Regenerative Systems to Solutions

Greenwich, CT - June 6, 2025

"Love what you are all about and it just never feels like enough time! You are establishing the ultimate Collective. John Fullerton is life changing!" -Rache Brand, Water Garden Farms

"Very powerful speakers. Thought provoking with a strong focus on systems change. Good connection from macro to local." -Anonymous

L-R: Adam Rein, Richard Zimmerman Caitlin Taylor, Ali Ghiorse, John Fullerton

INTRODUCTION  

On June 6, 2025, Foundation House welcomed a dynamic group of impact investors, fund managers, practitioners, and regenerative leaders for Regenerative Systems to Solutions; a half-day convening focused on aligning capital and infrastructure with the principles of living and regenerative systems.

Rooted in the belief that we must go beyond traditional approaches to regenerate the ecological, social, and economic foundations of our world, the gathering explored how finance, agriculture, and policy can be reimagined to support thriving communities and ecosystems.

John Fullerton, Founder of the Capital Institute, grounded the group in the principles of regenerative economics and the critical role of capital in catalyzing systemic renewal. He advocates a living systems approach to redesigning regenerative and self-sustaining economy that is of service to all life. He was followed by Adam Rein, Co-founder of CapShift, who shared actionable strategies and investment opportunities in regenerative agriculture—spotlighting the role of investors in transforming food systems for greater resilience and biodiversity.

The morning concluded with a dialogue between Caitlin Taylor, Founder & Principal of Midcourse Design & Development, and Ali Ghiorse, Founder of The Foodshed Network. Together, they explored the historical fragmentation of the Northeast’s regional food system and emphasized the urgent need to rebuild connective tissue—particularly through policy advocacy, public-private coordination, and re-localized infrastructure.

Together, we explored:

1. What does it look like to design financial systems that are regenerative (and not extractive)?

2. How can investments in regenerative agriculture contribute to improved abundance, environmental health, and livelihoods and resilience?

3. And what is needed—socially, legislatively, and logistically—to create a regenerative food economy that nourishes people and place?

What follows are key insights from these rich discussions and the positive actions now guiding us forward.

IMPACT

The discussions revealed significant challenges in scaling regenerative systems, particularly around paradigm shifts needed in economic thinking. The conversations highlighted how current industrial food systems are designed for efficiency and uniformity but lack resilience against climate change and supply chain disruptions. Key impacts discussed include:

Economic Misalignment

Current models prioritize extraction, efficiency, and scale over care, resilience, and complexity. Regenerative economics demands a reorientation toward relational, place-based systems that reflect the interdependence of ecological and social well-being.

Infrastructure Invisibility

The “missing middle” of food systems—distribution hubs, regional processing, cooperative ownership—remains underdeveloped. Without investment and advocacy, these structural gaps continue to block equitable access to regenerative food.

Cultural Disconnection

Participants emphasized how industrial systems have rendered food “placeless and invisible,” breaking vital ties between land, nourishment, and community. Reconnection requires not just consumer education, but policy-level recognition of food as infrastructure.

INITIATIVES

The following solutions emerged as levers for scaling impact and re-centering land stewardship:

Capital Reimagined

• Transition capital funds supporting farmers during regenerative practice adoption

• Impact investment strategies that integrate ecological and social returns

• Corporate partnerships structured around risk reduction and long-term health outcomes

Regional Infrastructure Activation

• Site-specific design that bridges planning, architecture, and operations

• Aggregation and processing hubs to anchor regional supply chains

• Cross-sectoral coalitions—spanning healthcare, education, and logistics—to fortify food sovereignty

Advocacy and Systems Mapping

• Bioregional food atlases to inform planning and drive investment

• Legislative strategies to support cooperative models and land access

• Advocacy campaigns that uplift community-led solutions and shift narratives around food and land

The overarching theme emphasized moving from reductionist problem-solving to holistic, interconnected approaches that reconnect communities with place-based food systems.

For more details on the speakers and agenda, visit the event page.

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