Events
Virtual
From the Ground Up: Finance and the Future of Regenerative Agriculture | Film Screening and Discussion
May 4, 2026 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm PDT
Co-hosted by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders and Croatan Institute
Join us for a virtual double-feature film screening and conversation exploring one of the most pressing questions in food and agriculture today: how do we finance the transition to regenerative systems at the scale and speed this moment demands?
This joint screening features excerpts of the film Digging In from the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders and Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture from Croatan Institute. Together, these films illuminate the opportunity in regenerative agriculture to restore soil health, strengthen rural economies, and build climate resilience. They also expose a shared tension: while regenerative practices are proven and growing, capital structures have not kept pace.
Following the screenings, a moderated panel with funders, investors, and field leaders will examine the role of transformative finance in unlocking this transition. We will explore how grantmaking, investing, and lending can move beyond short-term risk frameworks to support long-term stewardship, farmer viability, and community wealth. The conversation will share practical insights on what is working, where capital is still misaligned, and how funders can collaborate to close critical financing gaps.
This event is designed for philanthropic and investment leaders who are:
- curious about a just, democratic, and sustainable food and agriculture system;
- grappling with how to deploy non-extractive capital more effectively;
- seeking peers committed to aligning finance with ecological and social outcomes
Whether you are already funding in this space or exploring your next steps, this screening and discussion offers a grounded entry point into why regenerative agriculture needs new financial tools and why the time to act is now.
About the Films
Digging In
Digging In, created by Nathan.works and co-produced by Sustainable Agriculture & Food System Funders with support from Vatheur Foundation, focuses on the US agricultural system and who controls our food and farmers. The documentary focuses on the challenges presented by land access (and a lack thereof), industry consolidation, and climate change.
Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture
Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture, produced with support from Patagonia and Waverley Street Foundation, features farmers and capital providers Croatan Institute has partnered with over the years to demonstrate effective, community-led solutions for funding the future of sustainable economies.
