SOME FACTS ON THE PODCAST IN 2019
STREAMS
More than 25 new episodes, +50k streams!, 7 short tracks (among them Allan Savory on lobbying!), 13 summaries of episodes and… the year isn’t over yet.
TRANSITION FINANCE SERIES
A brand new series! We launched a new series focussed on Transition Finance with co-host and regen farmer Benedikt Boesel.
A series where we explore the potential and challenges of Transition Finance to speed up the regenerative transition on middle/large farms. We are using Benedikt’s farm as an case study to look for the key principles which can be applied anywhere.
And… WE NEED YOU! Do you have great examples of transition finance in regen ag? Let us know in the comments!
Listen to the first episodes here. Where we set the stage and share the background of Benedikt and the farm!
What did I learn this year?
NEED TO FOCUS!
There are so many interviews I want to make (my current long list contains more than 240 names). And even though the community on Patreon is growing, the podcasts are something I do next to paid work.
Since the beginning of 2019 I’m trying (and not always succeeding) to focus on the parts within the regen food and ag space with the highest potential impact. I built and used a decision making framework to come to the following three themes:
- Nutrient dense food
- Technology enabled landscape design
- Payment systems for farmers for ecosystem services
And
- Transition Finance (to finance it all)
If you want to know more about the framework I made to select these subjects please find more here.
(and let me know what you think and why you agree or disagree!)
This is a very personal list (because Personal Fit weighs heavily in the framework) so you would probably come up with a different priority list.
Wish you a joyful holiday season!
Looking forward to regenerate much more soils and many more hectares in 2020 and in the next decade!
Many thanks,
Koen
Here a deeper dive into these 4 themes of the regen food and ag space! Enjoy!
Technology enabled landscape design
What is needed to take regenerative agriculture to the watershed, ecosystem level? To answer the question: what to plant where and why? Taking into account climate models for the next 20 years, indigenous knowledge, market circumstances and much more. A series of interviews with the leading landscape doers which might make this shift (finally) possible.
Why now?
Deep learning computers maybe finally make it possible to look for network effects in Landscape restoration, and answer part of the question what to plant where for max effect.
Recent interviews on this:
- Russell Wallack, Brasa
- Arnout, Harrie, Koen, Land Life Company
- Paul Chatterton, WWF Landscape Finance Lab
- Zach Weiss, Elemental Ecosystems
Making Nutrients visible
How to make the nutrient differences visible in regenerative food? Will new technology show the link between: healthy soils — healthy produce — healthy gut — healthy people to consumers and investors? And thus revolutionise the food and agri industry? A series of interviews with the new technology providers who are promising this over the next 5 years.
Why now:
Tech may finally make this instant and affordable, plus relationship with healthy soils.
Recent interviews on this:
- Dan Kittredge, Bio Nutrient Food association
- Greg Shewmaker, TeakOrigin
- Stay tuned for more interviews on this in 2020!
Payment systems for carbon and water storage in healthy soils
Pay farmers for ecosystem services like biodiversity, water storage and carbon storage. Paying enough for good nutrient rich food isn’t enough for the huge transition needed.
Why now:
Blockchain and similar tech plus maybe maybe markets are ready to pay for water storage, biodiversity and co2 storage?
Recent interviews on this:
Transition Finance
Transition finance which needs to finance this huge transition. How funds and investment vehicles are stepping in to finance these transitions in companies and on farms. Looking at Climate Bonds, Green Bonds, new funds, vehicles blended finance, crowdlending/funding etc.
Why now:
More and more fund managers and investors are seeing the potential of soil.
Recent interviews on this:
- Geert van der Veer, Herenboeren UPDATE
- Sean Kidney, Climate Bonds Initiative
- Bert Glover, Impact AG Partners
Other topics not less important, but less relevant for me to focus at (for now):
- Farmers first tech and software
Using all this information to get practical daily decisions at the farmer level - Return nutrients to the soil
Circular economy, new developments in composting, biochar, insect fertiliser, seaweed all to speed up the regeneration of soil - Protein discussion
What is the role of animals in regenerative agriculture (if there is one). From how alternative proteins (soy, oats, almonds) are grown and could serve the restoration of ecosystems to how insects, chickens, pigs are generating proteins and fertiliser from food waste. - Short chains/food webs de-commodify food giants
Making sure that farmers get paid fairly for producing amazing food full of nutrients - Land ownership
Land ownership is a barrier to regenerative managed landscapes. If yes, what are ways to fix that?