Nature Investment Corridor: Marcela Flores on Forest-Positive Food Systems and Regenerative Capital Ep. 87

In this episode of the Wealthing Podcast, host Alicia Castillo Holley sits down with Marcela Flores, a Mexican-born food entrepreneur building a new supply chain, a nutrient-dense Mesoamerican forest seed, to discuss how regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and investment can work together to keep forests standing.

The conversation explores the three projects Marcela is focused on today: launching a new ingredient, which sold out every day at its debut during Mexico's climate week; planting one million trees over the next 18 months in agroforestry systems with coffee and cacao producers; and the creation of the Nature Investment Corridor. Marcela also shares her path from launching "Rico Mexican Kitchen" to working in sustainability at Unilever, to discovering the capomo tree in a Mexico City market.

Throughout the interview, Marcela and Alicia draw parallels between diversification in an investment portfolio and diversification in nature, discuss the hidden costs of the global food supply chain, and make the case that small, intentional daily actions add up. They close with reflections on believing in yourself, listening to your intuition, and the legacy of changing the idea that we have to destroy nature to grow food.

About Marcela: Marcela Flores is a Mexican-born entrepreneur who founded Rico Mexican Kitchen in the UK, where her salsas reached major retailers, before moving into corporate sustainability at Unilever. She is now building a regenerative supply chain, planting one million trees through agroforestry partnerships, and developing the Nature Investment Corridor fund. She is also writing a book called Forest Positive.

 

Connect with Marcela:

LinkedIn: Marcela Flores