373 episodes
Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food Koen van Seijen
-
- Business
-
-
4.9 • 82 Ratings
-
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.
-
295 Mateusz Ciasnocha and Maria Virginia Solis Wahnish – From EU Soil Mission to Pope Francis, how to change local and state agriculture and food policies
A conversation with Maria Virginia Solis Wahnish and Mateusz Ciasnocha, both involved in the Farm of Francesco. Maria Virginia is founder of Drink Matera, while Mateusz is the CEO of European Carbon Farmers and member of the EU Soil Mission board. We discuss why it is so important to connect with policymakers and how to actually do that, the importance of farmers' education and a very detailed answer to the 1 billion euro question to enable many more people to get involved in farming. And what has Pope Francis to do with all of this?
How connecting with those who shape our policies can start with a simple visit to a local farm? We delve into the power of personal actions to instigate systemic change, encouraging policymakers to experience the daily life of farmers, paving the way for more grounded and beneficial agricultural policies. The episode culminates with an exploration of the symbiotic relationships between farmers, policymakers, and investors and the transformation of communities through a billion-dollar vision that places technology, collaboration, and human ingenuity at its heart.
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).
---------------------------------------------------
Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag.
Support our work:
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/mateusz-ciasnocha-maria-virginia-solis-wahnish.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
----------------------------------------------------
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 show
Feedback, ideas, suggestions?
- Twitter @KoenvanSeijen
- Get in touch www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.com
Join our newsletter on www.eepurl.com/cxU33P!
Support the show
Thanks for listening and sharing! -
294 Emiliano Mroue – Raising $7.5 million to scale from working with 20.000 to 100.000 farmers
A conversation with Emiliano Mroue, founder of WARC, about their recent funding round, being close to the farmers and why he left a corporate job in Germany to start a farmer focussed anti poverty company in Sierra Leone which turned into a company serving today over 20000 farmers, mostly in Ghana, in the transition to more regenerative practices. What is their secret to be close to the farmers always, not quite often but always?
Smallholder maize farmers at the edge of the Sahara, brutal circumstances in the Sahel mean most farmers are growing to eat and to survive and, with climate change and current farming practices burn and deep tilling, their survival is literally on the line. These soils can be depleted in a decade or less, not like in the global North where we might have 50 to 60 harvests left. So how do you go about behaviour change with farmers that are in poverty, you want to help them to change, but don’t want to risk their fragile livelihood? How do you find the recipes that work in the local context?
In March 2024, the Ghana-based agricultural service provider Warc Africa has successfully closed its Series B round, securing $7.5 million. The fresh capital raised aims to boost Warc Africa’s reach to serve over 100,000 farmers in Ghana, increase their incomes, and protect the soils.
---------------------------------------------------
Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag.
Support our work:
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/emiliano-mroue/.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
----------------------------------------------------
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 show
Feedback, ideas, suggestions?
- Twitter @KoenvanSeijen
- Get in touch www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.com
Join our newsletter on www.eepurl.com/cxU33P!
Support the show
Thanks for listening and sharing! -
293 Sonja Stuchtey - Have billions flow into regeneration by having accountants agree that it is an investment, not a cost
A conversation with Sonja Stuchtey, co-founder of The Landbanking Group, about innovative financial strategies, accountancy standards and rules, reliable sourcing, better quality and lower prices, investing in the value chain and more.
Let’s say you are an orange juice or chocolate bar producer: your margins are under pressure because the costs of buying raw ingredients have exploded the last few years. What do you do? In any other business you would likely invest in your supply to secure reliable sourcing, better quality and potentially lower prices. Why haven’t we done that in regen ((with some exceptions of fully vertically integrated brands)? Now it seems possible for companies to invest in their value chain so to allow orange farmers to make regen changes in the practises to future proof them.
How? Crucially it comes back to treat it as a long term investment and not as a short term cost which will hurt you margins and, thus, annoy your shareholders. Treating investments (which btw we need billions) in regen as an investment and not a cost sounds so trivial and simple, but it takes a whole lot of technology to measure, report and a lot of talks with the big four accountancy firms to get this done.
---------------------------------------------------
Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag.
Support our work:
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/sonja-stuchtey.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
----------------------------------------------------
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 show
Feedback, ideas, suggestions?
