BIODIVERSITY
MOST DECISIVE DECADE FOR
OUR PLANET
We are in the most decisive decade for the planet.
As our planet warms, government and business leaders are taking strides to cut their emissions and reduce their carbon footprint, pledging to hit “Net Zero” by 2050. But with the focus directed solely on climate, we are missing a second, crucial foundation. Without it, our world – and humanity – cannot survive.
To guarantee a resilient future and sustain humanity, we require an abundance to the important pillars guaranteeing basic rights for all: shelter, food, water, energy, and clothing. It is vital we accomplish this now.
Biodiversity is the most important pillar of planetary health, yet few people have heard of it, and even fewer truly understand. It is the metric upon which all other natural systems and services hang, including climate change. We can no longer afford to think of saving nature as simply a moral obligation. Instead, we must recognise that this metric is the secret to a thriving, healthy, stable Earth - so the more biodiversity there is, the better life could be for the planet and the future of humanity.
By building biodiversity into our systems, we can do something remarkable: we can restore the power of nature, improve our lives and stabilise our planet.
To do this, we need to:
1) raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity;
2) create a groundswell of momentum to protect and restore it and
3) produce the consumption products needs of humanity from it in a regenerative biodiverse sustainable way.
At Influence Foundation “If” together with our collaborating finance, management, technical, education and broadcast partners as well as all the remarkable people and teams assembling in common purpose and common rhythm to carry forward these strategies under a banner “BioDiversity Arc”, we are driven by a simple engine “What If we can” …. and if we don’t we will have surely failed and we will all look back and say “There was nothing more expensive than ignorance”.
BIODIVERSITY ARC - OUR INITIATIVE
Emergency to Emergence: A Whole System Solution for Global Resilience
Executive Summary
The Biodiversity Arc is an innovative “Whole System” initiative designed to rapidly alleviate our world’s most compounding global crisis challenges: poverty, housing shortages, food scarcity, unemployment, and environmental sustainability.
Core Mission: Transform the lives of 500 million small farm holders who sustain 3 billion people through a “bottom up” global economy, preventing mass migration and creating sustainable prosperity within communities.
The Challenge We’re Addressing
Migration Crisis: Current UN projections show migration expanding from 35 million people today to a projected 380 million by 2030 or 1.3 billion by 2050 - numbers we believe to be totally unsustainable for a peaceful world.
Root Question: “How do we prevent the grass being greener on the other side of the border? How can we help rural communities not exodus to cities?”
Our Proven Foundation
Leadership with 20+ Years Global Experience
Charlie Stuart Gay - Founder, Influence Foundation
• Former Executive Director of landmine detection NGO with Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel as Patrons
• Funded Women’s Empowerment College in Liberia with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, graduating 8,000+ women
• 20 years experience in the purchase of food ingredients, clothing fibers, manufacturing processes as well as the purchase and movement of crops around the world including Africa, Europe, USA, Canada, Mexico, India and Asia to then be manufactured for distribution into all major supermarkets
• Employed seasoned executives from General Mills and Whole Foods
• Current Patron: Food4Africa (feeding children for 20 years), First Ladies of Africa Impact & Resilience
• Ambassador: Sir David Attenborough’s Open Planet Studios
Current Global Partnerships
• Open Planet Studios: Releasing “OCEAN” film, “Our Story” immersive experience, filming “Biodiversity” for COP 30 in Brazil
• Food4Africa: Providing nutrient-rich meals daily for 20 years
• Mohammad Yunus Foundation: Micro-enterprise work in Kenya
• Dr. Kimmie Week’s Hope Farm: Ongoing support in Liberia
• Global Supply Chain: Lifelong extensive humanitarian work combined with deep experience in international crop sourcing, food ingredient procurement, clothing fiber sourcing, and manufacturing processes across continents
The Arc Solution: Whole System Economy
From Grassroots to Global Scale
Starting Point: Grassroots micro-community rural producers with micro-shed production
Scaling Method: Utilizing a nation’s macro community of farmers and natural crop resources through a network of:
• Micro factories
• Large-scale industrial BioFactories
• Manufacturing processes for:
• Construction materials
• Housing panels
• Food production
• Biomass energy
• Bioplastics
• Clothing fiber
Integrated Impact Creation
✅ Multi-crop regenerative cooperative farming
