What the Field?! A podcast by CrowdFarming – Details, episodes & analysis

What if the future of farming was not only better for biodiversity and soil health, but also a smarter long-term investment?
 In this episode of What The Field?!, we sit down with Alessia Lenders, Head of Impact at SLM Partners, a pioneering investment firm proving that ecological farming and solid financial performance can go hand in hand.

Alessia’s journey into regenerative agriculture did not begin in the fields but in the world of traditional finance. Searching for investment solutions that could genuinely improve biodiversity, she found herself returning again and again to agriculture: one of the biggest drivers of environmental degradation, but also one of the greatest opportunities for change.

Today, SLM Partners manages more than 760 million dollars in farmland and forestland across the United States, Australia and Europe. Their approach is simple yet radical: invest in land, partner with skilled farmers, and scale regenerative systems that rebuild soil, protect water and secure long-term productivity.

What you will discover in this episode

1. The economic logic behind regenerative agriculture

Alessia explains why long-term, patient capital fits naturally with regenerative transitions: healthier soils, more diverse revenue streams (including carbon projects in Australia) and more climate-resilient farms. Far from being a financial compromise, regenerative systems can improve profitability by reducing input costs, stabilising yields and tapping into premium and organic markets.

2. Why investors are turning to farmland

Farmland behaves differently from stocks and bonds, which makes it an attractive diversifier for institutional investors. SLM adds another layer: regenerative farms that can outperform conventional systems over the long term while delivering measurable environmental impact.

3. The crucial role of the farmer

SLM’s model is farmer first. They partner with experienced growers who want to expand but lack the capital to acquire land. SLM buys the land, the farmer manages it and both commit to a regenerative transition adapted to local realities. The result is a partnership that supports young farmers, protects landscapes and proves that ecological agriculture can scale.

4. A clearer picture through data

From soil microbiology to water modelling, biodiversity indicators and carbon estimates, SLM collects an extraordinary amount of data to understand and communicate how landscapes change over time. This allows them to build business models that anticipate droughts, evaluate water security and verify real ecological outcomes.

5. Regenerative agriculture is not one size fits all

Whether transitioning almond orchards in Spain, grasslands in Australia or mixed farms in the United States, SLM adapts regenerative principles to each context. For some farms, the target is organic certification. For others, it is a regenerative outcome-based approach focused on soil health, biodiversity and long-term resilience.

This episode goes deeper than we ever have into the financial mechanics behind regenerative agriculture. It is a rare look at how capital, ecology and farming come together to build food systems that work for both people and the planet.

If you have ever wondered whether regenerative agriculture really adds up financially, ecologically or both, this is the conversation you will not want to miss.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

This episode of What The Field?! looks at a simple question with complex answers: how do farm practices shape the nutritional quality of food? Our guest is Raiza Rezende, co-founder of RHEA — Regenerative Healthcare European Association. RHEA works on three fronts—education, research, and policy—to connect agriculture and healthcare, and is currently running nutrient-density trials in olives and almonds with European universities and farm partners

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

This month, on What The Field?!, we dive into the fascinating world of conservation biology with Astrid Vargas. Known for her groundbreaking work in endangered species recovery, from the Iberian lynx in Spain to Madagascar’s golden-crowned sifaka, Astrid has dedicated her life to protecting biodiversity. She founded Inspiration for Action, where she blends community, art, and landscape restoration, illustrating how creativity can inspire environmental change. She was also a founder of the Alvelal project, that we are very close to here at CrowdFarming. 

In our conversation, Astrid shared insights from her book, On a Butterfly’s Wing, focusing on pollinators' critical role and their lessons on adaptation. She also reflected on the evolution of regenerative practices, the rise of ecological awareness, and the importance of community-driven conservation efforts. This conversation felt like a beacon of hope, Astrid really transfers a sense of optimism and positive action that is inspiring. At the end of the chat we felt that, together, we could do anything!

Tune in to explore Astrid’s inspiring journey and hear how her work unites art and science in a powerful mission for the planet. We guarantee that listening to this conversation with Astrid will put you in a good mood!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

Bernard’s story is incredible, after working in impact investment for various financial institutions here in Europe, he bought a coffee farm in Honduras and moved there 2 years later, and is now selling his coffee through CrowdFarming!

