Promoting Regenerative Agriculture
ROLE / SERVICES
Early Convener
Grantmaker
Investment Guide Primary Author
Networker / Global and Domestic Listserv
In partnership with others, I have focused significant attention and resources on the potential to transform industrial agriculture and build healthy soils. According to the FAO and United Nations, 90% of the world's topsoils will be in jeopardy by 2050 and industrial agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, loss of habitat for biodiversity, and degradation of fresh water systems. Protecting and restoring global soils can help alleviate all of these threats and help us achieve extraordinary benefits, for our climate, freshwater systems, farmworker health, biodiversity and global food security. Since 2014, I have commissioned a white paper, convened a global conference of leaders and farmers from thirty-five nations, worked with our philanthropic clients to support numerous cutting-edge organizations, convened briefings and given public presentations, managed a global healthy soils listserv of nearly 800 scientists, farmers and advocates, and developed a guide for philanthropy and investment. Many are heartened by the rapid growth of this field, yet much more needs to be done. This remains a priority area for my work.
“Betsy Taylor has been key to our work to advance soil carbon sequestration in partnership with France. The international and state-based leadership networks supported by Betsy have been crucial for knowledge sharing and relationship building.”
––Jenny Lester Moffitt, former Deputy Secretary of Food and Agriculture, California
“Betsy Taylor put together one of the most thoughtful, pertinent and well conceptualized conferences I've ever attended.”
–Cynthia Scharf, Senior advisor and Practice Lead for Climate Interventions at the International Center for Future Generations
“I still don't know who got me into your chat room and global list serve in support of regenerative agriculture, but it was the best thing to happen to me in ages. Thank you so much for all you are providing to the farmers, academics and government officials working to scale this field!
–Sue Edmonds, Farmer and science writer, New Zealand
