The RegenCircle: In The News | 10.2

NeoFarm Raises €30M to Scale Robotic Organic Farms Across Europe, Farmers’ labor plea is happening, Envirotech Vehicles, Inc., Farm aid 40 concert supports crisis hotline, Savory Wins IFT Grand Prize for work with the Maasai people, and more.

October 02, 2025

This Week’s Investment News

NeoFarm Raises €30M to Scale Robotic Organic Farms Across Europe

Photo Credit: iGrow News

French startup NeoFarm has secured €30 million in Series B funding to expand its model of robotic, agroecological vegetable farms, with a goal of deploying over 25 large-scale farms by 2030. The company integrates robotics and patented automation to increase the efficiency of organic production while minimizing environmental impact. This new funding will help build a 25-hectare flagship farm capable of producing 1,300 tons of organic vegetables each year.

ADM Fast-Tracks Regenerative Ag with Farmer-First, Manufacturer-Backed Strategies

Photo Credit: Food Navigator

Ingredient supplier ADM surpassed its 2025 regenerative agriculture goal a year early, partnering with over 28,000 growers to convert more than 5 million acres globally. This rapid scaling was driven by clear definitions, financial incentives like per-bushel payments, and strong collaboration with downstream customers, including PepsiCo, Campbell's, and General Mills. ADM's success demonstrates a model where the entire value chain invests in the land that supports their businesses.Supply chain collaboration is a powerful lever for scaling regenerative agriculture. The financial incentives offered by ADM to de-risk the transition for farmers are a private-sector parallel to the "transition insurance" concept proposed by AXA Climate.

AXA Climate Backs Regenerative Farming Amid Growing Climate Risks

Photo Credit: Ag Tech Navigator

Insurance giant AXA Climate is creating "transition insurance" products to de-risk the adoption of regenerative agriculture for farmers by covering potential losses and extra costs. A company white paper notes that climate change could cause severe yield losses, up to 45% for vineyards by 2050, while agroecological practices can improve yields by 15-20%. Pilot programs are underway with French winegrowers and farming cooperatives to test bespoke insurance for risks like reduced pesticide use or adopting complex cover crops. AXA Climate’s innovative insurance model provides a financial services solution to the economic uncertainties that often hinder farmer adoption of new practices.

Political + Policy News

Photo Credit: Civil Eats

Jessica Knurick Is on a Crusade to Correct MAHA Misinformation

Nutrition scientist Jessica Knurick has seen her Instagram following grow from 150,000 to 1.3 million by debunking misinformation from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. Knurick argues that while MAHA correctly identifies problems with chronic disease and the food system, it often relies on conspiracy theories instead of scientific evidence and sound policy analysis. She contends the root causes of the health crisis are decades of policy failures and corporate influence, which have shaped a food environment that prioritizes profit over public health.

Photo Credit: Politico

Farmers’ Labor Plea

Farmers are urging lawmakers for a labor policy fix to address the farm worker shortage, exacerbated by Trump’s immigration policies. House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson plans to introduce legislation to alleviate this crisis. Meanwhile, lawmakers are considering federal bailouts for farmers due to economic challenges and trade uncertainties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is exploring new market opportunities amid tariff tensions. Additionally, the food industry faces regulatory changes under the MAHA agenda, impacting processed foods and school meal standards. California is moving to limit ultra-processed foods in schools, aligning with MAHA goals.

Political + Policy News [Continued]

Photo Credit: Reuters

 'MAHA' Calls for Limits on Food Advertisers’ Marketing to Children

A draft report from the White House's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission calls for exploring "potential industry guidelines" to limit the marketing of unhealthy food to children. The proposal faces significant industry opposition, with companies involved in a voluntary self-regulation program spending $12.5 million on lobbying in the first half of 2025 alone. Public health experts are skeptical that the recommendation will lead to meaningful policy changes, noting that a similar FTC effort failed in 2011 due to industry pressure and that the current self-regulation program has "many loopholes.”

REPORTS WORTH READING

Corn rows

Photo Credit: Stock Image

Differential Impacts of Regenerative Agriculture Practices on Soil Organic Carbon: A Meta-Analysis

A comprehensive meta-analysis of 147 studies in India confirms that regenerative agriculture (RA) practices effectively sequester soil organic carbon (SOC), with the most significant gains occurring over periods longer than five years. The study found biochar application produced the highest SOC gain, followed by farmyard manure (FYM) and green manure. The effectiveness of different RA practices varies significantly across agro-ecological regions, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This scientific review provides essential, data-driven validation for the practices being promoted by companies like ADM and insured by firms such as AXA Climate.... Its finding that outcomes are highly context-specific and time-dependent reinforces the need for the tailored financial tools and long-term farmer support mentioned in those other articles.

