Agenda
The Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum is a two-day event designed to bring leading stakeholders in sustainable and regenerative agriculture and food investment together to move this investment opportunity forward! Day 1 includes an optional half-day tour of regenerative food and agriculture operations in the Bay Area that will give you a unique view into the sector. The afternoon of Day 1 will kick off the main event with opening sessions and an evening reception. Day 2 will feature insightful content, engaging activities and critical networking with key investment players.
Speakers
Here’s a sneak peek at this year’s speakers:
Stay tuned as we continue to add more great speakers to the line-up!
Tour
Monday, September 30, 2019
38 Seats Available – First come, first served
7:00 a.m. |
Depart Oakland Marriott City Center
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1:30 p.m. |
Return to Oakland Marriott City Center |
— Lunch will be provided by Frog Hollow Farm —
Guests should wear sturdy shoes that are comfortable for walking in fields.
Oct. 1, 2019
8:30-8:35 a.m. | Welcome
8:35-9:15 a.m. |
Growing Opportunities to Allocate Capital to Regenerative Food SystemsDavid LeZaks, Delta Institute & Joshua Humphries, Croatan Institute |
9:15-9:45 a.m. |
Qualifying Impact in a Complex SectorTim Crosby, Thread Fund |
9:45-10:30 p.m. |
PANEL: Strategies for Investing in Animal AgricultureBert Glover, Impact Ag Partners; David Nicola, Blackdirt Farms |
— Networking Coffee Break —
11:00-11:30 a.m. |
Case Study: Building Integrated Supply Chains Through Strategic InvestmentEric Jackson, Pipeline Foods |
11:30-11:50 a.m. |
At the Nexus of Technology and Regenerative AgricultureVictor Friedberg, FoodShot Global |
11:50 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
PANEL: Ag Innovation for a Regenerative Future |
12:30-1:00 p.m. |
Creating a Regenerative Financial SystemRobyn O’Brien, rePlant Capital |
— Lunch —
2:00-3:00 p.m. |
Investor Perspectives: The Building Blocks for Successful Regenerative Food Systems InvestmentModerated by: Renee Cheung, Bonterra Partners Panelists: Chris Larson, New Island Capital; Esther Park, Cienega Capital |
3:00-3:30 p.m. |
Case Study |
3:30-4:15 p.m. |
PANEL: Consumer-Facing Investment in Regenerative Agriculture & FoodEthan Soloviev, HowGood |
4:15-4:30 p.m. |
Closing thoughts |
4:30 p.m. |
Closing drinks |
Top Leaf Farms | Berkeley, CA
Top Leaf Farms engages and partners with architects, developers, planners, communities and artists to create buildings and residential spaces that incorporate regenerative farming models for a new pattern of resiliency in these times of ecological and social change. Based on ecological principles and agroecology the farming models that Top Leaf Farms employs and designs from are highly productive, water conscious and climate smart. By growing food where people live we reduce the ecological and carbon footprint it takes to grow our food. Attendees will visit the Innovation Award-winning Garden Village to see an example of the largest productive rooftop farm in California that Top Leaf Farms designed, built and operated for the first 2 years. Now in it’s third year of production, Garden Village is now being run by Bluma Flower Farm and cut flowers and herbs are sold throughout the Bay area. Top Leaf Farms mission is to re-wild urban centers through Regenerative Agriculture and has another 50,000 square feet coming into operation in 2020.
Clif Bar & Company | Berkeley, CA
Clif Bar is a family- and employee-owned maker of nutritious and delicious energy foods. During the tour of our headquarters in Emeryville, CA, visitors will learn about Clif Bar’s Five Aspirations for Sustaining our Business, Brands, People, Planet, and Communities. Together, we will explore the ways in which the Aspirations show up around our headquarters – from our gym, to our on-site café and art collection – and beyond – in our commitments to sustainable agriculture, clean energy, waste diversion, and other programs. Regenerative doesn’t start and stop with soil – but includes how we care for all the relationships in a business, from farming to food manufacturing and beyond. We’ll share Clif Bar’s work and challenges with integrating this thinking.
Frog Hollow Farm | Brentwood, CA
Join us for a tour of Frog Hollow Farm, a 250-acre diversified organic tree fruit farm in Brentwood, CA. We will start with a walking tour of the orchards, where we will learn about all aspects of farm operations from soil health practices, integrated pest management, and tree care to distribution and marketing with an emphasis on regenerative farming practices and adaptation and resiliency in the face of climate change. You will also learn about how Frog Hollow captures farm residues (“unusable” fruit) in their commercial kitchen as well as in their on-farm composting program.
The tour will be followed by lunch from the farm kitchen, served in the orchard. Lastly, you will be invited to a farmers market stand at which you can purchase Frog Hollow Farm fruits and kitchen goodies.
Event Venue and Lodging
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The Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum will take place at the Oakland Marriott City Center. Home to an inspiring local food movement, top sports teams, a thriving arts culture and so much more, Oakland, California is booming. Take it all in from the convenience of Oakland Marriott City Center, a modern hotel that mirrors its dynamic downtown surroundings.
The refined guest rooms ooze urban cool, boasting perks like cutting-edge technology and spa-quality rain showers. Venture out and explore nearby attractions like Oracle Arena or Jack London Square and explore one of America’s most exciting cities at your fingertips. Stay longer and discover San Francisco, Silicon Valley or Northern California wineries or schedule all your Bay Area business meetings for the same trip.
The Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum has secured a discounted room rate of $215 at the
Oakland Marriott City Center exclusively for our attendees. Use the BOOK NOW link to reserve your room.
| Oakland Marriott City Center | 1001 Broadway | Oakland, CA 94607-4019 |
| (510) 451-4000 | | | Hotel Information | Map & Directions |
Parking:
Self-Parking
$35.00 Self-Parking with no in/out privileges | Guest will pay parking machines when exiting garage
$40.00 Self-Parking with in/out privileges (Must be an overnight guest) | Parking will be charged to the guest room
Valet Parking
Overnight Valet | $45.00 overnight parking
Other Transportation:
Subway Station:
Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit): 0.1 Miles from hotel. Only 2 stops from Embarcadero stop in San Francisco.
Amtrak Station:
2 miles from hotel.