Investing in Stewardship: Collaborative Financing Models for Expanding Land Access and Agricultural Resilience

This panel will explore how innovative capital partnerships can expand land access, strengthen stewardship, and support the long-term success of farmers and ranchers working to build resilient agricultural systems. Featuring leaders from Iroquois Valley, the New Mexico Climate Investment Center, and additional mission-aligned capital providers, the conversation will focus on the practical logistics behind alternative financing arrangements—from long-term leases and patient capital models. Panelists will share real-world examples of how these approaches can help producers navigate rising land costs, generational transition, climate pressures, and the challenges of transitioning from conventional to regenerative and organic production systems.

Grounded in the conference theme of Stewardship in Action, the session will center on the idea that stewardship is not only ecological, but financial and relational. Farmers and ranchers need stable, aligned capital partners who understand the realities of working land over the long term. Through case studies, lessons learned, and candid discussion, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how values-aligned investment structures can support healthier soil, stronger rural communities, and more resilient agricultural businesses—while also creating durable economic outcomes. The session is designed to be practical and educational, offering producers, land managers, and food system leaders tangible insights into land partnership models that are already being used in the field today.

Speakers: Nora Chovanec, Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, Emily Leveille, New Mexico Climate Investment Center

Questions? Contact nchovanec@iroquoisvalleyfarms.com.