Seeds of Hope - Regenerative Agriculture with Elena Garidis (Elena Garidis)

In this episode, join me and Sarah Day Levesque, founder and Managing Director of Regenerative Food Systems Investment (RFSI), as we delve into an enlightening discussion about:

• Financial innovation in regenerative agriculture, including flexible loan repayment schedules and interest rate reductions tied to soil health improvements (increasing the value of the farmed land)
• How family offices and foundations are leading early investment in regenerative agriculture, paving the way for institutional capital
• The concept of "landscape level" investment that brings together diverse stakeholders across entire regions

Helpful links and resources

• RFSI website: https://rfsi-forum.com/
• Financing for Regenerative Agriculture Report by the Rockefeller Foundation and TIFs - 2024 (incl. the maturity curve of the regenerative investing space): https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/reports/financing-for-regenerative-agriculture/
• SLM partners publications: https://www.slmpartners.com/publications
• AgFunder & RFSI 2024 Investment Report: https://agfunder.com/research/agfunder-global-agrifoodtech-investment-report-2024/
• TransCap Initiative: Systemic Investment for Sustainability Report: https://transformation.capital/assets/uploads/TransCap-Initiative-Strategic-Plan-2022-2024.pdf

In this episode, join me and regenerative system designer Yãm Aisner as we explore a fascinating discussion about:

• Permaculture's core design philosophy: systems thinking meets ancient wisdom
• How riparian forests prevent watershed death spirals and protect river ecosystems
• Community-led approaches transforming water management and food systems

Ecovilla San Mateo Eco-village in Costa Rica: https://laecovilla.com/ecovillas/ecovilla-san-mateo

If you want to get involved with water cycle restoration, check out

Join the community or take a course on Zach Weiss’ Water Stories: https://www.waterstories.com/

Join the Regrerian community founded by Darren J. Doherty: https://www.regrarians.org/

Get inspired by Dr. Rajendra Singh’s work in the Kham River Restoration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PMsiXkAmFk and

In this episode, join me and Rick Clark, a fifth-generation farmer from Indiana and pioneer in regenerative organic agriculture, as we delve into a discussion about:

• The surprising financial results of regenerative organic farming, including real numbers and ROI metrics that challenge regenerative farming profitability misconceptions
• The critical connection between farming practices, nutrient density, and human health, including movements like the FreshRx
• Practical advice for farmers considering the transition to regenerative organic practices, based on Rick's experience teaching farmers worldwide

https://www.farmgreen.land/

https://www.instagram.com/farmgreen13/

https://www.freshrxok.org/about

https://commongroundfilm.org/

In this episode, join me and Klaas Martens, a regenerative organic farmer at the Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens Farm, as we learn from Klaas’ farming experience and history’s great thinkers about:

• The art of listening to nature's communication through weeds, and how these often-overlooked plants reveal crucial insights about soil health and ecosystem imbalances
• Lessons from history from civilizations like Rome and the era of the bubonic plague, and what this teaches us about building sustainable food systems
• Wisdom for aspiring farmers (and really anyone): beyond technical skills, learning to ask the right questions and make choices that enhance both land and personal wellbeing

https://www.senecagrainandbean.com/

In this episode, join me and Alex Godfrey, Investment Manager at Octopus Investments, as we delve into a fascinating discussion about:

• Diversifying revenue streams for farmers
• Unlocking the potential of natural capital through carbon credits and biodiversity credits—demystifying what counts and exploring the market’s readiness
• Mitigating risks for institutional investors by diversifying agricultural investments

https://institutional.octopusinvestments.com/natural-capital-investment/

https://hive.greenfinanceinstitute.com/gfihive/toolkit/developing-a-governance-structure/the-wyre-river-natural-flood-management-project/

Soil health is the foundation of our food system, but what does that really mean? Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, President of the Soil Health Institute, reveals:

• What soil health really means and why every soil's potential is unique to its local context
• The Institute's landmark study across Mexico, US, and Canada that established standardized ways to measure soil health - research that's now being implemented by the USDA across all 50 states
• Their groundbreaking work in soil health benchmarking, helping farmers understand and unlock their soil's true potential through data from over 7 million acres

Soil Health Insitute: https://soilhealthinstitute.org/resources/

Living Soil Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntJouJhLM48

Slakes app: https://soilhealthinstitute.org/our-work/initiatives/slakes/

In this episode, join me and Timothée Murillo from McCain Foods, as we delve into an insightful discussion about:

• How companies can truly embed sustainability in their business models
• An example of how McCain and Rabobank are partnering to support farmers in transitioning to regenerative agriculture
• Incorporating Indigenous wisdom into the way we work
• Hiring (and getting hired) in the sustainability sector

https://www.mccain.com/sustainability/smart-sustainable-farming/

In this episode, join me and self-proclaimed Ag-tivist Michael Richard II, as we delve into an inspiring discussion about:

• Addressing food apartheid and challenges to a more equitable food system through community farming
• Implementing resource and energy circulation in a regenerative urban farm in New Orleans
• Exploring aquaponics as an alternative to off-shore fish farming

https://www.recirculatingfarms.org/about/

In this episode, join me and Mary Purdy, Managing Director of the Nutrient Density Alliance, as we delve into an eye-opening discussion about:

• The declining nutrient density in our modern food supply and how this connects to rising chronic disease rates
• How soil microorganisms collaborate with plants to create the nutrient-dense food that our bodies need
• Practical strategies for improving your nutrient intake and supporting regenerative food systems through your daily food choices

https://www.nutrientdensityalliance.org/

Mary’s White Paper: How Practitioners Can Influence Planetary Health https://healthcare.orgain.com/media/rdocs/Orgain_How_Practitioners_Can__Influence_Planetary_Health.pdf

An Alarming Decline in the Nutritional Quality of Foods White Paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10969708/

Nourishing Meals Cookbook: https://nourishingmeals.com/books/nourishing-meals

The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook: https://nourishingmeals.com/books/the-whole-life-nutrition-cookbook

In this episode, join me and Peter Fröhlich, multi-generational farmer and founder of Agricircle, as we delve into an inspiring discussion about:

• Using satellite data and AI models to help farmers more deeply understand their soil’s health and composition
• Addressing complex issues such as farming sustainably from the bottom up
• Building our ecological income and why it matters now

https://agricircle.com/

In this episode, join me and Dr. Lanette Sobel, Founder of Fertile Earth Worm Farm, as we delve into an eye-opening discussion about:

• The differences between land grant university agriculture programs and permaculture principles, challenging how we educate future farmers
• The science behind soil microorganisms and worm tea (vermiculture), offering natural alternatives to expensive chemical fertilizers
• The hidden truth about pesticide use in plant nurseries and how composting could revolutionize both waste management and agricultural practices

https://fertileearth.net/

https://www.instagram.com/fertileearth/

In this episode, join me and Erica Campbell, co-founder of InCommon Group and veteran food systems strategist, as we delve into an enlightening discussion about:

• Understanding the distinctions between organic and regenerative agriculture, including California's first-ever state definition of regenerative practices
• Navigating agricultural certifications and what they mean for the future of farming and conscious consumption
• The 100 Million Acres project and its ambitious vision for transforming American agriculture

InCommon Group:https://incommongroup.com/

California Definition of Regenerative Agriculture:https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/RegenerativeAg/docs/2025/jan_2025_letter_to_secretary_ross_regenerative_agriculture.pdf

RegenMade:https://regenmade.webflow.io/

Demeter Certification:https://www.demeter-usa.org/certification/

Regenerative Organic Certification Brands and Product Directory:https://regenorganic.org/product-directory/

Real Organic:https://realorganicproject.org/real-organic-farming/

Regenefied:https://regenified.com/