Speakers Forum 2024 | Regenerative Food Systems Investment

Connie Bowen is passionate about driving more investment towards improving agrifood systems in an intentionally inclusive way. She actively does this as a co-founder of Farmhand Ventures, an impact venture studio focused on building the future of work in ag. She's also a Venture Investor with The Yield Lab Europe, co-founder of The Yield Lab Institute, and co-creator of the Women in Agrifood Directory.

Connie BowenFarmhand Ventures | Founding General Partner

Sara Balawajder is a Director of Investments on the Builders Initiative Investment Team and is energized by finding scalable market solutions that not only drive positive climate impact, but also deliver financial returns. In her role, Sara seeks to leverage alternative investment strategies that best align incentives for various stakeholders, and with an eye towards systems change. Sara leads an investment vehicle focused on sustainable food and agriculture. Her strategy makes investments utilizing early-stage direct equity checks, creative debt financing, and anchoring fund managers to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable food system that affords healthy food to all. Additionally, Sara supports the private investment activity of the Builders Initiative endowment and helped establish the group’s emerging fund manager program. Sara has over 10 years of institutional investment experience. Previously, Sara worked at Hall Capital Partners and helped manage global, diversified portfolios for ultra-high net worth families, endowments, and foundations. It was during her tenure that Sara developed her passion for impact investing and assisted the firm launch its first Full Consequence Investment Fund. Sara holds a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University. In her free time, Sara loves to spend time with her family, cook, golf, ski, and is a novice gardener.

Sara BalawajderBuilders Initiative Investment Team | Director of Investments

David Bennell is a leading Sustainability professional with over 25 years of experience with corporations and investors, as well as with many of the world’s top NGOs and philanthropic foundations. He’s a managing director the $28 billion Transformational Investing in Food Systems Initiative and an investor in start-ups focused on digital climate solutions and bioscience. He worked in the corporate sector for three prominent corporations leading R&D, leadership development and sustainability programs and held a 5-year appointment at MIT as adjunct faculty in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. David helped co-found the for-profit social enterprise company CottonConnect (a 2012 finalist for World’s Most Ethical Company), helped launch a multimillion-dollar USA impact investing fund focused on rural economic development, and co-created and led the global apparel industry standards non-profit Textile Exchange. David wrote and presents one of the world’s most watched sustainability education courses viewable on Linked In Learning (titled Sustainability Strategies) named the #1 global course for impact investors. He serves on the board at Wolfe’s Neck Center, home of the global agriculture technology platform OpenTEAM, and is a board director at American Forests, the USA’s oldest forest conservation organization founded in 1876.

David BennellTransformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS) | Managing Director

Aaron Cardona is a third generation Mexican-American farmer who farms organic grains and vegetables at Arevalos Farm in McNeal, AZ. The farm, which was started by Grandfather Gilbert Arevalos in the 1950s, continues to operate with the support of 3 generations of the Arevalos Bloodline. The belief was that organic farming was the best way for small farms to make a living wage. Due to the many struggles that small farmers face, Aaron founded the Sulphur Springs Valley Produce Cooperative. With a motto of collaboration instead of competition, the co-op works together and markets collectively to provide quality organic produce to the local food shed. Most recently, he has established a nonprofit, F.O.C.O. (Farmers Organizing and Creating Opportunities), led by farmers, to provide technical assistance to other farmers, as well as elevate a farmer voice and perspective to issues and policies which will ensure the future of rural farming communities.

Aaron CardonaArevalos Farm

David co-creates funding strategies at DAF Capital Partners. He and his team create opportunities that match risk with return and reconnect impact investors to the entrepreneur's performance. David’s work is focused on an industry-wide commitment to agroecological, social, environmental, and climate impact investing and asset management. David has 20-plus years of experience directing the acquisition, alternative financing, ownership, and disposition of early-stage mission- and purpose-driven entrepreneurs. He brings a deep knowledge of equity and debt transactions, including due diligence, structuring, closing, and operational management. He has a track record of profitable impact investing and strategic advising. David has long-standing relationships with crucial multi-cycle finance, growth, and disposition industry champions.

David CooperDAF Capital Partners

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 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 a Co-Founder of Regen Coalition: a non-profit trade association of regenerative CPG brands working to solve the biggest problems facing regenerative brands in a collective and collaborative fashion. Anthony’s family has been deeply involved in the food system for almost 100 years since his orphaned grandfather started selling fresh 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.

