Nicolas METRO

Nicolas Metro is redefining nature preservation as a human development issue, one that reaches far beyond environmental conservation. By repositioning trees as central actors in creating economic opportunities and addressing social issues such as malnutrition, Nicolas develops simple ways for NGOs, businesses, institutions, and local communities to break silos and find common ground where entrepreneurial solutions are encouraged to flourish and system change becomes possible.

Father of 5 daughters, social entrepreneur, Ashoka Fellow Nicolas Métro graduated from ESSEC business school in France and worked as a successful executive in large corporates in Japan and Europe for 15 years. In 2005, he decided to refocus on what is essential to him: human beings and nature. He founded Kinomé meaning eye of the tree  in Japanese. Kinomé is a social business using trees as a source of inspiration and practical solutions for a better life through improved access to food and water, job creation, product innovation, environmental services, etc.

In order to create the conditions for a global mindset shift, Kinomé has based its approach on self-development (“how can we change the world without changing ourselves?”) with Ethical Leadership® at the center. Kinomé brings under one roof Research, Consulting, Projects, and Education skills joining forces with 100+ organizations to implement its programs.

Together multi-partner high-impact initiatives have emerged in the areas of climate, agriculture, biodiversity, nutrition, and sustainable value chains. For example: in West Africa, Madagascar, and Latin America, Kinome has developed the production, transformation, and distribution in school canteens of “Moringa olifeira”, a highly nutritional tree growing fast, needing no inputs and not competing with food crops. This has enhanced the lives of thousands of families and children in the form of reduced malnutrition and stunting, job creation, improved green cover, etc.

Since 2005, Kinomé has positively impacted 2 million people, thereby 9 million trees have been planted in 40 countries over 4 continents and more.