Boulder Co. Regenerative Ag: Zero Foodprint's Restore CO
TL;DR: A Colorado pilot program successfully united urban food businesses and regenerative farms to fund essential soil-building practices, demonstrating a scalable model for climate action.
- Community collaboration funds regenerative farming practices.
- Over 40 businesses financed 12 farm projects.
- Practices included composting, cover cropping, and rotational grazing.
- Program expanded statewide after pilot success.
- Model integrates urban food systems with rural agriculture.
Why it matters: This initiative provides a replicable funding mechanism for regenerative agriculture, fostering climate resilience and local food security through community engagement and practical soil health improvements.
Do this next: Explore establishing a similar public-private partnership in your region to connect local businesses with regenerative farms.
Recommended for: Urban planners, restaurateurs, farmers, and community organizers interested in developing innovative funding mechanisms for local food systems and climate resilience.
Zero Foodprint's Restore Colorado is a public-private collaboration aimed at tackling climate change and promoting community resilience through regenerative agriculture solutions in Colorado. Supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, Boulder County partnered with Mad Agriculture, Zero Foodprint, and other local governments on a two-year pilot program. This initiative connects food businesses with local agriculture to support regenerative farming and soil health practices. During the pilot, over 40 Colorado food businesses, including all Boulder Subway locations, Dry Storage, and 2022 James Beard award-winning chef Carol Glover’s restaurant Annette, raised more than $300,000. These proceeds funded Restore Colorado grants for 12 farms and ranches, enabling specific regenerative practices such as spreading compost, cover cropping, planting windbreaks, rotational grazing, and reduced tillage. Recipient farms include McCauley Family Farm, Grama Grass & Livestock, Speedwell Farm & Garden, Drylands Agroecology Research, Esoterra Culinary, Frontline Farming, Emerald Gardens, Switch Gears Farm, Olander Farms, Long Table Farmstead, Boulder Valley Honey, and Honey Rock Landing. Following the pilot's success and recognition from Governor Jared Polis, Zero Foodprint signed a memorandum of understanding with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to expand the program statewide. Businesses participate by adding a few cents to customer purchases, directly funding projects that enhance soil health, water retention, and climate resilience. This model demonstrates practical integration of urban food systems with rural regenerative farming, creating funding mechanisms for soil-building practices that support community gardens and broader food sovereignty efforts in regenerative contexts.