For producers to adopt responsible practices, they need capital to buy new equipment, boost productivity, and make other changes that will allow them to meet credible sustainability guidelines and practices. However producers seeking loans to support such investments are often deemed high risk by financial institutions, because they often lack credit history and collateral. There are limited alternative data sources available to support these risk assessments, and the standards used by financial institutions overlook improvements at the farm or commodity-chain level that could inform credit allocation. As a result, smallholders are often left with little incentive or means to invest in sustainability.