Bernard’s project is so much more than just coffee, to start, his coffee is called “Melipona bee coffee”, Melipona is the name of a family of stingless bees native to the tropics. As an organic coffee farmer, Bernard has always had in mind to plant plants to attract pollinators, among them the melipona bee. It is a kind of bee that hardly anyone knows about (although it is mentioned in the podcast bee happy) which is why Bernard is a big promoter! He is a “meliponiculturist” which means he also produces honey from these bees! On top of this, his farm also runs social projects, trainings with his staff and more. 

If you want to know more about the farming and production process of coffee and also discover Bernard's wonderful and inspiring story, you will love this episode. 

Listen now on all streaming platforms.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

We’re excited to bring you the latest episode of "What The Field?!" with our special guest, Béla Janovich. Bela’s done it all—tech startups, running his own regenerative farm and investing in a groundbreaking farming app.

In this episode, Béla shares his journey from the high-paced tech world to the peaceful fields of regenerative farming. He talks about how his experience in all these different spaces has helped him in many aspects. 

As an experienced entrepreneur, board member, and investor, Béla Janovich is passionate about creating healthy landscapes and resilient ecosystems to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. He believes that this can be achieved successfully with a holistic approach, collaboration with stakeholders, a long-term perspective, and a sound business case at its foundation.

Béla is equally comfortable working with local operators on the farms he leads and in the boardrooms of international for-profit and non-profit organisations. His experiences range from farm-level operations and local community engagement to large-scale landscape restoration. His deep knowledge of applied technology that enables these processes benefits both sectors.

Tune in now to catch Béla Janovich on "What The Field?!" and hear all about his wonderful story. You don’t want to miss this one!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

In this new episode of What The Field?! we were thrilled to welcome Alfredo to our CrowdFarming offices to record the podcast in person. It is always such a treat to be able to have our conversation in person and record the video as well as the audio, so make sure you don’t miss out on the video recording if you prefer them!

Alfredo Poves is the CPO and CEO of Ixorigue a company that offers livestock farmers an innovative solution to better manage and track their livestock. This product allows them so save time and better care for their animals. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

 Hey everyone! Ready for another episode of What The Field?! This time, we had the incredible Dimitri Tsitos join us, and let me tell you, it was a conversation you don't want to miss. Fun fact: Dimitri and I went to the same university, and he speaks a bunch of languages!

Dimitri is the co-founder of AgroSystemic, whose mission is to provide the tools to facilitate the regenerative transition in the Mediterranean basin, with a special focus on tree crops. It’s all about de-risking the transition for farmers. 

Dimitri brought a fresh perspective to the table. He reminded us that the conversation around regenerative farming shouldn't be about pointing fingers at large-scale industrial farmers or the Big Agriculture industry. Instead, it's about making sure everybody is part of the conversation and that change is happening on all levels. 

When farmers see how regenerative practices can improve their yield and benefit the environment, they become the biggest champions for change.

Our chat left us feeling optimistic, challenged and inspired to carry on in our vision of a world where regenerative farming is the norm, not the exception. To get there, we need policies that support these practices, financial incentives, and a shift in how consumers think about their food.

Catch the full episode here, and let's keep the conversation going. Together, we can foster a farming community that’s informed, and committed to the health of our soil, our people, and our planet.

See you next time on What The Field?! 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

 In this month's episode of “What The Field?!”, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jolien Walhof, the Head of Impact at The WaterBear Network. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about climate action and the transformative power of filmmaking and storytelling. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

Are you curious about the innovative practices shaping the future of farming? If so, our new podcast episode will be right up your alley. We’re joined by Joseph Gridley the creator of the Soil Association Exchange. A tool to help farmers collect data and implement regenerative farming practices, all while making a profit. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/

This month’s episode from “What The Field?!” is one of our personal favourites, our guest is Eduardo Cuoco, director of IFOAM Organics Europe. IFOAM Organics Europe is the European umbrella organisation for organic food and farming. For more than 20 years, they have been representing organic in European policymaking and advocating for a transformation of food and farming. Their work is based on the principles of organic agriculture – health, ecology, fairness, and care.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowd_farming/
Blog: https://www.crowdfarming.com/blog/en/