30: Making farming sexy again: How Climate Farmers Aims to Support Regenerative Farmers with Co-Founder Philipp Birker

SustainNOW Podcast - Learn from entrepreneurs & scientists about climate solutions

Today, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Philippe Birker, co-founder of Climate Farmers. This company is on a mission to revolutionize agriculture by building the necessary infrastructure to scale up regenerative practices. How? By developing an ecosystem measurement system that serves as a baseline for financing the transformation to regenerative farms.

Before Philippe ventured into the realm of regeneration, he spent five years dedicated to business and community development for various impact startups. But here's a fascinating tidbit about him – Philippe also holds the record in fire breathing. Curious? Well, you'll hear more about it in this episode.

Let's dive into the numbers: In 2020, EU farms utilized a staggering 157 million hectares of land for agricultural production, accounting for 38% of the total land area. It's noteworthy that the majority, a whopping 94.8%, of these farms are family-owned. However, agriculture also contributes to 26% of our yearly worldwide emissions.

Climate Farmers is aiming to transform every farm into a profitable and regenerative one. This episode is a must-listen if you're eager to grasp the essence of regenerative agriculture, understand why our food has lost significant nutritional benefits, and explore the necessary changes in policies, financing structures, why carbon financing is not enough, and overall perception towards farmers.

Get ready for a deep dive into the world of sustainable farming and discover how Climate Farmers is paving the way for positive change. Happy listening!

The following description was generated by AI :)

Ever wondered if the soil beneath our feet could be a hero in the climate crisis? Philipp Birker, co-founder of Climate Farmers, joins me to reveal how regenerative agriculture offers not just hope for the planet, but also a financially sustainable future for farmers—especially the youth seeking to sow seeds of change. Together, we unravel the complexities farmers face, from economic barriers to policy labyrinths, while also celebrating Philipp's record-breaking prowess in fire-breathing, a testament to his multifaceted journey as an eco-warrior.
Strap in for an eye-opening tour of farming's future, where we scrutinize our current yield-focused model that sidelines the well-being of our environment. Philipp and I dissect the transformative potential of regenerative agriculture—a method that cherishes rhythm with nature, enriching our soils, preserving precious water, and fostering a biodiversity haven. Delving into the Climate Farmers Academy, we spotlight how education and financial incentives are vital in encouraging farmers to cultivate change, emphasizing that proper agricultural policies and support are key to valuing environmental stewardship.
We wrap up this enlightening conversation with a deep dive into the innovative concept of carbon credits, dissecting the evolution from a carbon-centric approach towards a holistic ecosystem regeneration system. Philipp walks us through the intricacies of compensating farmers for carbon capture in soil and looks beyond, to a future where food production nourishes both our bodies and the planet. Join us to gain a fresh perspective on how every choice we make at the dinner table or the ballot box can be a step towards a regenerative and resilient agricultural landscape.

Please check out show notes and background information: www.sustainnow.ch
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פרקים

1. What does it mean to "Make farmers sexy again?" (00:03:00)

2. What is your take on the current farming protests? (00:05:00)

3. Is regenerative agriculture bringing sexy back to farming (is this the future of farming)? (00:08:00)

4. What are the main benefits of regenerative agriculture? (00:11:45)

5. How do you define regenerative agriculture? (00:13:44)

6. What is the timeframe that this works in? (00:15:30)

7. What needs to change in the European context for regenerative agriculture to take root? (00:16:45)

8. What brought you to founding climate farmers? (00:19:00)

9. What brought you to climate farmers? (00:21:30)

10. How do you measure the carbon storing in soil? (00:24:00)

11. How can you secure the carbon in the soil? (00:25:30)

12. How do you avoid overpromising with carbon credits? (00:26:30)

13. How does this business model work? (00:27:30)

14. What else needs to change to make farming profitable again? (00:29:00)

15. How does the food-cost tradeoff balance out, what needs to happen? (00:31:30)

16. Is there a way out of our current climate problem? (00:33:30)

17. Since founding climate farmers, what has been the hardest realization you’ve faced? (00:34:30)

18. How does this compare to just bio/organic products? (00:36:00)

19. What are your 2030 goals for climate farmers? (00:37:00)

20. What is the biggest barrier? (00:38:00)

21. How can people support climate farmers? (00:39:00)

22. What books/podcast/resources do you recommend to learn more about regenerative agriculture? (00:40:00)

23. What is fire breathing and why are you the world record holder? 37:50 How can people contact you? (00:41:45)

24. What makes you confident that we will solve the climate crisis? (00:43:00)