Anthony CorsaroOutlaw Ventures | Founder & Managing Director

Diane is the Executive Director at the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, the non-profit backbone organization for the Poultry-Centered Regenerative Agriculture (PCRA) Ecosystem. She is responsible for aligning the priorities of the organization and ensuring the ecosystem’s social, economic and ecological criteria remain intact as it grows in scope and scale. Diane holds a Bachelor of Arts in Food Systems Studies at the Evergreen State College (Olympia, Wa) and pursued a career that centers on her passion for stewardship, socially responsible strategies and regenerative outcomes. She augmented her education by earning an International Permaculture Design Certificate from the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies (Dutchess County, NY). Previously, Diane worked as the Community Engagement Director for a Minnesota farm-table restaurant, Birchwood Cafe and Regional Infrastructure Director for a transitional healthcare group purchasing organization, Homeplate Holdings LLC.

Diane ChristoforeRegenerative Agriculture Alliance | Executive Director

Tim Crosby is Principal of the Thread Fund, Steering Committee Member Global Alliance for the Future of Food, Chair Transformational Investing in Food Systems Initiative, and advisor to numerous projects. He has developed a regional food hub, a loan loss reserve fund at a credit union, researched a logic model gap between for-profit and non-profit investors, and partnered to develop a sustainable ag loan program at a CDFI. Prior, Tim was a professional photographer and graphic designer. Tim holds a Sustainable MBA from Presidio University and a BA in Anthropology from Kenyon College.

Tim CrosbyThread Fund & Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS) | Principal & Chair

Skya Ducheneaux is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and spent her first 18 years of life on a cattle ranch on the CRST Reservation in South Dakota. She has a MBA in Business Administration. She previously spent her summers interning for the Intertribal Agriculture Council, where she was introduced to the Native CDFI world (Community Development Financial Institution). Skya worked diligently to create the first national Native CDFI dedicated to Indian agriculture, which launched in 2019. Skya remains connected to agriculture, just from the other side of the table.

Skya DucheneauxAkiptan | Executive Director

Charlie brings over 10 years of on the ground experience in regenerative and organic agriculture. He has been the COO at a variety of farms on the central coast of CA, managing commercial blueberry production, diversified veggie operations, and hemp seed production. He is the co-founder of ReCommon, a climate impact startup that creates public goods infrastructure to support community-held lands across the globe, such as the Regenerative Community Land Trust (RCLT) model. At Agrology, Charlie leads regenerative partnerships and business development. With real-time, continuous soil respiration and carbon flux monitoring, Agrology allows the soil to speak, facilitating a more robust dialogue between farmers and their soil microbiomes. This empowers farmers to tie their practices to real-world soil health outcomes, and optimize their regenerative programs within their unique context. When not thinking about plants or soil life, you are likely to find Charlie surfing, kayaking, or hiking in the mountains around his home in Santa Cruz, CA.

Charlie DubbeAgrology | Head of Regenerative Partnerships

Shea joined Conservation Resources in 2021 and serves as the Director of Sustainability and Strategy. She brings to the group a background in natural resources and conservation transactions. Previously, Shea developed forest carbon initiatives in Latin America with the BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, and market-based conservation solutions to advance sustainable water and agriculture programs in the Western US with LegacyWorks Group. Prior to these positions, she held several roles focused on land, water and habitat conservation with The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire and the Adirondacks. Shea holds a BA in Biology and Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College, and an MEM from the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University. She is a member of the Women’s Forest Congress and previously was a board fellow for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut.

Shea FlanaganConservation Resources | Director of Sustainability and Strategy

Hallie FoxThe Nest | Senior Associate

Emma Fuller leads data science and impact underwriting at Fractal Ag, where she focuses on integrating both climate risk and soil health into land valuations while also overseeing Fractal’s regenerative theory of change. Before cofounding Fractal, Emma co-created Corteva Agriscience's carbon program while also leading Sustainability Science. She earned a PhD in ecology at Princeton and has held several roles in data science and sustainability at both Granular and Corteva, including developing AcreValue’s first comparables-based land valuation model. Emma and her husband live on Vashon Island, WA where they have a horse-powered organic produce farm supporting a 40 person CSA.

