Community Markets for Conservation
Agriculture
Information
Company Description
Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) is a registered Zambian company that creates market value for conservation by turning poor, unskilled farmers into productive farmers who care for the land through agro-ecological farming practices. Farmers are rewarded through market incentives sustained by over 20 value-added food products sold under the It’s Wild! brand.
Countries of Operation
Zambia
Ownership of Company
Local Company - 100% Zambian owned
Number of years since incorporated
22
Project Pitch
COMACO was designed as a business-oriented tool for transforming small-scale farmers and the landscapes they depend on. The company empowers over 335,000 cooperative-registered farmers, of whom 52% are women and 44% youth, to adopt eco-agricultural practices that protect land and natural resources while improving livelihoods.
With a strong focus on knowledge-sharing and skills-learning, COMACO has established partnerships with 96 traditional leaders, 105 farmer cooperatives, and over 6,000 lead farmers, all engaged in regenerative farming practices. The company manufactures 21 healthy, chemical-free, nutritious food products under the It’s Wild! brand, offering premium prices to farmers who restore soil nutrients naturally.
Operating across three Zambian provinces, COMACO manages manufacturing hubs serving as commodity buying and processing centers. Its cooperative model enhances supply chain efficiency, enabling COMACO to compete effectively with conventional agribusinesses while maintaining its environmental and social mission.
Team
COMACO is led by Dr. Dale Lewis, CEO and Founder, who has over 30 years of experience developing synergies between markets and conservation and pioneering innovations in farmer-based value chains linked to environmental outcomes.
The company’s operations are supported by 326 staff members across multiple departments, each managed by competent professionals: Finance, Commercial, Farmer Support, Conservation & Carbon Markets, Monitoring & Evaluation, IT, Human Resources, Internal Audit Control, and Communications. This multidisciplinary structure ensures effective governance and sustainable value chain impact.
Stage
Growth stage
Annual Revenue (in EUR)
EUR 5,000,000 - 10,000,000
Number of employees
101 - 500
Total Project Cost (in EUR)
EUR 5,000,000
Financing needs (in EUR)
EUR 5,000,000
Type of financing needed
Blended grant and debt
Planned allocation of fundraising capital
Expansion (expanding an existing activity)