- Twitter @KoenvanSeijen
- Get in touch www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.com
Join our newsletter on www.eepurl.com/cxU33P!
Support the show
Thanks for listening and sharing! -
292 Walking the land with regenerative farmer Matteo Mazzola, Iside Farm
This is a special episode, the first one ever of the Walking the Land with a Regenerative Farmer, where we walk the land of the farm with a farmer while we talk about regeneration.
[On Youtube you can find a video version of this same conversation!]
Walking through Iside Farm on the Iseo Lake in Italy, with regenerative farmer Matteo Mazzola, we unlock the secrets of regenerative agriculture as we traverse the innovative landscapes crafted by Matteo, Paola and the Iside crew. We embark on a profound exploration of sustainable farming, showcasing Matteo's expertise in farm design, water systems, and the integration of olive trees and animals into the land. Learn how access ways are more than just paths across a farm; they're a vital component in the flow of energy and resources, helping to prevent erosion with concrete strips and alfalfa, and offering additional crop space. Matteo's wisdom extends to the creative reuse of shipping containers, illustrating a commitment to terraforming that marries functionality with environmental stewardship.
At Iside they don't just farm: they are crafting ecosystems where water management is an art and conservation a priority. The episode reveals an inventive water system where ponds atop container roofs serve a triple purpose: roofing, water storage, and purification. From aquaponics to sweet water mollusks, Matteo's methods for quality food production are a testament to his ingenious approach to agriculture. Hear about the noble efforts to combat drought in the Alps and the techniques that are breathing life into arid terrains, transforming them into lush waterscapes.
Our discussion further delves into the future of Iside Farm, the power of education, and the importance of distinguishing between consumers and customers when it comes to environmental responsibility. Matteo shares his vision about the synergy of beauty and function in landscapes, a reminder of the transformative potential that regenerative agriculture holds for creating more sustainable and inviting ecosystems.
---------------------------------------------------
Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag.
Support our work:
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/matteo-mazzola-2.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
----------------------------------------------------
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 invest
https://foodhub.nl/en/opleidingen/your-path-forward-in-regenerative-food-and-agriculture/
Support the show
Feedback, ideas, suggestions?
- Twitter @KoenvanSeijen
- Get in touch www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.com
Join our newsletter on www.eepurl.com/cxU33P!
Support the show
Thanks for listening and sharing! -
291 Adrien Pelletier - Why all farmers or most farmers need to become seed breeders again
A conversation with Adrien Pelletier, farmer, breeder, and baker, about wheat, seeds, no till organic farming, why all farmers or most farmers need to become seed breeders again, and why it is really difficult to bake sourdough with traditional organic wheat seeds that are not breed for high productive farms.
Why Adrien want to start changing the world in the most difficult place, at home, which is a large industrial, mostly extractive, commodity wheat-growing region in France? Picture a sea of wheat, large relatively flat fields and no trees. He argues we are in the prehistoric area of organic farming, and there is so much to discover, especially around population wheats. We also learn about no till organic farming is the way to go (and super difficult).
---------------------------------------------------
Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag.
Support our work:
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/adrien-pelletier.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
----------------------------------------------------
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 show
Feedback, ideas, suggestions?
- Twitter @KoenvanSeijen
- Get in touch www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.com
Join our newsletter on www.eepurl.com/cxU33P!
Support the show
Thanks for listening and sharing! -
290 Chris Bloomfield and Daniel Reisman – We need animals outside to feed the planet sustainably
A conversation with Chris Bloomfield and Daniel Reisman, co-founders of Collie, a provider of virtual cow guidance system for managing production in grazing, about enabling regenerative dairy, how virtually fencing and cow guidance drastically reduce labour and boost production. To feed ourselves and the planet sustainably, we need to include animals as part of agriculture. We dive deep into going from vegan to grazing, animal welfare, and the state of our planet. How do we enable more farmers to hold complexity on their farms? How do we use technology to enable complexity instead of using technology to make everything mono, as we have done in the last 50 years?
---------------------------------------------------
Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag.
Support our work:
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/chris-bloomfield-daniel-reisman.
Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.
----------------------------------------------------
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 show
Feedback, ideas, suggestions?
- Twitter @KoenvanSeijen
- Get in touch www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.com
Join our newsletter on www.eepurl.com/cxU33P!
Support the show
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!
Top Podcasts In Business
You Might Also Like