David Leon—former co-founder of Farmer’s Footprint and Principal at Esso Partners—joins us to unpack a bold, systems-level approach to transforming our broken food system. Drawing on deep experience in regenerative agriculture and finance, David explains how ecological investing can unlock more than just profit—it can regenerate soil, ecosystems, and communities.

This episode explores why the food system isn’t failing—it’s simply doing what it was designed to do—and how we can redesign it by aligning capital with land stewardship, local resilience, and long-term impact. We discuss real barriers and solutions across the supply chain, from farm gate to investment fund. If you're working at the intersection of sustainability, agriculture, and finance, this conversation offers rich insights, fresh metaphors, and practical wisdom for driving meaningful change.

Perfect for climate-minded business leaders, investors, and founders navigating the future of food, finance, and planetary health.

1. 00:00 – Introduction
2. 02:44 – Welcoming David Leon
3. 03:15 – Why Food is a Mirror of the Earth
4. 04:41 – The Story Behind a Cantaloupe
5. 08:23 – The Economics of Industrial Agriculture
6. 12:19 – Understanding Capital in Agriculture
7. 18:09 – Rethinking Investment Structures
8. 20:42 – Building Empathy Across the Value Chain
9. 21:45 – Where the Work Is Happening
10. 26:50 – Stacking Capital to Support Whole Systems
11. 30:22 – A Vision for Decentralized, Resilient Food Systems
12. 35:29 – Composting the Old System, Not Burning It Down
13. 44:52 – Final Takeaway: Stay Curious

To learn more from David Leon, contact him at [email protected]

If you’re a mission-driven org looking to optimize your internal function and grow your impact, learn more about Still Point Insight at StillPointInsight.com

#RegenerativeAgriculture #ImpactInvesting #FoodSystemChange #SoilHealth #SustainableFinance #ClimateLeadership #EcologicalEconomics #SystemsThinking