Regenerative Agriculture Isn’t Enough: How futurra Makes Regenerative Capitalism Possible

Tim Tensen
May 16
3 min read

by Tim Tensen

1. Why Regenerative Agriculture Alone Isn’t Enough

Regenerative agriculture can’t thrive on ideals alone, it needs a solid business case. In my years of working hands-on with farmers and communities, I’ve seen what happens when sustainability becomes an “add-on” instead of part of the core business model.

That’s why I’m excited to share how futurra is changing the game: by expanding our scope from regenerative agriculture to regenerative capitalism, we’re building viable pathways for everyone involved, farmers, corporations, and entire communities.

2. A Personal Journey: From Farm Data to Financial Systems

For those who don’t know me, I’m Tim Tensen, and I’ve spent much of my career championing regenerative agriculture. In my SDS days, I believed data could be an asset for farmers, something that not only helped them make better decisions on the ground, but also opened new revenue streams for those willing to invest in nature. While that focus remains important, the world around us, and our understanding of the issues, has evolved significantly.

“One thing that hasn’t changed: Regenerative agriculture has to make business sense. Farmers won’t adopt climate-resilient practices unless they’re profitable in the real world.”

3. It’s Not Just About Practices, It’s About Systems

So what has changed? The reality is that forging a true business case for regeneration means going beyond collecting data. Yes, data is crucial, but so is convening the right partners, exploring new financing mechanisms, and developing systems that bring sustainable products to market at scale. We realized that if we want to tackle questions like how corporations can move beyond “bolt-on” sustainability, or how philanthropic funds can catalyze farmer transitions, we need a broader, more open-ended approach.

“We’re seeing a lot of large sustainability commitments, big numbers about transitioning farmland or ‘investing in nature.’ But those figures often come with assumptions that need more scrutiny. We need to start from the ground up, working with actual farm businesses to uncover real costs, real constraints, and real opportunities.”

4. Turning Regeneration into ROI: The Missing Links

The bottom line is that government support alone isn’t enough. Recent elections and shifting public budgets highlight how precarious it can be to rely on public funding. Meanwhile, some companies (like Unilever under Paul Polman ) have shown that sustainability can drive profits, but those lessons aren’t yet being adopted widely.

We need philanthropic capital, corporate R&D funds, and supply chain investments that truly see sustainability as a profit center, not just a cost. Doing that requires answering tough questions, such as:

What’s the actual cost of transitioning to regenerative practices?
How can we quantify and monetize environmental services or nature-based assets?
Where can we plug in innovative financing (like concessional supply chain loans) to help farmers overcome the initial risk of adopting new methods?

When farmers see tangible gains, like higher yields, improved product quality, or lucrative market premiums, they stick with regenerative methods. It’s that simple. But we need strong business frameworks to prove these benefits and link them directly to profitability.

That’s exactly why I joined Futurra.

5. Why We Built futurra: A Platform for Regenerative Capitalism

The non-profit structure allows us to expand our research and partnership-building in ways a strictly commercial model couldn’t. We can engage more freely with philanthropic actors, governments, and corporations under one umbrella, tackling the big questions of how to:

Develop robust supply chain infrastructure that can handle diverse, regenerative outputs.
Transition from viewing sustainability as a “cost center” to a profit generator for every stakeholder.
Build new marketplaces and financial instruments that genuinely reward regenerative outcomes.

We’ve seen glimpses of success already. At SDS, I collaborated with partners like the The Rockefeller Foundation and participated in initiatives like the Regenerative Rubber Alliance. Real-world proof is there: profitable, data-driven pathways for change exist.

Now, with futurra we’re scaling that work, expanding to more geographies, more supply chains, and more integrated solutions.

6. Join Us: Building the Future Where Nature Pays Back

At its core, futurra is about open-ended inquiry paired with practical business experimentation. We invite policymakers, corporations, farmers, scientists, and philanthropic organizations to join us in building the next wave of climate-positive innovation, one that delivers for both people and the planet.

“Regenerative agriculture can’t be an afterthought. It must be woven into the core of how we grow, produce, and profit.”

If you’re ready to tear down the barriers between sustainability and profitability, we want to hear from you. Let’s prove together that taking care of the land can, in fact, take care of our bottom line.