Dr. Lundgren is an agroecologist, Executive Director of Ecdysis Foundation, and CEO for Blue Dasher Farm. Lundgren’s research and education programs are helping applied science evolve in ways that foster the evolution of a regenerative food system. One of his priorities is to re-envision how science is conducted to help fuel a revolution in regenerative agriculture. He regularly interacts with the public and farmers around the world regarding ecologically intensive farming and how diversity fuels the resilience and productivity of an agroecosystem and rural communities.

Publications:

https://f1000research.com/articles/10-115
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.664359/full
https://peerj.com/articles/4428/https://www.bluedasher.farm/blog
https://youtu.be/K9blVHtybJQ?si=E5ipeGHrB8XWIKel
https://youtu.be/_8O1dx5TdXI?si=_yw_zRHmlnxrKady

Plenary Speaker

Changing the paradigm of science to foster the evolution of a regenerative food system

Success stories that show the promise of regenerative agriculture are too easily dismissed by critics, and empirical assessments of this style of farming is needed. To this end, we developed the 1000 Farms Initiative, a continental scale research project aimed at testing whether regenerative agriculture works no matter what you grow or where you grow it, and figuring out the optimal strategies for transitioning to these systems. The project is totally unique in that it is relationship intensive, farmer-driven, systems-level, and uses tested harmonized methods to cross geographic and food system boundaries that typically hamstring agriculture science. The data from 750 farms is in and shows the value of regenerative food systems in combatting climate change, reversing desertification, increasing biodiversity, and reducing pollution, all while healing the rural fabric of our society.

Stephanie and Hayley Painter are sisters and Co-Founder/Co-CEOs of Painterland Sisters, an organic skyr yogurt brand. They grew up in the rolling hills of Northern Pennsylvania on their family’s fourth-generation regenerative organic dairy farm. The sisters proudly represent Pennsylvania agriculture and are enthusiastic about being a voice for farmers worldwide. Their yogurt is made with milk from their family’s farm in Westfield, PA, and a handful of other farmers in Tioga County and the surrounding area.

As fellow advocates for grazing cattle, family farming, and connecting consumers to the source of their food, the sisters are humbled to be named “Forbes 30 under 30″, “Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year” for Organic Night Out, and “SBA’s Eastern Pennsylvania’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year”.

Plenary Speakers

Ed Roberson is a Colorado-based conservationist and creator of Mountain & Prairie, a top-ranked podcast featuring long-form interviews with innovators of the American West.

Since its first episode in early 2016, Mountain & Prairie has gone on to be recognized by the Aspen Institute, Patagonia, Apple Podcasts, MeatEater, The Nature Conservancy, Tompkins Conservation, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, The Mighty Arrow Family Foundation, High Country News, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Montana Governor’s Office, and more.

Ed’s career has focused on land, water, and conservation for nearly two decades, primarily in the American West. He served as Conservation Director at Palmer Land Conservancy for four years, leading the organization’s cutting-edge water conservation efforts in southeastern Colorado. Prior to Palmer, he was a ranch broker and worked extensively throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. He has also served on boards and committees for a wide range of conservation organizations in Colorado.

Ed holds a BA in economics and an MBA with a concentration in finance, both from Wake Forest University. He is also a proud graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Away from work, Ed is a committed husband, father of two young girls, voracious reader, comically slow ultrarunner, blundering Brazilian jiu-jitsu player, and devotee of the Strenuous Life.

Plenary Panel Moderator/ Roundtable Host