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Manitoba Regen Ag Farms Stand Test of Time; Well-Positioned for Future
by Duncan Morrison
It could be just me, or possibly, it’s simply a brisker spring than I had hoped.
Nonetheless, I am kind of feeling a subtle breeze of a colder wind pushback on regenerative agriculture out there, perhaps being generated by some of the ones who figured this thing would be done and done before it amounted to much.
In a well-timed blog today responding to a research paper recently published questioning the carbon intensity of grassfed beef, Understanding Ag’s Allen Williams, Ph.D., concluded:
On a near-daily basis, we see further proof of these benefits in the lives of our fellow regenerative farmers and ranchers. No amount of computer-screen analysis or theoretical meta-data-based “meatloaf” should detract us from realizing the full potential of regenerating our soil, food, farms and futures.
https://understandingag.com/before-consuming-research-consider-the-ingredients-and-who-cooked-it/
MFGA declared our corporate position on regenerative agriculture in 2018, a move that was pushed forward by our MFGA Board of Directors of the day.
Our board’s intentions at the time were to be open and inclusive to all, especially interested farmers and farm groups. They also were determined to not push or celebrate regenerative agriculture as a silver bullet or a one-year trick pony. To them, regen ag was coming down the track and heading for the station and would probably be best practiced over-time, determined by farm-by-farm decisions based on knowledge and practices around regen ag’s guiding principles that worked on and for each individual farm.
But the failures and adaptions that each farmer endured were equally as important in the journey as well as the spirit of community in helping one another through challenges. There had to be places and gatherings designed to encourage these farmer-to-farmer exchanges and mentoring.
With that corporate positioning in place and our MFGA farmers now driving their own wants to learn more around regen ag, plans were then launched for MFGA to host an annual MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference, an event now entering Year 8 that has become a must-attend for many farmers, industry stakeholders and like-minded groups across Manitoba, Prairies and northern United States.
*Stay tuned for some great news on that front soon as we announce our first raft of keynote speakers for our 2025 annual conference.
Nowadays, aided by the info gleaned through the MFGA conference and others, workshops hosted by Mike Thiele’s organized DU Grazing Clubs, and via outreach of the like-minded org’s such as Holistic Management Canada, the farmers in our MFGA network are farming profitably with their farms and families front of mind, and in return, nature-friendly farming is a brand they do wear happily.
Soil health, biodiversity and water management are primary in their own farm’s profitability equations.
Take Clayton and Shauna Breault’s family ranch Breault Ranching located near of Ste. Rose du Lac, for example. The Breault’s were recently named Manitoba Beef Producers “The Environmental Stewardship Award” (TESA) winners 2024. The Breault’s will tell anyone who asks that they robustly embrace the guiding principles of regenerative agriculture. The Breault’s now will follow previous TESA winners and Manitoba regenerative agriculture leaders and families of Brian Harper (national winner), Matt van Steelandt and Arron Nerbas to the national TESA competition for beef producers.
Another case in point is MFGA’s bird survey over the past two years. Expert bird surveyors have openly declared an abundance of birds – including different species at risk on profitable dairy, forage, beef, grain, bison and mixed farms – on four MFGA board member farms in 2023 and nine MFGA board member farms in 2024.
A main driver of those bird populations? Consistently intact “biodiversity islands” of wetlands and grasslands across all farms and nearby, coupled with a determined soil health focus on each farm that drives healthy ecosystems above and below soils.
Let it be known to all that these farms are not simply pushing biodiversity values because they are locked down in conservation easements. There are a few, as well as some lands in Manitoba Association of Watershed’s PWCP as well as other marginal land and forage programs.
But, the major point here is those biodiversity islands, and the healthy soils of the participating farms are there because the farmers want them there. And always have. Period. In essence, these are successful profitable farms with successful on-farm systems centered on biological designs.
Perhaps the unwavering dedication to regen ag by our Manitoba farmers is why it’s so refreshing to also keep tabs on regen ag developments and advancements outside of Manitoba.
Especially on the financial front.
We know first-hand that there’s incredibly cool farmer-first stuff that MFGA has been participating on that is readying for launch soon in Alberta. As we sit in a publicity embargo around more details, I will tell you that when this thing is opened to ranchers and farmers, this stands ready to be an absolute farmer-focused game changer.
On a broader lens on similar topics, this globally themed piece below that we are running with permission from Ag Funder News caught my attention as a walkabout summary of successes, challenges and barriers. Not all of it applies here in Manitoba of course, not now and not ever in the future.
But some of it sure does and there’s a very great potential some below will apply here one day.
And because MFGA’s network of Manitoba are farming the way they do; they are well positioned to have even more options that they simply don’t have today.
Even with the uncertainty of the World’s markets of today, I hope it catches your attention too.
