Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food Koen van Seijen
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- Business
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We talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return.
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288 Alfred Grand – Why an Austrian farmer and researcher trained by earthworms is very excited about AI
A conversation with Alfred Grand, farmer at Grand Farm, an organic farm with a high proportion of research, about vermicompost and seed inoculation, but also what policymakers should know about farming. Plus, the role of technology in the regenerative transition and why Alfred is so excited about AI and robotics.
Have you ever witnessed a complete transformation that strikes at the very heart of our connection to the earth? Alfred's path from bike mechanic to pioneering farmer at Grand Farm is one such tale, rich with insights on the symbiosis of technology and tradition in the quest for a sustainable future.
In today's conversation, we navigate the complexities of regenerative farming, challenging the dated notion of soil as a mere nutrient sponge. Alfred, with wisdom gleaned from hands-on experience and research, speaks on the necessity for a paradigm shift in agricultural education and policy. His passion for sustainable practices extends beyond the farm, shedding light on the profound implications these methods have on climate resilience, societal well-being, and our global sustainability goals.
Alfred shares his enthusiasm for the synergy of AI and robotics with timeless farming techniques. We explore how these advances could elevate the intuition and efficiency of market gardening, changing the landscape of agriculture.
This podcast is part of the AI 4 Soil Health project which aims to help farmers and policy makers by providing new tools powered by AI to monitor and predict soil health across Europe. For more information visit ai4soilhealth.eu.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
This work has received funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee [grant numbers 10053484, 1005216, 1006329].
This work has received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
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More about this episode on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/alfred-grand.
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The above
https://foodhub.nl/en/opleidingen/your-path-forward-in-regenerative-food-and-agriculture/
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287 Sebastiaan Huisman - Farmers die slowly
A conversation with Sebastiaan Huisman, large-scale organic farmer and advisor, about consulting on many large farm transitions, including the British royal family and working with Wildfarmed. Why is he so optimistic about biodynamic, holistic, and regenerative farming, and why does it all start with children?
Picking apples on an biodynamic farm at age 12 led to setting up one of the largest biodynamic farms in Europe, almost 2000 hectares in Poland, on very very poor soil, Sebastian had an incredible journey from that Dutch farm to the creation of one of Europe's largest biodynamic farms. As he shares his story, we'll uncover the transformative impact of regenerative agriculture, not just on the soil but also on the very heart of the community.
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More about this episode on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/sebastiaan-huisman.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.
https://foodhub.nl/en/opleidingen/your-path-forward-in-regenerative-food-and-agriculture/
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286 Anthony Myint - Sourcing better isn’t going to change the food system, award-winning chef might have the silver bullet for system change
A conversation with Anthony Myint, co-founder and executive director of Zero Foodprint. Award winning chef, Myint was disappointed about his impact on acres by his farm to table restaurants and he is now fully committed to systems change. Koen and Anthony talk about how to really move the needle on many more new practice acres which are acres where regenerative practices are used for the first time, opting out mechanisms where a small opt out fee is added to restaurant bills and food products, collective regeneration, and much more.
When Anthony traded his chef's hat for the mantle of environmental advocate, the culinary world didn't just lose a master of the kitchen—it gained a potent champion for the planet. This episode brings you the powerful narrative of a food industry insider who realized his farm-to-table establishments were merely a drop in the regenerative agriculture bucket. Now, he's on a mission to create waves of change through strategic partnerships and investing directly into soil and ecosystem revival.
The gastronomic landscape is ripe for revolution, and Zero Footprint is leading the charge. Anthony lifts the veil on the potential of opt-out fees—a simple yet surprisingly effective tool for gathering communal resources to nourish our ailing earth.
With his rich tapestry of experience, Anthony guides us through the complexities of regenerative grazing, the importance of local policies in supporting farmers, and the need for robust investment in compost infrastructure.
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More about this episode on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/anthony-myint.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.
https://foodhub.nl/en/opleidingen/your-path-forward-in-regenerative-food-and-agriculture/
Support the showFeedback, ideas, suggestions?
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285 Paul McMahon - With over $500M invested, the regenerative edge is 1-3%
A conversation with Paul McMahon, co-founder of SLM, about why it makes so much sense to put money to work in real regenerative agriculture, yields, and more importantly, profits and the regenerative edge, and more.