Photo Credit: HowGood

HowGood Launches the Global Carbon Database

The sustainability platform HowGood has launched its Global Carbon Database (GCD), a library of "plug-and-play" emission factors tailored for the food and agriculture industries. The database provides companies with immediate access to reliable baseline emissions data for thousands of food materials. It is designed to simplify carbon accounting, regulatory reporting, and the development of carbon reduction strategies. This database provides the foundational data that companies like ADM and their partners need to measure, verify, and report the climate impact of their regenerative agriculture programs. Standardized data from a tool like the GCD is crucial for ensuring the integrity of corporate sustainability claims and emerging carbon markets.

Photo Credit: Morning Ag Clips

Value of California Ag Production Tops $60 Billion for First Time

In 2024, the total value of California's agricultural production exceeded $60 billion for the first time, reaching $61.2 billion—a 3.6% increase from the previous year. The state's top commodities were dairy products ($8.6 billion), almonds ($5.7 billion), and grapes ($5.6 billion). California continues to be the nation's leading agricultural state, supplying about half of all U.S. fruits, nuts, and vegetables. This data highlights the immense economic scale of the agricultural system that regenerative practices seek to transform.

HUMAN INTEREST STORIES

Photo Credit: Civil Eats

After the Eaton Fire, a Los Angeles Community Garden Rebuilds

The historic 2.5-acre Altadena Community Garden in Los Angeles is undergoing extensive soil remediation after a nearby wildfire raised concerns about contamination from airborne pollutants. Members of the 120-person garden removed topsoil, added tons of compost, and are now using oyster mushroom mycelium to absorb potential toxins. This effort highlights the strong community bonds and deep cultural value of this urban agricultural space, which has a waiting list of 133 people.

Photo Credit: Perishable News

Cairnspring Mills, CTUIR and Tribal Partners Reshape the Future of Flour

Craft flour company Cairnspring Mills is partnering with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) to build a new mill on tribal land, backed by a $5 million equity investment from the tribe. This project aims to create a decentralized food economy, increase Cairnspring's production capacity twelvefold to 110 million pounds annually, and generate over 20 local living-wage jobs. The partnership is a landmark collaboration that merges regenerative agriculture with tribal investment to advance food sovereignty.

Photo Credit: New York Times

Farm Aid 40 Concert Farmers Crisis Hotline

Farm Aid's 40th anniversary concert highlights the ongoing support for farmers in crisis, emphasizing the importance of sustainable agriculture and community resilience. Notable musicians and activists come together to raise awareness and funds. The event supports a crisis hotline that assists struggling farmers. The initiative showcases inspiring efforts by individuals and organizations committed to transforming agriculture, promoting environmental health, and ensuring economic viability for farmers.

TECH

Photo Credit: Morning Ag Clips

Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. Unveils America’s First 1,500 Pound Lift Drone

Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. has announced the first American-made heavy-lift drone capable of carrying a 1,500-pound payload, designed for both agricultural use and wildfire protection. The drone can deliver 100 gallons of liquid per flight, offering a new tool for crop spraying, fertilization, and pest control that can reduce labor costs and access difficult terrain. The company will begin taking pre-orders next week, with production ramping up through 2026. This technology introduces a new tool for the precise application of farm inputs, which aligns with the regenerative goal of optimizing resource use. While not inherently regenerative, such drones represent an innovation that could be used to scale practices like applying biological amendments or seeding cover crops more efficiently.

Photo Credit: Michroma

Michroma, CJ CheilJedang partner to scale bio-colorant production

The startup Michroma is partnering with biomanufacturing giant CJ CheilJedang (CJCJ) to commercially scale its natural food colors, which are created through fermentation using filamentous fungi. Michroma’s heat and pH-stable red colorant is positioned as a superior alternative to synthetic dyes (like Red 3 and Red 40) and less stable plant-based options. The partnership aims to meet the growing demand for natural ingredients, especially as the FDA moves to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes. This innovation in food technology is driven by the same consumer demand for "clean labels" and healthier products that is fueling movements like MAHA. Fermentation-based ingredients represent a parallel path toward sustainability that complements the field-based work of regenerative agriculture by reimagining the supply chain from a different angle.

CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Details for 2026 Nexty Awards…Now Open

New Hope Network is accepting nominations for its 2026 NEXTY Awards from October 1 to December 1, 2025, an annual program recognizing the most innovative and integrity-driven products in the natural products industry. In 2025, the awards attracted over 1,000 nominations, with judging criteria focused on innovation, inspiration, and integrity, including sustainability, transparency, and traceability. The program gives finalists and winners significant industry recognition at the Natural Products Expo West

Forager Project Seeks to Elevate Organic Cashew Farming

 Forager Project, an organic food company collaborates with cashew farmers in Vietnam and India, aiming to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and enhance ecosystem resilience. Forager Project's initiatives include training farmers in organic and regenerative methods, emphasizing the reduction of chemical inputs and promoting natural pest management. By integrating these sustainable methods, Forager Project aims to create a positive impact on the environment while supporting the livelihoods of cashew farmers and ensuring a supply of high-quality organic ingredients for their products.

World News

Photo Credit: Savory Institute

Regenerating the Mara: Savory Wins IFT Grand Prize for Kenya Project

The Savory Institute, in partnership with the Mara Training Centre in Kenya, has won the 2025 Grand Prize from the Institute of Food Technologists, receiving $250,000 for a transformative land regeneration project in the Maasai Mara. This initiative, utilizing Holistic Planned Grazing, aims to restore over 100,000 hectares of rangeland, enhance food security, and promote livestock-wildlife coexistence. It will also sequester 180,000 tons of CO₂ and support regenerative supply chains. The project is a collaboration with Maasai herders and involves ecological monitoring and community conservation efforts.

JOB BOARD

  • Portfolio Manager - Mad Capital: $80-120k | Remote - Full Time: CLICK HERE

  • Director of Credit - Mad Capital: $125-150k | Remote - Full Time: CLICK HERE

  • Research Associate - Center for Nutrition & Health Impact $58k-61k | Remote - Full Time: CLICK HERE

  • Easement Acquisition Manager - American Farmland Trust $82-87k | Remote - Full Time: CLICK HERE

  • Project Specialist – Agricultural and Energy Program Specialist - CDS - $72-77k - Full Time - Remote (Minnesota): CLICK HERE

  • Research Fellow - Social Resonance Lab - $40/hr - 5hrs/week - Remote: CLICK HERE

  • Farms for a New Generation Director - American Farmland Trust - Full Time | Remote - $120-130k: CLICK HERE

  • Organic Community Food Systems Consultant - Rodale Institute - Full Time - Remote (PNW) - $70k: CLICK HERE

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Wisconsin Water and Soil Health Conference

    Dates: December 16-17, 2025

    Click Here

    The Wisconsin Water and Soil Health (WWASH) Conference, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, will take place on December 16-17, 2025, in Wisconsin Dells, WI. The event will feature keynote speakers Dr. Matt Helmers and Dr. Anna Cates, focusing on soil health and water quality.

  • Third annual MN Young & Emerging Farmer Workshop Returns

    Dates: January 19-21, 2026

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    The third annual MN Young & Emerging Farmer Workshop, hosted by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and Profinium Bank, will be held Jan. 19-21, 2026, in Mankato. It offers hands-on learning for new farmers, featuring panels on financial planning, grain marketing, crop insurance, and succession planning.

  • Biochar Field Day Coming to Hudson Valley

    Date: October 23rd

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    The Biochar Field Day, organized by American Farmland Trust and White Feather Farm, will take place on October 23 in Saugerties, New York. This event will showcase biochar's role in climate-smart farming, featuring expert panels, demonstrations, and tours. It aims to enhance understanding of biochar's benefits for soil health.

  • Farm Forward: 2025 NE NC Niche Ag Conference

    Date: September 20th

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    The MKE-Waukesha Chapter of the Wisconsin Farmers Union is hosting "Filling Gaps in the Local Food Supply Chain" on September 20 at Village Farmstead, Oak Creek, WI. The event will explore collaborative aggregation strategies to enhance the local food system, featuring a farm tour, panel discussion, and networking.

  •  California Dairy Sustainability Summit Returns to Visalia

    Date: March 2026

    Click Here

    The California Dairy Sustainability Summit will return to Visalia on March 24, 2026, focusing on sustainable dairy farming practices. Co-hosted by Dairy Cares and other organizations, the event will feature sessions, exhibits, and networking opportunities, promoting dairy’s role in sustainable food systems and environmental stewardship.

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