A new report from the Croatan Institute, Delta Institute, and OARS, entitled “Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture across Asset Classes,” has identified regenerative agriculture as a major investment opportunity throughout the United States.

The interest in regenerative food systems and agricultural practices has been growing in the investment community, according to the report. Identifying methods of investing in regenerative agriculture that can help mitigate climate change, improve soil health, and bolster rural communities, the report concludes that investors hoping to improve “soil wealth” for themselves and their society have a variety of methods and opportunities of doing so.

Key Findings

  • Investors and stakeholders are able to build “soil wealth,” defined as the benefits associated with improving soil health and increasing rural wealth through regenerative agriculture, by engaging with regenerative capital opportunities.
  • By leveraging capital on farms and related regenerative industries, the positive impact of regenerative agriculture can be advanced significantly.
  • To date, there have been more than $320 billion in investments that focus on sustainable food and agriculture, with $47.5 billion explicitly targeting regenerative agriculture.
  • The report identifies 67 distinct opportunities for further development capital in regenerative agriculture.
  • Farmland, cash, and fixed income were identified as investments most suited for rapid regenerative development, due in large part to role of financial institution in financing farms and businesses in rural communities.

This report underscores the universality of regenerative agriculture and its relevance beyond the farming and food system space. As shown, there are a variety of opportunities for those not involved in the agricultural sector to support the health of our planet.

See the ways Rodale Institute is working to bring the benefits of regenerative agriculture across the globe with our Regenerative Organic Certification, groundbreaking research, and support for transitioning farmers.

“Soil Wealth” stems from a Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, focused on finding innovative mechanisms for financing regenerative agriculture. Rodale Institute is a partner in this grant. 

Read the full report here
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4 thoughts on “Regenerative Agriculture Identified as Major Investment Opportunity

  1. As an investor in three regenerative, organic farm/farmland funds, I can attest to both the underlying satisfaction and top-end profitability of these investments. As Sir Albert Howard stated nearly a century ago, the primary capital of a nation is in its soil. This will become increasingly clear as food and water become, once again, keys to national security and local, regional and national prosperity. A slogan in the 60’s was “if you are not part of solution, you are part of the problem.” Well, investing in sustainable and regenerative agriculture certainly feels like it is a part of the solution, not part of the problem! Best wishes to those who take my suggestion and invest in the world’s long-term future. And thanks to those who have helped make these funds fiscally as well as environmentally sustainable today.

    1. Hi David, I realize your comment is over a year old so you may not see this reply, but I am curious to know how your investments are performing. Would you be open to sharing the name of the three funds you have invested in? I am looking to enter into the space as an institutional investor and I am speaking with folks (investors, farmers, other operators) to learn more about existing funds, their opportunities and operational challenges.

  2. You’ve shared some incredibly useful information. This is frequently a terrific way for us to broaden our knowledge while remaining useful. Thank you for bringing this article to our attention. regenerative agriculture

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