This high-profile DLD Circular 2023 session focuses on regenerative agriculture and how it can help solve problems like climate change and biodiversity loss.
The panel discussion, moderated by journalist David Kirkpatrick, brings together filmmaker Doris Dörrie and regenerative farming pioneer Benedikt Bösel, who recently collaborated on the documentary series Farm Rebellion; investor Jan-Gisbert Schultze, co-founder of Acton Capital; and Fabio Volkmann, a Research Project Manager at Climate Farmers.
“We have to learn to think – not only farming, but also the economy – from the soil up”, Bösel demands. “Because land use is not only about producing highly nutritious food, but it is always, on a global scale, about education, development of rural areas, it is about equality, it is about biodiversity, it is about climate adaptation.”
A former investment banker, Bösel converted his conventional farm into a regenerative farm which now acts as a living laboratory for research on different regenerative techniques.
Schultze describes how regenerative agriculture aligns with nature’s principles of diversity, collaboration and circularity unlike the current extractive system.
“Now, if we look at our system, we’re doing completely the opposite”, Schultze says. “We think that we can fix everything, that we can manipulate nature… We think that competition is the way to move forward. Nature shows us that collaboration is actually the way to move forward.”
Volkmann illustrates how Climate Farmers helps farmers across Europe transition to regenerative agriculture.
Doris Dörrie explains that she was attracted to the idea of documenting the concept of regenerative agriculture in Farm Rebellion because she felt helpless.
“This is, to me, the big conundrum, that we do know a lot of things”, Dörrie says. “I know a lot of things theoretically about climate change. But what do I do with it? How do I become active?”
Her advice? “Watch Farm Rebellion”, she says. “And I promise you, you will feel better after watching it.”
But first, watch this captivating DLD session, because there’s much more to discover – true food for thought.