Few papers in regenerative agriculture have been shared more than the Investment Case for Ecological Agriculture written by Paul McMahon. We have shared it countless times, learned a whole lot from the simple investment terms describing why it makes so much sense to put money to work in real regeneration. Now it has been updated, even better, it has been completely rewritten and with a lot more science and a lot experience from the field.
In the conversation with one of the most experienced regenerative farmland investors, we explore the modules of our recent video course on why we need to change agriculture and food systems urgently, and why now is the time to do it.
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More about this episode on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/paul-mcmahon-3/.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.
https://foodhub.nl/en/opleidingen/your-path-forward-in-regenerative-food-and-agriculture/
Support the showFeedback, ideas, suggestions?
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284 Abby Rose - On raising non-extractive funding and the power of AI to help farmers with observation
A conversation with Abby Rose, co-founder of Vidacycle and Farmerama, about the role and potential of AI in observation, alternative investment, the power of transparency, why regenerative viticulture is so interesting, and more.
Why did someone who didn’t really need the money and had serious and reasonable questions about the tendency of startups, both in and outside the regenerative space, to keep raising money, ended up raising funding? Not in a traditional, potentially extractive way, but a revenue share, and service fee, and a cap.
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Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag.
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Share itGive a 5-star ratingBuy us a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture----------------------------------------------------
More about this episode on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/abby-rose-2.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.
https://foodhub.nl/en/opleidingen/your-path-forward-in-regenerative-food-and-agriculture/
Support the showFeedback, ideas, suggestions?
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283 Brett Hundley - From Tyson Foods equity analyst to financing millions of trees
A conversation with Brett Hundley, President of Agroforestry Partners (AP), a fund that invests in agroforestry projects on farmland with the strategy of providing uncorrelated and attractive nature-based investment opportunities for investors.
We talked about moving away from an agricultural system that relies on annuals to a system that relies more on perennial trees. If trees are the answer to whatever the question is, how do we get millions of more trees into the ground?
How do we finance them, and how do we make the key stakeholders, the farmers- that need to give agroforestry operators access to their land for 20 40 or maybe a 100 years- comfortable with these farming systems? How do we get comfortable with writing these checks the other essential stakeholder investors that need to pore hundreds of millions into an industry and a system they are not really used to, with long time horizons (chestnuts, for instance, take 7 to 9 years before they bare fruit but could produce for at least 50 or even hundreds of years)?
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Share itGive a 5-star ratingBuy us a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture----------------------------------------------------
More about this episode on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/brett-hundley.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.
https://foodhub.nl/en/opleidingen/your-path-forward-in-regenerative-food-and-agriculture/
Support the showFeedback, ideas, suggestions?
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Thanks for listening and sharing!
Customer Reviews
The best climate - regenerative ag podcast!
I've been a loyal listener of Koen's podcast for years now, but it just hit me—I've never left a review. It’s an absolute gem in the world of sustainable investing. With insightful discussions, expert guests, and a deep dive into the transformative potential of regenerative practices, each episode offers invaluable knowledge for investors seeking to make a positive impact while generating returns.
His passion for the subject shines through, making each episode both informative and inspiring. He’s not afraid to ask the questions we are all asking inside our heads.
Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to the concept of regenerative agriculture, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to align their investments with their values and contribute to a healthier planet.
Koen’s podcast has been a constant companion during my afternoon strolls in the woods to my favorite “thinking spot” - a small lake. I'm convinced it's fueled investment in the regenerative space.
Ecosystem builders like Koen are the unsung heroes in the impact space. They do the heavy lifting that often goes unacknowledged, yet we wouldn't all be here without them.
So on behalf of all of us in the regenerative community: thank you Koen for sticking with it and to Grantham Foundation for funding ecosystem building podcasts such as this one! Wherever I see leveraged investments and neglected climate solutions, I see Grantham.
Better financing needed to have better ag
Perspectives I don’t find anywhere else. Thoughtful questions. Interesting speakers. John Kempf episode is especially good.
Treasure of knowledge on Regen Ag and all related
Great stories on regeneration in its broadest meaning from the most incredible practitioners in different parts of the value chain, functions, geographies. And a slight “investment” angle of the show allows to explore the key drivers, risks, projections and challenges that an investing eye usually look at. Thank you for doing this amazing work!