Austin Unruh – Silvopasture, planting trees on millions of acres of grassland, is the most scalable and profitable regen solution

A conversation with Austin Unruh, founder of Trees for Graziers, about the investment case for silvopasture. What if we could plant hundreds of millions of trees on degraded, low-value pasture land and make money from it? What if we planted trees that are beneficial for livestock—ruminants, pigs, and poultry? The market for meat and animal products is fairly stable (unless we get a massive breakthrough in precision fermentation soon, but that’s hard to predict). Trees can dramatically lower costs and increase production.
Austin argues that this is the best entry point to get many more trees into the landscape. When chosen well, these trees provide shade (a basic need), but more importantly, they offer feed during the most difficult periods of the year—like high summer, or specific fruits that drop in the autumn, full of sugar and energy, just as cows prepare for the colder winter months. Especially with pasture-raised pigs and poultry, you can save massively on expensive (organic) feed, which is mostly grain. And as a bonus, pastures grow better with partial shade.
So, when in doubt, plant more trees on pasture. Of course, this isn’t always easy. You need to make sure pigs—who are notorious diggers— don’t destroy the young trees. You need to ensure the trees survive the first few years. You’ll need financing to bridge those early, non-fruit-bearing years. But all of that is fixable. And you’ll need a massive tree nursery to supply quality trees—preferably large ones—at scale and at an affordable price. Finally, we discuss why the beauty of a savannah-like landscape is so important.

Philip Kauders – From Goldman Sachs to investing hundreds of millions in agroforestry in Brazil

A conversation with Philip Kauders, founder of Courageous Land, working on large-scale reforestation and conservation through agroforestry and meeting the growing demand for climate-positive food, ingredients, high-value hardwoods, and carbon credits.

We can invest hundreds of millions into regenerative agroforestry, maybe even billions. No, we don’t need new regulations or new technology (drones that prune, for example— sure, they’ll help, and they’ll come, but they’re not essential). According to Philip the puzzle pieces for making large scale multi strata agroforestry systems are there. The place: Brazil. The land: the former rainforest which is currently bare or maybe grazed a bit, so underperforming financially and ecologically ecosystems. The knowledge is there because of 10000 years of agroforestry experience- the Amazon is a managed agroforestry system-, the financial system is ready because agroforestry is a thing in Brazil. Companies are sourcing products from these systems, bankers are investing, and large-scale projects are already on the ground.

The missing link? The game changer which might make real scale possible? Carbon credits. I know what you thinking about the voluntary markets and the scandals, but regen agroforestry systems are amazing carbon sinks. And many companies—especially tech giants with high margins—have made massive climate commitments and continue to buy high-quality carbon credits. That demand makes many of these projects investable, bankable and scalable.
Of course, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns—there are plenty of challenges ahead. But the main point is: we know what to do, and we know how to do it. So… what are we waiting for?

Paul McMahon – Why regen forestry is natural capital’s Trojan horse for institutional investors

A conversation with Paul McMahon, co-founder SLM partners, about forestry being the gateway drug for natural capital for institutional investors to put money to work. Why? Because they are used to investing in forestry — it is a well-established investment sector with very long-time horizons. Rotations here are 30+ years, but it’s also one with many challenges: current practices usually mean cutting down a forest after 30 years and completely replanting it. That basically scars a landscape for life — mostly monocultures.

Interestingly, alternatives have been popping up over the last few decades. Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF), where you selectively harvest and let natural processes do most of the work, requires highly skilled foresters, but it can deliver superior returns alongside all the environmental benefits. These are production forests you want to be in — and forest bathe in. Now that a lot of academic research is emerging about carbon levels, returns, etc., the time might be right for more money to flow into it. Interestingly enough, there are established markets for quality in forestry — bigger, better logs (which you can get with CCF) fetch substantially higher prices. All reasons for agricultural investors and actors to look at forestry and see what we can learn.

