Leading Off: The Future of Our Food System
A Nourishing, Regenerative Tomorrow – What We Learned from 1,300 Future Food Systems Visions
The Rockefeller Foundation issued a call in October 2019 to disparate global food system actors to unite, source, and support positive visions for our future food systems. The result is a report focusing on five aspirations for what food systems will look like in 2050. Read more
How to Navigate USDA Funding for your Food & Farm Business
Food System 6, the nonprofit whose mission is to support impact-driven entrepreneurs as they transform how we grow, produce, and distribute food, has created a list of resources highlighting some of the many opportunities available for funding your food and farm business through the USDA. Read more
Investment Activity
Planet FWD Raises $2.5m to Tackle Climate Change Through Food
Planet FWD has secured $2.5 million in seed plus funding to support the launch of its carbon-neutral snack brand Moonshot. The company will also use the capital to fuel the development of its regenerative food platform which aims to help other food companies satisfy and grow consumer demand for climate-friendly food products and ensure that farmers are valued for their work.
Read more
The Emerging Zero-Waste Grocery Trend:
The pandemic has helped further a developing trend of waste-free grocery stores. Read on to learn more.
Businesses Reducing Trash Are Looking Like Treasure to VCs
A honeymoon trip to a small Caribbean island, and the effects of plastic trash that she saw there, led the Zero Grocery founder to become a zero-waste crusader. Zero Grocery is one of several projects that focus on zero-waste consumption that are attracting the attention of investors. Read more
Zero Grocery Raises $3M Seed Round for Plastic-Free Grocery
Zero Grocery Founder and CEO Zuleyka Strasner announced that Zero has raised $3 million in seed funding for its plastic-free grocery delivery service. The “largest check” came from 1984, with other investments bringing the total amount raised by Zero Grocery to $4.7 million. Read more
‘Zero Waste’ Stores Gather Steam via The Guam Daily Post
New ‘Zero-Waste’ Grocery Store Pops Up In Morristown, NJ via Patch
RFSI Webinars Highlight Two New Reports
In January, Regenerative Food Systems Investment is launching two free webinars highlighting two new reports designed to illuminate the opportunities for investment in regenerative food and fiber. The webinars will features report authors, Sarah Kelley and Jenny O’Connor, as well as case studies for investable opportunities.
Both January webinars highlight the findings in recently released reports. Read on to learn more about the reports and join us in January for the webinars!
The SAFSF Fibers Roadmap: Regenerative Fibers, Regenerative Funding
A new report, The Fibers Roadmap: Integrated Capital Opportunities to Support Revitalization of U.S.-Grown Fiber, Textiles, and Leather, examines the interconnected impacts of the current textile industry and the opportunities for funders and investors to be part of the growing revitalization of just and equitable U.S-based fiber production. Read more
Identifying Key Levers & Opportunities for Adoption of Regenerative Ag
Barriers for Farmers & Ranchers to Adopt Regenerative Ag Practices in The U.S. highlights the key barriers farmers and ranchers face in moving towards a resilient and regenerative food and ag system and illuminates critical pathways to support the breaking down of these barriers.
Download and Read Report Here
A New Term for Ag Policy:
Vilsack Needs a Clear To-Do List for the First 100 Days
In addition to the long-term focus to rebuild the foundation of USDA to support the health of the American people, there is opportunity here for Vilsack to correct some of his and the Trump Administration’s past actions in the magical first 100 days. Read more
Biden’s Agriculture Secretary Pick Disappoints Black Farmers
President-elect Joe Biden has promised to address racial inequality in agriculture. But some Black farmers aren’t so sure he picked the right man for the job after settling on former Iowa Governor and two-term Obama Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to reprise his role. Read more
Op-ed: Dear Secretary of Agriculture, This Is Your Chance via Civil Eats
7 Ways the Second Gentleman Could Address the Root Causes of Hunger via Civil Eats
What We’re Reading:
Combating Climate Change in the Food Industry Through Regenerative Agriculture via Food Safety Tech
Scientists Press to Put Regenerative Agriculture to Test via NZ Herald
The Future of Sustainable Food Production Requires Combining Traditional and Tech, says Amanda Little via FoodTank
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