June 13, 2026
Spotlight Stories
Spotlight 1 – Grist says that becoming a farmer is hard. A Michigan program wants to help. Ready the story, here.
Spotlight 2 – Co-op News offers a co-operative framework for regenerative agriculture. Check it out, here.
Spotlight 3 – The New Lede discusses MAHA’s CAFO conundrum. Take a read, here.
Industry Updates
The Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP) has opened applications for its Internship Program for the July–December 2026 cohort. The program is open to students and early-career professionals focused on sustainable development and climate action. [link]
A second case of New World screwworm has been confirmed in Texas, detected in a one-month-old calf just six miles from the initial case site. The confirmation raises concern about the pest’s persistence in the state and its potential to spread further into U.S. livestock populations. [link]
The FAO welcomed the approval of a $3.9 billion replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-9) on World Environment Day. The agency called the fund a major opportunity to scale investments in sustainable agrifood systems addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. [link]
Paris-based Mirova, a Natixis Investment Managers affiliate, plans to launch two impact funds: one targeting regenerative agriculture in Europe and one focused on energy transition in Asia. The announcement comes amid surging oil and fertilizer prices following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring growing investor interest in sustainable food and energy systems. [link]
The United Chestnuts “Branching Out” podcast featured Brett Hundley of Agroforestry Partners, an investment fund that has planted nearly 1,600 acres of chestnut trees in Kentucky. The episode highlights growing momentum in agroforestry investment and the fund’s approach to scaling nut-tree production as a sustainable land use model. [link]
Kilimo, an international water stewardship company, is connecting Oklahoma farmers with corporate funding to finance water-saving upgrades as the state’s groundwater levels continue to fall. The initiative aims to protect Oklahoma’s vulnerable agricultural supply chain by channeling private capital toward irrigation efficiency improvements. [link]
An agroforestry initiative targeting more than 50,000 farmers across Northeast India is taking shape, with experts and practitioners charting a sustainable rural growth roadmap. The blueprint aims to integrate agroforestry into rural livelihoods at scale, addressing both food security and environmental sustainability across the region. [link]
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has opened applications for its Green Fertilizer Grant Program, which funds cooperatives to invest in green fertilizer manufacturing. Agricultural and rural electric cooperatives registered under Minnesota 308A or 308B statutes are eligible to apply for support in developing low-carbon fertilizer production. [link]
Finance Earth’s Big Nature Impact Fund has raised £86 million to fund woodland creation, peatland restoration, and habitat projects across England. Revenues will come primarily from verified carbon credits and biodiversity units rather than timber or land appreciation, positioning the fund as a nature-first financial model. [link]
Researchers at the University of Reading are leading a major European project to help farmers and foresters produce plant biomass more sustainably, targeting both higher yields and healthier soils. The project aims to supply biomass for fuel, electricity, and industrial materials while simultaneously improving soil carbon and ecosystem health. [link]
In Case You Missed It…
In early May, Ducks Unlimited (DU) announced that it would begin conducting regenerative agriculture verification under the Regenified standard as part of a new partnership agreement. See more, here.