What's Happening

By Caroline Bode, 
Director of Shareholder Advocacy Mercy Investments

Growing scientific evidence links pesticide use to reduced soil health and farm resilience, and exposure to pesticides and agrichemicals is associated with serious adverse health impacts, particularly for children and farm workers. The base of a successful regenerative agriculture system is healthy soils and, without addressing and reducing agrichemical use, such systems are unable to effectively achieve regenerative outcomes.

Despite growing reference in food company annual reporting to regenerative agriculture programs and commitments, As You Sow’s 2026 Pesticides in the Pantry report found that more than half of the 17 benchmarked companies’ scores declined from their 2023 assessment and that several companies decreased or eliminated pesticide disclosure from their public reporting. And the assessment of 78 global agri-food companies by the investor network FAIRR  (formerly the Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return) found that none have set a target to reduce the use of pesticides as part of their regenerative agriculture programs.

For decades, Adrian Dominican Sisters Portfolio Advisory Board (PAB) has been a consistent voice calling for a transition to a safer and more sustainable food system and the development of safer forms of pest control, leading a multi-year engagement with Michigan-based Dow Chemical and participating in a similar engagement with Missouri-based Monsanto.  

The PAB has continued to engage with Dow’s agricultural chemical spin-off company, Corteva, and the German company Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018. Current engagements with both companies ask them to develop pest control products that are safer for people and planet. In 2025, Corteva announced a multi-million-dollar joint venture to accelerate the development of new crop protection solutions inspired by nature. 

In its 2026 sustainability reporting, Bayer shared that it has reduced the environmental impact of its global crop protection portfolio by 14% against the baseline. However, Bayer has also been in the headlines this year due to its legal stance in the numerous lawsuits brought against the company concerning the health impacts of its signature product Roundup, which was originally developed by Monsanto.  

Earlier this year when the case reached the Supreme Court, Bayer argued that they should be immune from “failure to warn” lawsuits on the grounds that the language in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) gives the EPA universal control to approve product labels and that any EPA-approved labels should preempt state labeling laws or individual rights to sue agrochemical producers. 

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bayer’s favor removes a primary tool for individuals to hold these companies accountable when they fail to warn consumers of undisclosed risks and harm. Adrian Dominican Sisters and other investors will continue to engage Bayer and other agrochemical producers on the need to transition their crop protection portfolios to solutions that are less hazardous and toxic to human and environmental health.

In part due to years of investor pressure, most major food manufacturers also have commitments to implement regenerative practices and several, such as Campbell’s, Lamb Weston, and Nestlé, are tracking and monitoring pesticide use. Kroger and Walmart have commitments to implement integrated pest management practices with their food suppliers to help transition to least-toxic growing methods.

Investors are also asking food retailers to disclose how they are working to reduce the use of pesticides in the products they sell. In the 2026 proxy season, the PAB co-filed a shareholder proposal at Target asking the company to report on pesticide use and reduction efforts within its supply chains. 

Despite Target’s commitments to safer chemical management and protecting biodiversity, the company lags its peers and may be overlooking risks associated with pesticide use. The proposal received 17.2% of the vote in support, indicating strong interest from shareholders on this issue.  

Investors will continue to press chemical companies to reduce the environmental and human health impacts of their agricultural products and to ask food and beverage companies and retailers to disclose how they are working to reduce pesticide use in their supply chains.

 

By Maru Gómez
Lending Specialist, Camino Loan Fund 
 
Introduction by Sister Marilín M. Llanes, OP
Director of Portfolio Advisory Board

The Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (¡HICA!) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community development and advocacy organization that serves Latino and immigrant families throughout Alabama. Founded in 1999, ¡HICA! supports more than 3,500 families each year through programs that promote economic opportunity, civic engagement, and social justice. Through its emerging Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the Camino Loan Fund, ¡HICA! provides access to capital for Latino, immigrant, and low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs, helping foster inclusive economic growth. 