Emma FullerFractal Agriculture | Co-Founder

Erica Goodman is American Farmland Trust’s Farms for a New Generation Director. She leads national efforts to connect a new generation of farmers and ranchers with land in ways that support viability today and resiliency for the future. She previously served as the Deputy Director and Director for AFT’s New York Regional program where she helped launch Farmland for a New Generation New York, the top-ranked state sponsored farmlink program in the country. Erica grew up on a family dairy farm in upstate New York where she saw firsthand the challenges and opportunities of generational transition. Residing in Saratoga County, she also serves as representative-at-large for urban, suburban, and rural non-farm interests on the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee.

Erica GoodmanAmerican Farmland Trust | Farms for a New Generation Director

Eva Goulbourne, Founder & CEO of Littlefoot, is a seasoned food systems strategist and philanthropy advisor with 17 years of experience driving change in global agriculture and food issues. Her expertise spans various sectors, including foodservice, restaurant, and retail industries, as well as food and climate philanthropy spaces.  Through Littlefoot Ventures, Eva empowers businesses, nonprofits, investors, and foundations to future-proof the food system. Her strategy and implementation firm offers a range of services, including food waste reduction implementation, corporate philanthropy advising, nonprofit fundraising support, strategic communications development, marketing, and impact narrative strategy. Eva's client portfolio includes some of the most transformational leaders in the food industry, ranging from multinational CPGs and foodservice operators to emerging brands, technology providers, grocery retailers, trade associations, and family and corporate foundations.

Eva GoulbourneLittlefoot | Founder & CEO

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin is the co-founder/CEO of Tree-Range Farms, farmer Salvatierra Farms, founder/board president Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, and co-founder of Regenerative Agriculture Solutions.

Reginaldo Haslett-MarroquinTree-Range Farms | Co-Founder & CEO

Amanda HendyTerra Regenerative Capital

Keavin Hill raises corn and soybeans across Pickaway, Franklin, and Adams County Ohio, and Mason and Flemings County Kentucky. Since the 1980's he's embraced and pioneered sustainable agricultural practices including biological fertilization and no-till techniques. Mr. Hill has participated in the Cargill regenerative program since its inception and is part of Cargill's new agroforestry partnership program for carbon sequestration. In the last 2 years Keavin converted 2000 acres he farms to chestnuts in partnership with Agroforestry Partners creating the largest chestnut orchard in North America which is on track to expand to 3500 acres of chestnut production by the end of 2027. When he isn't spending time with his family Keavin enjoys a day spent on a bulldozer or excavator which he refers to as his heavy machinery therapy sessions.

Keavin HillHill Farms

Brett is the president of Agroforestry Partners (AP), an alternative impact investment fund designed to implement agroforestry practices on American farms in pursuit of economic and nature-based returns. AP solves for the financial and technical hurdles associated with agroforestry/regenerative agriculture adoption, and it aims to be a positive force for solving cultural hurdles that slow this transition, as well. Prior to Agroforestry Partners, Brett worked in the ESG & Sustainability Advisory Solutions practice at FTI Consulting, advising corporate clients and asset managers on their sustainability programming and communications. Prior to FTI, Brett spent 15 years as a sell-side equity research analyst covering the packaged food and agribusiness industries in North America and EMEA for BB&T Capital Markets (now Truist), The Vertical Group, and Seaport Global. His sustainability research areas include climate adaptation planning, natural resource systems mapping, U.S. environmental law, and global ESG reporting standards, frameworks, and ratings. Brett graduated from the University of Scranton with a BS in Finance and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) with a MS degree in Natural Resources.

Brett HundleyAgroforestry Partners | President

Jacob started Dirt Capital Partners in 2013 as a platform to channel private investment in support of farmland access, conservation and long-term land security for regenerative farmers and ranchers. The company’s unique approach has been featured in the Transformative 25 (a list of funds shifting power and mobilizing capital for financial justice); The New York Times Food for Tomorrow Conference; Modern Farmer Magazine; and the ImpactAssets 50. Jacob chairs Dirt Capital’s Investment Committee and also serves on the New York Advisory Council of American Farmland Trust and the Investment Committee for Belltown Farms. He previously served on the Board of the National Young Farmers Coalition for 10 years from 2013-2023 including several years as Treasurer. Previously, Jacob was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs in Asia, where he acquired and developed real estate and infrastructure on behalf of the firm. He has an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MA from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a BA from Williams College.

