Africa Sustainable Agriculture Infrastructure Programme
The Only Integrated, EUDR-Compliant, Deforestation-Free Tobacco Supply Chain Solution in Africa
Zimbabwe is one of the world's top five tobacco producers. Its tobacco sector generates over USD 1.2 billion in export earnings annually — and drives 15–20% of the country's total annual forest loss. A confirmed government mandate bans firewood curing by 2029. International tobacco companies face immediate EU Deforestation Regulation compliance obligations. No verified solution currently exists at scale.
MarillionEx built one.
USD 1.2B
Zimbabwe annual tobacco export earnings
2029
Confirmed firewood curing ban
200
Solar curing villages planned
10,000+ ha
Indigenous woodlot programme
The Problem Creates the Investment
Zimbabwe's 109,000 registered smallholder tobacco farmers cure their crop using individual wood-fired barns. Each hectare of tobacco consumes 7–16 tonnes of firewood. At the government's 500 million kilogram production target, the implied fuel deficit — the gap between available sustainable supply and projected demand — is approximately 4 billion kilograms annually.
At Zimbabwe's inaugural Forest Indaba in late 2025, the Minister of Lands and Agriculture confirmed an unequivocal policy directive: the use of firewood for tobacco curing will be prohibited by 2029. This is a confirmed government mandate, not a policy proposal.
Simultaneously, the EU Deforestation Regulation — in force since 2024 — requires every company placing products on EU markets to prove their supply chains are deforestation-free. Tobacco is explicitly listed as a covered commodity. Every major international tobacco company sourcing from Zimbabwe now faces a legal compliance obligation that no existing provider can currently meet at scale. MarillionEx is that provider.
An Integrated Four-Part Solution
SOLAR CURING VILLAGE NETWORK
A nationwide network of 200 centralised, solar-powered tobacco curing villages. Each village is built on a 5–10 hectare site and serves 10 smallholder farmers. Solar-assisted curing tunnels reduce wood fuel consumption by 75% per farming cluster. Full barcode traceability is built in from day one — meeting BAT, PMI, and JTI supply chain requirements. Service fee: USD 1.20 per kilogram charged to the tobacco merchant.
INDIGENOUS WOODLOT PROGRAMME
Over 10,000 hectares of Fever Tree, Albizia, and Teak planted on previously degraded land. These species fix nitrogen into the soil, coppice vigorously, produce no wildfire risk, and generate Diamond Standard-verified carbon, biochar, and water credits from Year 3. This is the sustainable curing fuel supply that makes the village network independent of deforestation.
DIAMOND STANDARD CARBON CREDITS
Every hectare of woodlot and every curing village cluster generates certified, genuinely additional environmental credits — ARR carbon credits (USD 37/tCO₂e), biochar removal credits (USD 177/tonne), and water restoration credits. Diamond Standard verified: originating from what we plant and build, never from existing forests. Available for forward purchase now. First issuance targeted Q1 2027.
EUDR COMPLIANCE INFRASTRUCTURE
The combined curing village, traceability platform, and woodlot programme produces the complete documentation package required for EU Deforestation Regulation compliance — verified supply chain evidence from farm to factory gate, third-party certified, defensible to a regulator. International tobacco companies partnering with MarillionEx can document deforestation-free sourcing across their Zimbabwean contracted farmer networks.
How to Invest in This Programme
There are three ways to participate in the Africa Sustainable Agriculture Infrastructure Programme.
INFRASTRUCTURE EQUITY
Marillion Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd — Zimbabwe PropCo
Invest in the physical infrastructure of the curing village network. The PropCo owns 200 solar-powered curing villages and leases them under 25-year triple-net leases at 10% of capital expenditure annually — USD 28,000 per village per year, with 3% annual escalation.
- ■Asset: Physical curing village infrastructure — solar panels, curing tunnels, warehouses
- ■Return: 10% annual rental yield on construction cost + 3% escalation + 25-year lease
- ■Minimum investment: USD 500 (Class B Non-Voting Shares at USD 0.40 per share)
- ■Structure: SECZ-regulated PropCo / REIT — Zimbabwe domiciled
- ■Income: Quarterly USD distributions — first payment targeted Q4 2026
PLATFORM EQUITY
MarillionEx Limited — UK Parent Company
Invest in the UK-incorporated parent company behind the entire Zimbabwe programme — and the pan-African expansion into Zambia and Tanzania. MarillionEx Limited holds the Diamond Standard IP, the technology platform, and management contracts across all three countries.
- ■Instrument: Convertible Loan Notes — converts to equity at Series A or exit
- ■Interest: 8% per annum, accruing, converts alongside principal
- ■Conversion discount: 25% below Series A price
- ■Maximum equity: Up to 40% of MarillionEx Limited on full conversion
- ■Minimum investment: USD 25,000
- ■Governing law: England & Wales
CARBON CREDIT FORWARD PURCHASE
Diamond Standard Credits — Forward Purchase Agreement
Lock in pricing now for Diamond Standard carbon, biochar, and water credits currently in registration from the Zimbabwe woodlot programme. First credits targeted Q1 2027. 10% discount on benchmark prices for committed agreements signed before project establishment.