✅ Affordable & scalable housing
✅ Greater food abundance
✅ Renewable energy systems
✅ Sustainable clothing & consumer products
✅ Education & employment generation
✅ Profound economic & social benefits
Our Model: Learning from Success
Mexico’s Sembrando Vida Program
• 7 years of proven results
• 450,000 farmers supported across 1 million hectares
• Arc founders provided counsel on “low impact” crop selection and food waste composting cycles
• Demonstrated scalable model for rural development and environmental restoration
Crops & Materials Focus
Climate-Resistant, Low Water Impact Fiber Crops:
• Hemp
• Cassava
• Plantains
• Flax
• Jute
• Ocean algae
Waste Utilization:
• Coconut waste
• Cacao waste
• Food waste conversion
Enhanced Value Chain Features:
• Transparent blockchain supply chain
• Greater prosperity return to growers
• “Within borders” production + export surplus
• Digital infrastructure support
• Farmer training & financial literacy
• Micro mortgages & crop insurance
Financial Architecture
Banking Infrastructure
Similar to Professor Mohammed Yunus’s Grameen Bank model for micro-enterprise, the Arc operates through:
• Fiduciary operation of dedicated Arc Bank
• 3rd party fund administration
• Alignment with council advisors, investors, local government, and workforce community
• Transparent stakeholder governance
Revenue Streams
1. Housing Sales & Micro-Mortgages
2. Agricultural Product Sales
3. Bio-Material Exports
4. Carbon Credit Trading
5. Manufacturing Services
Implementation Strategy
Three Initial Global Regions (2025-2030)
1. Southern Africa
• Pilot Countries: Zimbabwe/Zambia
• Focus: Housing crisis, food security, job creation
2. South Asia
• Target Countries: India/Bangladesh
• Focus: Migration prevention, agricultural enhancement
3. Latin America
• Target Countries: Mexico/Colombia/Panama
• Focus: Scaling Sembrando Vida model, cross-border cooperation
Technology & Innovation
Arc Lab Services
• Digital infrastructure for farmers
• Training programs for sustainable agriculture
• Financial literacy education
• Crop insurance systems
• Micro-mortgage facilitation
Climate Resilience Integration
• Systematic approach to climate adaptation
• Fundamental human needs (shelter & food) prioritization
• Risk mitigation for resource scarcity
• Self-sustaining conscious production model
• Long-term economic & environmental resilience
Impact Metrics & Goals
By 2030 Target Outcomes:
• 500 million small farmers empowered
• 3 billion people supported through enhanced food systems
• 380 million potential migrants provided with local opportunities
• Millions of sustainable jobs created
• Significant CO₂ sequestration achieved
• Food security enhanced globally
• Housing crisis meaningfully addressed
Next Steps for Partnership
1. Policy Advocacy Framework
Systematic engagement with national and international policy frameworks:
• Trade agreements optimization
• Agricultural subsidies alignment
• Climate finance mechanisms acceleration
2. Technology Transfer Partnerships
Formal partnerships with universities and research institutions:
• Continuous innovation in bio-manufacturing processes
• Crop optimization for local conditions
• Knowledge transfer and capacity building
3. Impact Measurement & Verification
Robust monitoring systems for:
• Measurable progress toward SDG targets
• Access to climate finance and impact investment capital
• Transparent reporting and accountability
4. Cultural & Social Integration
Community-led governance structures ensuring:
• Respect for local customs and traditions
• Economic benefits reaching vulnerable populations
• Sustainable community development
• Long-term social cohesion
Investment Opportunity
The Biodiversity Arc represents a unique opportunity to:
✅ Address multiple global crises simultaneously
✅ Generate sustainable financial returns
✅ Create measurable social impact
✅ Build climate resilience
✅ Prevent humanitarian disasters
✅ Foster international cooperation
Partnership Benefits
• Proven leadership with 20+ years field experience
• Established relationships with governments and communities
• Scalable model based on successful precedents
• Multiple revenue streams and risk mitigation
• Alignment with global sustainability goals
• Legacy impact for future generations
Biodiversity Arc Initiative
In partnership with:
• Influence Foundation
• Club of Athens
• Open Planet Studios
• Food4Africa
• First Ladies of Africa Impact & Resilience
“Through being in the field we witnessed that simple solutions are already being practiced by wonderful micro organic farmers with incredible ethics. However most issues were not ‘bottom up’ but ‘top down’, driven by inefficiencies in farming education and global supply chains. I have been fortunate to witness way more prosperity in the hearts of the poor than I encounter in our work offices of London or Los Angeles.”
— Charlie Stuart Gay, Founder
Emergency to Emergence: Building Sustainable Communities, Preventing Mass Migration, Creating Global Resilience
