Ben Gordon is the CEO of Fractal Ag, a farmland investment platform that brings investors alongside farmers to drive impact and returns. Ben previously co-created Corteva Agriscience's carbon program while also leading Business Development. His background includes experience in agriculture technology, management consulting, and private equity due diligence. Ben previously served as an Infantry Officer in the US Army. He was raised in North Dakota where the original family homestead is still farmed by extended family. He lives in San Francisco, CA. Links:  Ben on LinkedIn Fractal Ag Become a Premium Subscriber  Sponsor: This episode is presented by MyLand. Learn more at MyLand.ag. Check out our interview with Dane.

311: A First-Principles Approach to Farmland Investing with Ben Gordon, CEO and Co-Founder of Fractal Ag

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Austin is an expert on agricultural and antitrust policy. During the 2020 presidential campaign, he advised candidates Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg on agricultural policy before ultimately serving as Co-Chair of the Biden campaign’s Agriculture Antitrust Policy Committee. He is a Fellow of the Thurman Arnold Project at Yale University, an initiative that brings together faculty, students, and scholars to collaborate on research related to competition policy and antitrust enforcement. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Common Good Iowa and the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. In 2022, The Advocate named him a "Champion of Pride.” He recently published his debut book, Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry, which profiles a series of powerful magnates to illustrate the concentration of power in the American food system. The book has received universal acclaim. Publishers Weekly gave it a Starred Review and the host of Bloomberg's Odd Lots commended the book, remarking that “I have come away with a completely different idea of agriculture that I cannot unsee." The book has received praise from across the political spectrum, including a rave review from The American Conservative. — This episode is presented by Pinion. Learn more HERE. — Links  Austin's Website Join the Co-op 

348: The Not-So-Secret Corruption of America's Food System with Austin Frerick

Michael Lavin is the founder and managing partner of Germin8 Ventures, a purpose-driven venture capital firm that believes in the power of technology to fix the global food system. Founded in 2018 and backed by C-level executives, entrepreneurs and technologists across the food and agriculture industries, Germin8 is building a portfolio of entrepreneurs and businesses with the potential to profoundly change the future of FoodTech and AgTech. Michael oversees all aspects of Germin8’s investing, operations and strategy in addition to actively participating on the boards of its portfolio companies. Prior to Germin8, Michael served as an investment banker and financial consultant at Mesirow Financial, a global financial services firm managing more than $100 billion of assets, where he executed numerous M&A;, capital raising and restructuring transactions for early stage startups, middle market and Fortune 500 companies with a particular focus on food and agriculture, industrial technology and aerospace. Michael is an advisor, mentor and member at several accelerators and incubators including Rabobank’s TERRA Accelerator, Alchemist Accelerator, Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, 1871, The Good Food Accelerator, Family Farmed and The Hatchery. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Michael is based in Chicago but splits his time between the San Francisco Bay Area, Europe, Tel Aviv and other hubs where food meets tech. — This episode is presented by Pinion. Learn more HERE. — Links  Germin8 Ventures Michael on LinkedIn Join the Co-op 

347: AgTech Diligence and How to Impress AgTech VC with Michael Lavin, Managing Partner at Germin8 Ventures

Jason Giannelli is the farm manager for two large California farming operations, Old River Farming and R & G Fanucchi. Jason shares more about what's happening on the ground in California right now with SGMA, farming practices, and regulatory pressures. — This episode is presented by Pinion. Learn more HERE. — Links  Jason on LinkedIn Join the Co-op 

346: Farming in California's Central Valley with Jason Giannelli

Chris Tolles is the CEO and Co-Founder of Yard Stick. Yard Stick measures soil carbon. Scientists and farmers alike know that climate-friendly agricultural practices have the potential to remove atmospheric CO2 at gigaton/year scale. When these practices are adopted, more carbon is stored in soils, improving soil health and fighting climate change. But significant measurement challenges have held soil carbon efforts back - until now. By reducing the cost of soil carbon measurement by 90%+, Yard Stick will dramatically expand the opportunities for evidence-based regenerative practices to simultaneously improve ecosystem health, increase farmer income, and combat climate change. — This episode is presented by Pinion. Learn more HERE. — Links  Yard Stick Website Join the Co-op 

345: Enabling Soil Carbon at Scale with Chris Tolles, CEO and Co-Founder of Yard Stick

Kevin Bearley is a Principle at Pinion and partners with business owners to create sophisticated income and tax solutions that include structuring organizations, transitioning businesses, and maximizing tax benefits at present and into the future. Kevin navigates complex family dynamics and advises family business owners that fair doesn’t always mean equal. When putting together estate plans, he focuses on ensuring operating assets and cash flow are accessible to on-farm heirs for long-term, prosperous farm operations, while also providing a monetary benefit to other off-farm heirs. Kevin Bearley listens closely to family business goals and develops financial strategies so the family business will survive and thrive in future generations. — This episode is presented by Pinion. Learn more HERE. — Links  Pinion Website Join the Co-op 

311: A First-Principles Approach to Farmland Investing with Ben Gordon, CEO and Co-Founder of Fractal Ag

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