Regenerative agriculture’s biggest developments in 2024 — and what they mean for 2025
Ag Funder News | Jennifer Marston
https://agfundernews.com/regenerative-agricultures-biggest-developments-in-2024-and-what-they-mean-for-2025
Regenerative agriculture saw some major developments in 2024, particularly around finance, getting more involvement from agrifood corporates, and aiding in the growth of smallholder operations.
The following is a non-exhaustive look at some highlights from the last year and how they might impact the overall movement’s progression in the coming months.
Financing the regen ag transition
US-based specialty finance shop Mad Capital launched its Perennial Fund II, which targets $50 million and received early backing from The Rockefeller Foundation, Builders Vision, and the Schmidt Family Foundation.
Why it matters: Farmers are ready and willing to transition to regenerative agriculture practices but frequently lack access to capital — and the right capital partners. Private credit firms such as Mad Capital have multiplied in recent years to address this gap and advance the spread of regen ag.
Similar aid has taken shape in Europe. Last year, alternative financier HeavyFinance announced a new €50 million ($54 million) fund to support small- and medium-sized farmers in Europe through the regenerative agriculture transition.
Why it matters: Per a 2023 survey by the European Commission, 83% of all farmers in the EU have experienced increased production costs but only 12% have “significantly” increased their selling prices. The total financing gap for EU agriculture is now €62 million ($67 million).
“Farmers have really struggled in recent years,” HeavyFinance CEO Laimonas Noreika told AgFunderNews. “As well, we have incoming green policies from EU regulators and an additional push for farmers to convert grain lands to grasslands. So now more than ever, farmers need additional capital.”
Regen ag funds and investors
Multiple funds and grants now exist for regenerative agriculture projects. One such is natural asset manager Sustainable Land Management (SLM), which reported in 2024 that its assets under management (AUM) had grown 40% year on year across its different funds.
Why it matters: “There are far more investors who want to invest in regenerative agriculture and forestry, and we see that with AUM growing by 40% year on year,” SLM managing partner Paul McMahon told AgFunderNews at the time. “It’s certainly a feeling of achievement on our side that we’re getting backing for something we’ve been talking about for quite some time.”
Down in Latin America, UK-based Astarte Capital Partners, a global firm that focuses on real assets, kickstarted a partnership with Chile-based alternative investment manager Toesca to establish a regenerative agriculture-focused investment platform for permanent crops in Chile and the broader Latin America region.
The Toesca Permanent Crops II fund will be part of the Astarte Platform and will invest $350 million in a portfolio of solutions for permanent crop production.
Why it matters: Permanent crops such as fruit and nut trees are rising in popularity due to shifting consumer diets. Chile is a leading exporter of many different permanent crops with strong access to global markets; success in this endeavor could give the whole region a boost.
Agrifood corporates in regen ag
There was no shortage of corporate commitments around regenerative agriculture in 2024. Notably, ADM took its regen ag initiative from pilot- to large-scale programs across the US, with the goal of transitioning at least 4 million by 2025. ADM also launched a new company, Gradable, in partnership with Farmers Business Network, to connect grain buyers with farmers using regenerative practices in order to meet growing demand for sustainably produced food items.
Why it matters: ADM has around 60,000 farmer relationships across the US, making its potential reach huge when it comes to transitioning farmers.
Other agrifood corporates with ambitious regenerative agriculture plans include General Mills, PepsiCo, Ahold Delhaize, and Nestlé.
A big challenge in 2025: extracting actual commitments and progress from PR-friendly jargon. Regenerative agriculture has no set definition and thus is made up of different practices and beliefs depending on who’s talking. And while there’s no such thing as “one size fits all” in regen ag, the loose guidelines can open the door for greenwashing if not managed properly.
Smallholder farmers
Impact company Nzatu demonstrated one such model in 2024 with the release of its Njuki coffee to the US. Nzatu works with farmers in Africa on implementing regenerative practices before sending the raw coffee to Parma, Italy-based Artcafé, which roasts the coffee and manages distribution across Europe and Asia. A third party, US-based e-commerce operation Urban Afrique, handles North American distribution.
Another company, GoodSAM, is employing a “direct trade” model that cuts out the middlemen to work directly with growers and their farmer associations. GoodSAM works with these groups to implement sustainable farming practices and also ensure the financial gain gets back to the farmers themselves.
Why it matters: There are 600 million smallholder farmers in the world, and the success of global food security depends to a large degree on these operations. Regenerative ag models that can teach earth-friendly practices while providing monetary benefits are essential to this success.
Consumer perceptions on regen ag
One of the more challenging tasks heading into the new year is likely to be around consumer adoption of regenerative agriculture. Multiple studies released in 2024 found that a large majority of consumers may not be willing to pay for the transition via higher food prices — regardless of any environmental benefits.
Still others don’t actually know the term “regenerative agriculture”; many of those that do struggle to explain what it actually entails.
The bottom line: There’s much work left to do when it comes to educating consumers on both what regenerative agriculture is (and isn’t) as well as its benefits to not just the planet but individual human health. This is certainly one challenge for which there is no quick technology fix.
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