In line with its Corporate Social Responsibility objectives of raising public awareness on preserving the environment, Investbank recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) to plan and develop organic farming in the Ajloun area.

The MoU was signed by Investbank CEO, Mr. Muntaser Dawwas, and the Director General of RSCN, Mr. Yehya Khaled in the presence of Mr. Bisher Jardaneh, Investbank Chairman and His Excellency Mr. Khaled Irani, Chairman of RSCN's Board of Directors and additional representatives attended the event.

According to the MoU, the project will help small local farmers in Ajloun to grow organic produce as a new form of agriculture that will enable them to earn a better living, while protecting the environment and the surrounding forests. Organic farming specialists will work with the farmers to guide the process and ensure that the program is scientifically planned and developed, starting from the materials and skills required to grow organic crops and ending with the development of officially recognized certification for the crops being produced.

Investbank will sponsor a pilot project for organic farming in Ajloun, which will produce vegetables and fruits free of unhealthy chemicals and hormones. The multi phased project will take place in Ajloun; where up to ten farms will be provided with knowledge transfer and the appropriate tools to commence this project and at a later stage it will be expanded to other farms in the area. The first crops to be grown organically will be used for the restaurant in the neighboring Regional Training Academy being constructed by RSCN. Investbank also hopes to support the marketing required to bring the organic products to a larger market in Amman and thereby help the farmers to expand their organic operations.

Commenting on the affiliation, Mr. Dawwas said, "Preserving nature is one of the top CSR priorities at Investbank, and we believe it is imperative for us to support such projects that involve caring for the land and in parallel assist farmers in growing their market. This initiative is just the beginning of this comprehensive partnership and will support the RSCN in developing and sustaining a national program for organic farms."

Also commenting on the partnership, Mr. Yehya Khaled, RSCN General Manager, said, "This partnership with Investbank will help us expand one of our vital projects that serve local communities, and we would encourage other corporations to get involved in the various environmental and nature reservation projects."

Organic farming works in harmony with nature and its methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).