James Arthur Smith – Mercury-free, microplastic-free, and Omega-3 rich: the future of seafood

A check in conversation with James Arthur Smith, founder of Seatopia, about their data-driven focus on nutrient density (plus mercury/microplastics testing) resonates more strongly than abstract “sustainability” marketing strategy and it ultimately driving real ecosystem restoration. We explore how Seatopia defines regenerative aquaculture in a multi- trophic system—integrating finfish alongside shellfish and seaweeds, how they measure and quantify our impact at every step and how they partner with artisan milling companies developing species-appropriate feeds that eliminate fishmeal, soy, corn, and canola oil—pivoting toward insect protein and algae-based oils.

Mike Velings – VC & PE won’t deliver regeneration — €250M evergreen proves it

A conversation with Mike Veilings, co-founder of Aqua-Spark, a global investment fund for sustainable aquaculture, about how an invite he should have never received lead to the creation of the largest aquaculture fund in history, with over $250 million in assets under management (AUM) and ambitious plans to grow to $2 billion or more. This conversation goes beyond the billion dollar question—it’s already been answered. We explore why focusing on long- term investments is essential for transforming an industry and why current venture capital and private equity fund models might cause more harm than good. How can we bring institutional investors into agriculture and food, and what financial mechanisms can facilitate this? We also dive into the key drivers in aquaculture and discover why Mike is so enthusiastic about the future.
This episode is special—it’s not every day we discuss billions and institutional investment strategies with someone who has a real chance to raise the funds and put them to work.

Herb Young – After 36 years at Bayer, growing regen citrus with 8x the nutrients

A conversation with Herb Young, farmer who, after 36 years in the chemical industry working for Bayer, retired and bought a small farm in Georgia—where things quickly got out of hand. While researching organic premiums, Herb came across regenerative agriculture—and fell deep, very deep, down the rabbit hole. For over a year, he read everything, listened to everything, and then planted his first trees.

A few years later, Herb is now one of the leading regenerative citrus growers in the country, conducting cutting-edge research while selling his first harvest directly to consumers in over 36 states. And the most surprising part? His citrus is, on average, eight times more nutrient- dense than conventionally grown oranges. That means you’d have to eat eight regular oranges to match the nutrients of just one of his. Suddenly, the idea of food as medicine becomes very affordable. And, of course, his citrus is incredibly tasty.

We also discuss his history in the agrochemical industry, what his former colleagues think of his new “hobby” and what excites him most about the upcoming second season.

Ethan Soloviev – AI, good food at Davos, food as medicine and regen taking off

A check- in conversation with Ethan Soloviev, Chief Innovation Officer at HowGood, about how regenerative agriculture is truly taking off, its position within large food and agriculture companies, and whether we risk watering it down or falling into greenwashing (Spoiler: Surprisingly, we’re doing a lot about it!). We also get an update on HowGood—they’re doing well and focusing more on nutrient density-, plus, we talk about Regen House, which is revolutionizing the way good food fosters meaningful conversations at major events like COPs, climate summits, and Davos, t bringing farmers, indigenous community members, and global executives together around regenerative food experiences. By centering conversations on actual good food rather than panels and PowerPoints, these gatherings forge authentic connections that move regeneration forward.

And, of course, no conversation with Ethan would be complete without diving into AI—what currently does and what it could do for regeneration—not just through efficiency gains, but through innovative applications like predicting deforestation before it happens. The real breakthrough will come when we develop “large ecological models” trained on nature’s patterns rather than just human texts, enabling truly regenerative landscape design.

As Chief Innovation Officer at HowGood, Ethan offers a glimpse into how sustainability data is transforming food systems. Their database tracks environmental and social impacts for 33,000 ingredients and nearly 4 million products globally, enabling everything from carbon footprinting to supplier engagement. What’s particularly encouraging is how this data influences consumer behavior—when sustainability information is presented clearly at the point of purchase, sales of sustainable products consistently increase across diverse markets.