- ■MX-ARR: Afforestation & Reforestation Credits — USD 37/tCO₂e (Verra VCS)
- ■MX-BCR: Biochar Removal Credits — USD 177/tonne (Gold Standard BCR)
- ■MX-H2O: Water Restoration Credits — USD 4/1,000 gallons (Verified)
- ■Forward purchase discount: 10% below benchmark for committed agreements
- ■Available for: corporates, ESG funds, sustainability teams
The Window Is 2026 to 2028
Three forces are converging simultaneously. The 2029 firewood ban creates a hard operational deadline — merchants who have not established compliant curing infrastructure before 2029 face operational shutdown. The EUDR is already in force — international tobacco companies need verified deforestation-free supply chain documentation now, not in three years. And the voluntary carbon market is projected to reach USD 50 billion by 2030, with genuine additionality — the Diamond Standard's defining characteristic — becoming the primary differentiator for corporate buyers.
MarillionEx is deploying capital into this programme in 2026. Early investors and partners establish positions, lock in forward purchase prices, and sign service agreements before the 2027–2028 period when merchant demand becomes reactive rather than proactive.
First-mover advantage in this programme is available for the next 18 months. After that, it is not.
Every Credit From This Programme Is Genuinely Additional
Every carbon, biochar, and water credit generated by the Africa Sustainable Agriculture Infrastructure Programme meets the Diamond Standard — MarillionEx's proprietary credit integrity framework. This means:
- ◆Every ARR credit comes from a tree we planted on land where no tree existed before
- ◆Every biochar credit comes from carbon we physically removed from the atmosphere and locked permanently into agricultural soil
- ◆Every water credit comes from measurable groundwater restoration independently monitored quarterly
- ◆No credit comes from protecting an existing forest, crediting natural processes, or avoided deforestation accounting
These credits can be defended to your board, your institutional shareholders, and a regulator. The 2023 carbon market credibility crisis — which exposed over 90% of widely sold REDD+ credits as worthless — cannot happen with Diamond Standard credits. By construction, not by audit.
Deployment Roadmap
Infrastructure equity first close. Minimum USD 1.5M subscribed.
Final close. First 25 village construction commences.
First villages commissioned. First lease income begins.
First Diamond Standard ARR and biochar credit registrations filed with Verra and Gold Standard.
Zambia pipeline origination commences.
First Diamond Standard credits issued. Forward purchase agreements fulfilled.
125+ villages operational. Zambia first operational year. Tanzania pipeline active.
200 villages operational. Zimbabwe firewood ban in force. All contracted farmers EUDR compliant.
Who This Programme Serves
The Africa Sustainable Agriculture Infrastructure Programme is designed to serve three distinct groups simultaneously.
TOBACCO MERCHANTS & FARMERS
Centralised solar curing infrastructure that eliminates the wood fuel burden, improves leaf quality through professional grading, and delivers full traceability documentation meeting TIMB and international buyer requirements. Single master service agreement per merchant covers all contracted farmer volumes.
INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO COMPANIES
The only integrated, third-party verified, EUDR-compliant deforestation-free supply chain solution available at scale in Zimbabwe. Suitable for PMI, Imperial Brands, BAT, JTI, and new market entrants including Hail & Cotton. One agreement, verified documentation, defensible ESG reporting.
INVESTORS & CREDIT BUYERS
Infrastructure equity with quarterly USD income. Platform equity with Series A upside. Diamond Standard carbon credits that are genuinely defensible in annual sustainability reporting. Three entry points — USD 500 minimum for infrastructure, USD 25,000 for platform equity, flexible for credit forward purchase.
Full Documentation Available
Four documents are available for download. An NDA is required for the full investor packs — contact us to request access.
Programme Overview
Africa Sustainable Agriculture Infrastructure Programme summary document covering the opportunity, the solution, and the investment options.
Download NowREIT Information Memorandum
Full formal offering document for infrastructure equity investors. Covers asset specification, lease terms, financial projections, risk factors, and subscription process.
Request AccessMarillionEx International IM
Full offering document for platform equity (Convertible Loan Note) investors. Covers Diamond Standard, pan-African operations, financial projections, CLN terms, and UK legal framework.
Request AccessTobacco Company Partnership Brief
Targeted document for sustainability and procurement teams at international tobacco companies — PMI, Imperial Brands, BAT, JTI, and Hail & Cotton.
Request AccessThis page contains forward-looking statements and financial projections. Past performance is not a guide to future results. Investment in early-stage businesses involves significant risk including the possible loss of all capital invested. This page does not constitute a regulated investment offer. Seek independent financial, legal, and tax advice before investing. MarillionEx Limited is incorporated in England & Wales. The REIT investment vehicle is domiciled in Zimbabwe and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ). Marillion Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd Class B Non-Voting Shares are not listed on any public exchange.