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About Us
The RFSI team brings more than two decades of experience in agriculture, food systems, investing, research, media, and events.
Our goal is to work across diverse groups of funders and stakeholders to mobilize more capital for regenerative food and agriculture projects. We also aim to expand the distribution of information and tools that communicate the financial, ecological, and social benefits of investments in a regenerative food system.
Capital, from many diverse sources, is critical to the expansion of a regenerative food system.
We hope you will join us in growing this crucial community.
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The Team
Sarah Day Levesque
Managing Director
Sarah has spent more than 15 years working to connect agriculture and food systems stakeholders to the information and networks they need to be successful. She is committed to contributing to a healthy and productive path forward for the food system and for the past six years, Sarah has worked closely with regenerative farmers in her role leading the development and execution of educational experiences at Acres USA, a Questor Regen Co. company. Sarah is a firm believer in the power of learning and enrichment experiences to bring communities of all kinds together for positive change and in late 2018, Sarah started Regenerative Food Systems Investment to address to address a lack of attention, awareness, and capital being given to investment opportunities in regenerative agriculture and food.
Before joining Acres USA in late 2016, Sarah spent a decade in agricultural media, where she played a key role in the development of successful event and media brands, including Women in Agribusiness and Organic & Non-GMO Forum, and also served as Editor-in-Chief of Global AgInvesting Media.
Sarah holds an M.S. in Agriculture and Resource Economics and an M.S. in International Agricultural Development from University of California, Davis.
When she’s not working, you can find Sarah running, hiking, coaching youth basketball, or playing ball with her family.
Ian Chamberlain
Business Development Manager
Passionate about regenerative agriculture and making the world a better place for future generations, Ian has a long career working in agricultural business development and food systems.
His multifaceted career spans from operational systems development and procurement management to facility planning and construction to marketing and sales. He is recognized for his ability to leverage logistics and supply chain operations, process improvement, and team leadership to achieve business and organizational objectives on projects across four continents.
Ian is the Founder of Pastured Proteins which he established to support producers, suppliers, and brands in the development, production, marketing and sales of highly attribute proteins with a focus in the regenerative agriculture space.
Previously, he has served as General Manager with ESRO Food Group International and Fayman International, the Director of Protein Supply at Strauss Brands, as well as the Head of US Production and Central Business Development at El Raigon Beef Company/Estancia Beef/Pasture One Beef and Chief Operating Officer with Carmen Ranch.
Ian studied Agriculture and Environmental Science at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. He resides in Colorado with his wife and two young children and enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, music, photography, and has a passion for regenerative agriculture.
Rachel Ringle
Events & Marketing Project Manager
Rachel believes a systems change approach engaging diverse perspectives is essential to creating a regenerative food system. Rachel is a creative thinker skilled in bringing communities and organizations together in meaningful ways.
Prior to joining RFSI, Rachel was the Events Manager for Acres U.S.A, where she produced national conferences and trade shows focused on soil health education. Rachel has also managed grassroots food system development in Iowa where she created new markets for local food and educational campaigns for consumers.
Rachel holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from Luther College. When she’s not working, Rachel enjoys trail running, gardening, crafting delicious meals and traveling to all corners of the globe.
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Advisors
Anthony Corsaro
Founder, Outlaw Ventures
Anthony Corsaro is an entrepreneur, investor, and regenerative agriculture evangelist whose mission is to help heal our people and planet through ventures that inspire the production and consumption of healthy, nutrient-dense foods.
Anthony is the Founder and Managing Director at Outlaw Ventures: a family office backing the rebels, radicals, and revolutionaries building the better food system of tomorrow. Outlaw Ventures is in the process of raising a venture capital fund to invest in early-stage regenerative consumer brands.
Anthony is also the Creator and Co-Host of The ReGen Brands Podcast: a podcast about the consumer brands supporting regenerative agriculture and how they’re changing the world. He is also the Founder of Regeneration Nation: a clothing company and community hub for the heroes and advocates of regenerative agriculture.
Anthony’s family has been deeply involved in the food system for almost 100 years since his orphaned grandfather started selling produce in the early 1930s. That business grew into one of the leading regional fresh produce distributors in the country and today serves 2,500+ retail customers in 20 states. Anthony helped steward the most recent growth phase of the company as a third-generation contributor and executive leader in the business. His professional background in food distribution and personal health journey led him to his work in building regenerative food systems.
Paul McMahon
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, SLM Partners
Paul McMahon is a co-founder and Managing Partner of SLM Partners, an asset management firm that uses investment capital to scale up regenerative farming and forestry systems. The firm manages two existing funds (in Australia and Ireland), and is developing a new investment strategy to scale up organic row crop production in the US. Previously, Paul was Vice-President at Climate Change Capital Ltd, where he led a team developing a strategy for a global farmland fund. Before that, he was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company in New York. He has published a book on the global food system (Feeding Frenzy: The New Politics of Food), as well as a white papers on investing in ecological farming and sustainable forestry. Originally from Ireland, Paul holds a PhD from Cambridge University and a BA from University College Dublin. He lives in New York.
Tina Owens
Esther Park
CEO, Cienega Capital
Esther is the CEO of Cienega Capital, a regenerative investment firm utilizing an integrated capital approach to systemic change in the areas of soil health, regenerative agriculture, and local food systems. Cienega Capital is also part of the #NoRegrets Initiative, a regenerative asset strategy focused on the health of agricultural soils and agricultural communities in North America. Esther has over 20 years of experience in mission-based financial services ranging from microfinance to risk capital investments, in partnership with financial institutions, family offices, foundations, and investment advisors. She is also a faculty member of the Just Economy Institute.
Our Family of Operations
RFSI is a Questor Regen Co initiative. Questor Regen Co is an education, event, and media company working to grow impactful niche market and business communities – including but not limited to agriculture and food – by facilitating opportunities to learn and build stronger business relationships and networks. We do this through the development of high-quality, informative events and related services, online platforms and publications.