Jacob IsraelowDirt Capital Partners | Founder & Managing Partner

Anna and her husband Doug own and manage Vilicus Farms, a first generation, organic, 12,500 acre dryland crop farm in Northern Hill County, Montana growing a diverse array of organic heirloom and specialty grain, pulse, oilseed and broadleaf crops under five and seven-year rotations. In fifteen seasons, Vilicus Farms grew from 1,280 acres using USDA’s beginning farmer programs, employing extensive conservation practices, and fostering unique risk sharing relationships with food companies, land investment firms and individuals that care about having an intact planet. Over 26% of their land is in non-crop conservation and 300 acres seeded to native pollinator habitat. Annually they seed over 3,000 acres of cover crops, and use integrated grazing. Vilicus Farms became Bee Better certified and Real Organic Project Certified in 2019. They received Regenerative Organic silver certification in 2024. They have hosted 14 apprentices, many interns and more farm campers than can be counted. Their value-added enterprise sells identity preserved rye direct to distillers, bakers and eaters. Anna currently is on the Xerces Society Bee Better Advisory Board, and serves as Chair of the Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT’s Board of Directors. She is the Executive Director for Vilicus Institute, a land-based learning laboratory with the mission of supporting social and economic conditions conducive to life for organic farmers on the Northern Great Plains. Anna served on the USDA Secretary’s Advisory Council on Beginning Farmers & Ranchers and is a Donella Meadows Sustainability Leadership Fellow. In 2010 she received the White House Greening the Government Sustainability Hero Award. Given the realities of agriculture, she still holds an off-farm position as with the Northern Region of the US Forest Service. Anna holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a minor in Sustainable Systems from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Anna Jones-CrabtreeOwner/Farmer Vilicus Farms & Executive Director Vilicus Institute

Alisa Knapp grew up at Green Gulch Farm Zen Buddhist Meditation Center in Northern California and has dedicated her career to building a more resilient food system. From global food service operations to CPG innovation and fine dining to policy- Alisa has worked across the food industry and believes we are poised for a paradigm shift where the focus can now be regeneration through innovation. She is passionate about accelerating farmland transition to organic and regenerative through demand and market generation for biodiverse ingredients. Alisa is the founder and principle at Grows Together Consulting where she advises on full cycle innovation and growth strategy for consumer brands of all sizes.

Alisa KnappGrows Together Consulting | Founder & Principle

Nora LaTorre is the CEO of EatReal.org, a mom, Board Member, Health Advocate and Strategic Advisor and all around go-getter. As CEO of Eat Real, an award-winning systems change nonprofit, she supports her team to nourish the future by working with 600+ schools to improve childhood nutrition and solve the root cause of the health crisis facing future generations. The White House recently celebrated the nonprofit’s national impact. Additionally, Nora is a board member of One Green Thing, a Tufts Nutrition Security Council member, and a member of the CA Dept. of Food and Agriculture Advisor on Health, Data, and Systems. She is part of XPRIZE, HATCH and is Chairwoman of the Aspen Institute Socrates Scholars program as well as a leader on numerous national public health coalitions. Nora contributed to the White House Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Conference and is a top speaker at global conferences. Her impact has been highlighted by ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, Fast Company and beyond. She was just onstage at TED and launched a research initiative with Stanford. Nora built her career sparking the conscious consumer movement, working with and advising nonprofits, startups and Fortune 500 companies on the triple bottom line and consumer activation. She works to inspire results and collaboration. She invests in future-changing ideas, female leaders, and rising stars. Nora is motivated by her two small children and her love of big days in the mountains.

Nora LaTorreEat Real | CEO

David LeonBiome Capital & Farmer’s Footprint

Cole is part of an extended family that has ranched together near Helmville, MT since 1882. In undergrad at Carroll College he studied biology, then philosophy, then in graduate school at Boston College he studied theology. From ‘12-’16 he got a bath in business working for a valiant startup beef cooperative that failed. Then he tried and failed to acquire a struggling jerky business. From ’17-’20 he worked for Western Landowners Alliance in their mission to advance policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes, and native species. As a co-founder of Old Salt Co-op he is building a regenerative agriculture for damn fine Montana meat. He was part of Helena’s 20 under 40 class of 2022 and in 2023 was named Montana Ambassadors Entrepreneur of the Year. He and spouse Eileen Brennan live in Helena with two sons, Finn and Charlie.