Louis De Jaeger – Eat More Trees: a Masterclass with thé storyteller of the Regen Space

A conversation with Louis De Jaeger, international keynote speaker, author, award-winning filmmaker, and landscape designer, about dreams, action, and storytelling—how to reach and touch people. We discuss why storytelling is highly underrated and underfunded, and why he is organizing a festival—not the next Burning Man, but a regeneration festival.
He shares his excitement about small water cycle restoration, the biotic pump, and much more. And in the end, it all boils down to one simple message: Eat More Trees.

During his 5-year sabbatical that turned into a lifelong mission to regenerate landscapes, Louis’ revelation came during world travels where he witnessed environmental degradation firsthand—monoculture landscapes so depressing “you want to drive against a tree, but there are no trees.” This observation sparked his mission to regenerate 550 million hectares of land globally, potentially cooling our planet by two degrees Celsius.

Beyond the environmental benefits, Louis paints a compelling vision of a regenerative future characterized by abundance rather than sacrifice. “We’re going to have an even more luxurious lifestyle, we’re going to have better food that tastes fantastic” he assures us. His approach isn’t about shaming people into environmentalism but showing how regenerative practices create healthier, more desirable lives.

Laimonas Noreika – From FinTech to Farms: bridging the €60B loan gap for Europe’s small farms

A conversation with Laimonas Noreika, founder of HeavyFinance, about providing loans to farmers, bringing innovation to the traditionally stagnant agri-loan sector. Regen ag is more profitable—Laimonas has the data to prove it and is putting serious money to work to scale regen across Eastern Europe.

Some numbers: over €70M loaned to farmers and over 13,000 individual investors have invested through them. But the gap is much bigger—over €60B a year—which means we need institutional investors. Some, like the European Investment Fund, have invested through Heavy Finance. And why aren’t banks stepping in? Because small farmers don’t fit their criteria well. So, we need new fintech solutions and scale. This could be quite a standard fintech play in agriculture if it weren’t for a super clear focus on regenerative practices. Why? Because it’s more profitable and thus makes farmers better lenders.

And yes, we’re also talking about carbon credits—Laimonas is placing big bets in that space, and we explore why and how.

Kiira Heymann – From Non-GMO to Non-ultra-processed: everyone has the right to know what’s in their food

A conversation with Kiira Heymann, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Non-GMO Project and the Food Integrity Collective. After the success of the Non-GMO Project in the U.S., which is now featured on almost 63,000 products, the team is launching the Non-Ultra-Processed Food verification. In this conversation, we discuss why—why introduce another label? And why is it so important for the food sector to focus on increasing consumers’ capacity to demand more from their food system, rather than just adding another label?

This isn’t just another label—it’s a carefully considered intervention designed to reconnect people with their food in profound ways. When 70% of American store shelves hold ultra-processed products engineered with ingredients banned in other countries, the stakes couldn’t be higher. What makes this effort particularly fascinating is how it challenges the very foundation of food certification itself. Rather than creating another “shortcut to trust”, the team is exploring how to eliminate the need for certifications entirely by rebuilding true transparency in our food system. Their research shows 81% of North Americans are concerned about questionable ingredients in their food, yet only 17% feel knowledgeable about the topic—a gap this initiative aims to close.

Beyond ingredients, this movement addresses the cognitive impact of ultra-processed foods. Studies show these products can significantly impair brain function in as little as 30 days, creating a troubling cycle where the very foods engineered to be addictive are simultaneously diminishing our capacity to make better choices. By helping consumers understand and avoid ultra-processed foods, the certification offers a pathway toward better physical and mental wellbeing.

Currently in its pilot phase with 20 pioneering brands, the non-UPFs verification program aims to launch products by fall 2025. The certification represents more than just another shopping guide—it’s an invitation to experience the profound difference real food makes in how we feel, think, and connect with our world.