Hi <<First Name>>,

Welcome to the August highlights!

What a month! Even though many people in the Northen Hemisphere tried to slow down, it was hard to ignore the climate news. Heat waves and massive fires everywhere, huge floods- which followed the fires in some cases- all makes the case for regeneration at scale even stronger. It seems like the world is waking up to the need and potential of regenerating millions/billions of hectares, but it also feels way too slow. How do we speed this up? The interviewees who joined us this month make it very clear, we need large finance, biodiversity, and focus on nutrient density!

Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone in this amazing community, for listening, sharing and getting involved!
Koen

Discover the Video Course Investing in regen food and ag!

A series of currently 17 short videos (10-15min) plus downloadable pdf slides with our lessons learned after recording over 100+ interviews with investors, fund managers, farmers, scientists since 2016, always asking the question:

"how to put money to work in regenerating soils at scale and growing a lot of tasty food while doing so?"

VIDEO COURSE INVESTING IN REGEN FOOD AND AG

DISCOVER OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!

Sarah Mock - Treat Farms Like Businesses

How large banks finance the regeneration transition
Interview with Pierre Rousseau, BNP Paribas’ Sustainable Business

Topic: What role could one of the biggest banks in the world play in the regenerative transition? Why should we take into account the externalities? How do changes in value chains impact the regenerative transition? How important is science in this transition? This episode is part of a series supported by the Earthworm Foundation about the role of corporations in the transition to regenerative agriculture.

My thoughts:
We are always a bit skeptical when talking to large institutional players who claim to be serious about regen ag. But, in this case, it seems like as a large bank BNP is really pushing hard for regeneration as there is no other way. It will be very interesting to see how this unfolds in the future!

Listen to the conversation with Pierre

Let financiers being seduced by Latin America biodiversity wealth
Interview with Laura Ortiz, SVX Mexico

Topic:
Why are most voices in the regenerative movement coming from the global North? Why is simply investing in regenerative agriculture not good enough? What does real regenerative investing look like? Laura joins us to talk about how “transformative finance” is the portal towards regenerative investments and how SVX’s “currency” is trust.

My thoughts:
We (me definitely included) don't pay nearly enough attention to Latin America as we should, so we were very happy to have Laura on the podcast and dive deeper into the opportunities and what real regenerative investing looks like. We have to change how we invest, not just what we invest in.

Listen to the conversation with Laura

Leading regen farmer going all in on nutrient density
Interview with Mellany Klompe, Soil Heroes Foundation

Topic:
A deep conversation about how measuring nutrient density is key towards having farmers as well as consumers on board with regenerative transition. Farmers must have the power to negotiate on the quality of their produce, rather than the quantity. And what role does research and universities play?

My thoughts:
Sometimes I'm lucky enough to interview the key farmers who are pushing this revolution forward, who are experimenting and inventing a better food system for all of us, every day. This was one of those interviews! It is hard to underestimate how much work the pioneering farmers applying regenerative approaches have put in and are still putting in. Against all odds and against a very well structured industry who doesn't want anything to change (fast).