November 22, 2024

Our Soil Wealth Areas team facilitated a convening of 40+ farmers and investor stakeholders in Hillsborough, NC (Union Grove Center for Regenerative Agriculture) from November 13-14. The convening offered revealing conversations and a chance to see regenerative practices in action. Many of our partners affected by Hurricane Helene were present—learn more about them and ways to support their path to recovery by subscribing to our newsletter.

The convening was a chance to gather Soil Wealth Areas partners (farmers, food hubs, place-based organizations, value-chain businesses, TA providers, and capital providers) for a two-day working session with space for deep discussions, field visits, and more informal time for deepening relationships in a pleasant, regenerative farm setting.

It also was an opportunity to learn from successful Soil Wealth Area collaborations that have led to unlocking access to capital, land, and market opportunities. With breakout discussion time, frank discussions amongst producers, place-based partners, and capital providers uncovered unmet needs, particularly of underserved producers and low-income, rural communities. Top of mind for many were ways to develop an emerging model of regional, decentralized coordination. 

After the convening, we are developing actionable plans and strategies over the next three-to-five years to unlock enhanced access to capital, land, and markets, with the particular aim of creating new opportunities for land stewardship, ownership, and wealth creation for underserved communities and small/mid-size and BIPOC farmers and entrepreneurs.

Within each of the three Soil Wealth Areas, we hope to articulate pathways for regional shifts in land ownership and value chains that can support greater food sovereignty, financial and ecological resilience, and new spaces for recreation, education, and the reclamation of historic agrarian knowledge and land stewardship practices.