in Raigad, Maharashtra with 120 farmers across 24 villages.
- SalesforcecoreSelected for Salesforce-Fast Forward partnership supporting AI-powered non-profits with resources and organizational development support.
- ITDP Bhamragad and ITDP GadchiroliminorCollaborated to launch Mobile Science Lab (MSL) in Gadchiroli to help indigenous community students in Naxal-affected areas with STEM education.
- The/Nudge IncubatorminorPart of The/Nudge Incubator cohort 7, presenting at their Soiree event for social enterprises.
- Villgro and Cisco (TVARAN Program)minorClimate Sense (F4F organization) selected for TVARAN acceleration program for women-led startups in climate action space, jointly launched by Villgro and Cisco's India Cash Grant Program.
- AccentureminorSupporting organization as part of F4F's ecosystem of partners working to solve pressing climate challenges at scale.
- World Resources Institute (WRI)minorSupporting organization as part of F4F's ecosystem of partners working to solve pressing climate challenges at scale.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Farmers for Forests competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eden Reforestation Projects: Large nonprofit reforestation organization operating in multiple developing countries with an employment-based model for planting. Comparable to F4F in nonprofit structure, focus on community-led reforestation, and reliance on donor and grant funding for project operations.
- Pachama: Technology-focused carbon credit marketplace and MRV provider using satellite imagery and AI for forest carbon verification. Closely comparable to F4F in combining nature-based carbon project development with proprietary AI/remote sensing technology for verification and transparency.
- Sylvera: Independent carbon credit ratings and MRV company using satellite data and machine learning to verify nature-based carbon projects. Direct overlap with F4F's TreeLens approach to AI-driven forest monitoring and carbon estimation.
- One Tree Planted: Nonprofit reforestation organization operating globally with a per-tree donation model (USD 1/tree). Directly comparable to F4F in nonprofit structure, tree-planting donation pricing model, and reliance on corporate and individual donor funding for reforestation programs.
- Tree-Nation: Tech-enabled reforestation platform allowing individuals and companies to plant trees in projects worldwide. Comparable to F4F in tech-enabled tree planting sponsorship model (per-tree pricing) and corporate partnership orientation.
- LandLife Company (now TerraMatch): Tech-enabled reforestation platform combining project development, monitoring, and carbon credit monetization. Direct overlap with F4F's combination of reforestation services, MRV technology, and carbon project investment offerings.
Broad incumbents
- South Pole: Large carbon project developer and consultancy working across nature-based and tech-based carbon projects globally. Comparable to F4F as a project developer monetizing forest restoration via carbon markets, though at significantly greater scale and broader portfolio scope.
- Verra: Operator of the world's leading carbon credit standard (VCS) used by most nature-based carbon projects. Highly comparable to F4F as F4F's carbon projects would need Verra (or similar) registration to issue tradeable carbon credits — making it both an enabling incumbent and a potential risk vector if standards tighten.
Emerging players
- Ecosia: Search engine nonprofit that directs profits toward reforestation projects globally. Comparable to F4F as a purpose-driven organization using technology to fund and scale reforestation, though Ecosia's primary model is search-engine ad revenue rather than donations or carbon credits.
Others
- WRI India: Research organization working on forest restoration, land use, and climate solutions with significant India operations. Comparable to F4F in mission alignment on India's forest landscape restoration; F4F already lists WRI as a supporting partner, indicating direct ecosystem overlap.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Farmers for Forests social profiles
Digital presenceFarmers for Forests financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Farmers for Forests leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Farmers for Forests funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Farmers for Forests M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Farmers for Forests
What does Farmers for Forests do?
Farmers for Forests (F4F) runs on-ground reforestation, agroforestry, forest protection, and human-elephant conflict prevention programs with smallholder farmers and tribal communities in Maharashtra, India. These programs are supported by a proprietary AI monitoring platform (Project Anāhitā) that combines drone imagery, satellite data, and field inputs to track tree survival, species, carbon sequestration, and cookstove impact, and to deliver results-based payments to farmers.
Is Farmers for Forests a public or private company?
Farmers for Forests is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Farmers for Forests founded?
Farmers for Forests was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Farmers for Forests based?
Farmers for Forests is headquartered in Pune, India, in the Asia region.
How does Farmers for Forests make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Carbon Credits are the primary driver. The others are results-Based Payments and donations and Grants.
Who are Farmers for Forests's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eden Reforestation Projects, Pachama, Sylvera, One Tree Planted, Tree-Nation and LandLife Company (now TerraMatch). Broad incumbents are South Pole and Verra. Ecosia is listed as an emerging player. WRI India is listed as an others.
Does Farmers for Forests have an API?
No public API is recorded for Farmers for Forests.
What industry is Farmers for Forests in?
Farmers for Forests's product category is Reforestation and Environmental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAAAE, Reforestation & Afforestation Services (Planting, Site Prep, Regeneration), with a secondary code of AFAMACAE, Tree Planting & Establishment Services (Manual/Mechanized). Its NAICS code is 11531 and its SIC code is 800.