Cole MannixOld Salt Co-op | Co-Founder

Kristen Moree is a Senior Investment Associate at Builders Vision, where she supports the Builders Initiative Investment Team’s food and agriculture investment strategy. This strategy makes investments utilizing early-stage direct equity checks, creative debt financing, and anchoring fund managers to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable food system that affords healthy food to all. Additionally, Kristen supports the private investment activity of the Builders Initiative endowment. Prior to Builders Vision, Kristen worked at Bio-Logical Capital, a food & agriculture real asset management, owner-operator, & strategy consulting firm, where she was an early team member of a pioneering regenerative farm, food processing center, market, restaurant and soil health research center and a founding team member of Colorado’s first outdoor rooftop farm. She holds an MBA from Duke University and a BA from Colorado College. Outside of work, you can find Kristen climbing rocks or baking a new recipe out of her kitchen in Berkeley, CA.

Kristen MoreeDirector of Investments on the Builders Initiative Investment Team

Eric MorganBraga Fresh of Vice President of Environmental Science and Resources

Calla Rose Ostrander is a founding partner of Terra Regenerative Capital, an investment group focused on catalyzing the adoption of climate smart agriculture in the United States through the development of robust national supply chains. She works with leading scientists, farmers, ranchers, business entrepreneurs, policy makers and capital providers to plan for and develop regenerative regional economies that restore financial, social and environmental health. Before co-founding Terra Regen, Calla Rose served as a strategic advisor to the State of California’s Natural Resources Agency and Office of the First Partner to support the inclusion of nature based climate solutions in the State’sClimate Strategy and related funding programs. She has spent the last decade working to pass state soil health policies, develop functional science, and helping philanthropic partners and consumer brands to support the emergence of the regenerative agriculture movement. Before her time in climate smart agriculture she co-authored the City of Aspen's Climate Action Plan, the second municipal climate action plan in the nation, and led climate policy and planning for the City & County of San Francisco. Calla Rose is also a classically trained cellist and a science communicator; she has a weekly public radio show and podcast Rain & Shine, co-authored the short film the Soil Story, and served as a science advisor to the films Kiss the Ground and Fantastic Fungi. She attended Waldorf School in Boulder Colorado K-12, received her bachelor degree in International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound, and was a communications and economic development fellow with the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Calla Rose OstranderTerra Regenerative Capital | Founding Partner

Tina is a systems leader, strategist and futurist within the Organic and Regenerative Agriculture movements in the United States. Her background spans two decades within the world’s largest food companies and includes leading transformational shifts in food and agriculture systems via supply and operations as it relates to on-farm profitability, sustainability, regenerative agriculture financing, consumer activism related to clean label and organics, plus unfolding food as medicine and nutrient dense systems. Tina holds multiple board and advisory positions across the regenerative agriculture movement. From 2022 to 2024 Tina co-founded and led the Nutrient Density Alliance, an effort to link consumer demand to regenerative agriculture and shore up the demand systems needed to support safe framer transition into regenerative systems. From 2018-2022 Tina worked for Danone North America where she was the Senior Director of Food & Agriculture Impact and developed the first stacked financing program within the CPG regenerative movement, comprised of millions of dollars in grant, philanthropic, and impact investing capital directly available to key farming partners. Tina worked at Kellogg Company from 2001-2018 on food systems transformation and sustainability for some of the world’s largest organic brands. She walks the talk through regeneration of the land on her own family farm in Michigan where Tina and her family raise heritage, pastured animals for nutrient dense outcomes, to regenerate their land, and to provide a deeper understanding as it relates to scaling regional regenerative food systems.

Tina OwensSnowehaven Regeneration | Principal, Regenerative Agriculture Consulting

$Ryan Pintado-Vertner is a Chicago-based activist and strategic marketing veteran with two decades of experience guiding the strategy, marketing and innovation choices of Fortune-level brands, startups, and nonprofit organizations. He earned his MBA from the Haas School of Business at U.C.-Berkeley. Ryan believes it’s not enough to create yet another brand in the marketplace. We have to go beyond the basics to create brands that will bring more justice, regeneration, equity and wellness to the world. He is the Founder & CEO at Smoketown, a boutique brand consultancy whose fractional CMO services and strategy practice help mission-driven consumer brands maximize their growth and build more traction, while having meaningful ESG impact. Clients include Bragg Live Foods, Purely Elizabeth and DeeBee’s Organics. He is also an advisor at Trailhead Capital and Whipstitch Capital, and a co-founder of (included), the largest peer network of BIPOC CEOs in the CPG industry.$ Ryan Pintado-VertnerSmoketown | Founder & CEO