On July 8, 2026, Members of the Adrian Dominican Sisters Portfolio Advisory Board (PAB), approved a low-interest loan of $200,000 to increase the lending capacity of the Camino Loan Fund, a first-time recipient. The fund is dedicated to providing responsible small business loans to low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs throughout Birmingham, Alabama, and the surrounding region, creating pathways to business ownership and economic stability. 

As a certified CDFI, Camino’s mission-driven approach closely aligns with the Adrian Dominican Sisters Enactment on Diversity, which calls for building “the beloved community in which everyone is cared for, absent of poverty, hunger, and hate.” By expanding access to affordable capital, Camino helps address barriers that have historically limited opportunities for many aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Maru Gómez, Lending Specialist with the Camino Loan Fund, shares a compelling story that illustrates the impact of this work. Through its lending program, Camino is creating opportunities for individuals and communities that have often been excluded from traditional financial systems, empowering entrepreneurs to launch and grow businesses that strengthen their families and communities.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to economic justice, inclusion, and community development, demonstrating how mission-driven investments can help build a more equitable future for all.
 
Iralis Matute and Annerys Tortolero, founders of Genova Event Planner LLC, were born and raised in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. Like many families starting over in a new country, their journey came with challenges, uncertainty, and major adjustments. They came to the United States hoping to build a more stable future and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.
 
Iralis first traveled through Central America, spending time in Panama, where she began expressing her creativity through decorations and event setups under the name “Eleven Decoration.” Her journey eventually brought her to Louisiana in October 2023, where she began building a new life while working in construction and other jobs.
 
Annerys arrived in the United States earlier and made Alabama her home. Before settling there, she lived in Costa Rica, where she developed experience in baking, catering, and serving customers. Her background in business administration later became an important strength as the sisters began building their business together.
 
After reuniting in 2023, the sisters combined their talents and passion to launch their event-planning business. Iralis brought her creativity and love for decoration, while Annerys contributed her administrative knowledge and organizational skills. Together, they saw an opportunity to serve their community through birthdays, holidays, and meaningful family celebrations.
 
Like many new entrepreneurs, they faced significant barriers. They lacked the tools and equipment needed to deliver the level of quality they envisioned, while finding reliable suppliers and building a client base required time and persistence. To move their business forward, they applied for support through Camino Loan Fund.
 
Camino pairs responsible lending capital with bilingual business technical assistance so entrepreneurs are positioned for long-term success. Camino’s relationship-based underwriting model looks beyond traditional financial metrics by considering an entrepreneur’s character, business viability, experience, and commitment to growth. This approach is designed to reduce barriers that often exclude immigrant, minority, women, and low-income entrepreneurs from traditional financing.
 
Iralis and Annerys initially expected the process to be difficult, but they were surprised by how smooth, responsive, and supportive it was. With Camino’s support, they purchased essential tools, including printers and computers with the capacity needed for design work. They are also developing a website that will allow clients to request quotes online, improving efficiency and the customer experience.
 
Since receiving support in early 2026, Genova Event Planner LLC has already begun to grow. The sisters have successfully organized two events. More importantly, they have received positive feedback from their clients, who highlight that the sisters consistently exceed expectations with their dedication and attention to detail.
 
Beyond financial growth, the business has had a meaningful personal impact on their lives. They now feel supported and empowered, with a sense of security that allows them to respond quickly to client needs without the constant stress of limited resources. What once felt uncertain now feels achievable, and they are more confident in their ability to continue building their future. As Iralis shared, “My creativity now is flying.” 
 
Looking ahead, the sisters plan to build a consistent calendar of personal and corporate events, obtain the permits needed to offer full catering services, and eventually open a showroom and hire employees in the next three to five years.
 
Their story demonstrates how flexible capital and culturally responsive support can expand inclusive ownership opportunities. Through Genova Event Planner LLC, Iralis and Annerys are not only building a business; they are creating a pathway toward long-term ownership, household wealth, economic self-determination, and a more secure future for their families.

 

Caption for above feature photo: From left, Maru Gómez, the author, presents a large-sized replica of a check to clients Iralis Matute and Annerys Tortolero, founders of Genoa Event Planner, LLC. Photo courtesy of the Camino Loan Fund