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A podcast about the different people, technologies, and organizations that are coming together to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reverse climate change. We also talk about blockchains.

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#3 Jeremy Kaufman and Ethan Steinberg of Propagate Ventures

December 12, 2017

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“It’s not a sin to cut down a tree, it’s a sin not to plant a forest.”

Christophe was riding the subway in New York City when he overheard a conversation about reversing climate change through regenerative agriculture. Intrigued, he introduced himself to Harry and Ethan, two of the three co-founders of Propagate Ventures, an investment fund that works with landowners to design and install tree-crop systems that complement existing farm operations. Propagate wants to move beyond sustainability to design a regenerative framework that generates economic returns, builds soil health and sequesters carbon—using agriculture as a mechanism to solve the problems of climate change, rather than creating them.

Today Ross and Christophe are joined by Propagate Co-Founders Jeremy Kaufman and Ethan Steinberg to discuss the fundamentals of agroforestry and how the Propagate model works to provide farmers with capital for planting trees. They walk us through the process, explaining how an analysis of crops appropriate to the bioregion and the farmer’s goals work together to determine the specific tree crop appropriate to the project. Jeremy and Ethan describe how they are using the market to benefit humanity and the planet, creating environmentally-positive wealth for generations to come. Listen in to understand Propagate’s plans to collaborate with ‘Big Ag,’ small farmers and indigenous groups, and learn how you can get involved in learning more about agroforestry and regeneration.

Key Takeaways

[3:53] The aims of Propagate Ventures

Promote regenerative agriculture (restore soil)
Investment fund securitizes tree assets
Use agriculture as mechanism to solve problems
Spur local economies, ensure rural livelihood

[8:11] The benefits of being a public benefit corporation

Not just bound to shareholders
Also responsible for delivering environmental metrics

[11:10] The fundamentals of agroforestry

Intentional integration of trees into agricultural landscape
Benefits from both financial, environmental perspective
Produces same yield with 30% less sun
Propagate seeks to provide with little/no cost to farmers

[13:24] The ‘Evergreen’ profit-share model

Propagate provides capital for installation
Profits from crops are shared with landowner
Stabilizes long-term asset value and cashflow

[20:35] How Propagate determines appropriate tree crops

Lean on researchers in space, best practices
Balance crops that work in region with goals of landowner
Climate, species there determine best crops for bioregion

[29:22] Propagate’s approach to engaging stakeholders

Companies that use timber (i.e.: build decks, stairs) involved in process earlier
Make customers aware that trees used sequestering carbon
Use market to benefit humanity and planet
Connect aspirational consumers with brands
Get consumers behind framework of getting carbon into soil

[36:00] The farmer’s role in the carbon sequestration web