FOODPRINT NORDIC
Foodprint Nordic holds extensive experience from EU-funded projects within the food system transformation. In their work with farmers, Foodprint Nordic identified a need for scaling regenerative agriculture in Europe.
AVINA supports Top 50 Farmers, an acceleration platform that bridges this gap by developing the regenerative ecosystem and celebrating role models who are leading the way to increase the number of hectares under regenerative management across Europe.
Cindie Christiansen &
Analisa Winther
Cindie Christiansen and Analisa Winther share how the idea for Top 50 Farmers came about, why this platform is needed, and the potential it holds for the future.
Please describe the project in less then 5 sentences.
Top 50 Farmers is an acceleration platform and community hub spotlighting and empowering regenerative farmers.
Why do we need an acceleration platform like Top 50 Farmers?
- The generational crisis. We are facing a generational crisis in agriculture and need to inspire the next generation to enter the fields. We can do that by showcasing new role models and diverse pioneering farmers leading this way. By spotlighting these farmers and by sharing their stories Top 50 Farmers also aspires to contribute to a new narrative of farming - the story that shows how the planet and communities can thrive if regenerative farming is the industry standard. When farmers become part of the Top 50 Farmers cohorts, the platform empowers them with connections and opportunities within mentorships, networks, financing and market access.
- The spotlight is ready for green thumbs. What we are doing with Top 50 Farmers, we already have experienced with chefs. Chefs started to get public recognition for their craft and work, which was followed by fame, TV shows, and new income streams, and many chefs have become voices for change. Today, most people can mention their chef hero, but less can name a farmer. We want to change that, and we think this change among the public is important to move agriculture in the right direction - where regenerative practices become the norm.
- The spotlight is ready for green thumbs. What we are doing with Top 50 Farmers, we already have experienced with chefs. Chefs started to get public recognition for their craft and work, which was followed by fame, TV shows, and new income streams, and many chefs have become voices for change. Today, most people can mention their chef hero, but less can name a farmer. We want to change that, and we think this change among the public is important to move agriculture in the right direction - where regenerative practices become the norm.
We are facing a generational crisis in agriculture and need to inspire the next generation to enter the fields.
How is Top 50 Farmers structured?
Top 50 Farmers is structured around a 3-part strategy.
1. The Nomination & Recognition Program: Through an open nomination process, the T50F selection committee chooses 50 farmers practicing or transitioning to regenerative agriculture to serve as role models for the next generation by showcasing diverse approaches to land management The Top 50 Cohort will receive a dedicated page on the T50F platform, publicity and gain access to mentorship, peer-to-peer networking, and pathways to potential investment and market opportunities. The farmer stories will be amplified via T50F’s communication channels and a media campaign to showcase new role models to create and contribute to a new and positive story of agriculture. The nomination process will collect data on the status as well as the challenges of regenerative agriculture in Europe. This data will be used for academic research, policy recommendations, open reports, and lay the foundation for the support and tools on the T50F Platform.
2. The Top 50 Farmers Network: The online Network connects farmers with a curated group of nonprofits, educational hubs and community organizations that offer resources and practical solutions that support the work of farmers in transition or farmers practicing regenerative agriculture. T50F’s Platform gathers initiatives and projects to give easy access to everyone who wants to enter the regenerative farming space.
3. Mastermind Groups: Facilitated groups that bring business leaders and other stakeholders together with the fifty selected farmers, fostering knowledge sharing, brainstorming, and co-creation of scalable solutions that enhance regenerative farming.
1. The Nomination & Recognition Program: Through an open nomination process, the T50F selection committee chooses 50 farmers practicing or transitioning to regenerative agriculture to serve as role models for the next generation by showcasing diverse approaches to land management The Top 50 Cohort will receive a dedicated page on the T50F platform, publicity and gain access to mentorship, peer-to-peer networking, and pathways to potential investment and market opportunities. The farmer stories will be amplified via T50F’s communication channels and a media campaign to showcase new role models to create and contribute to a new and positive story of agriculture. The nomination process will collect data on the status as well as the challenges of regenerative agriculture in Europe. This data will be used for academic research, policy recommendations, open reports, and lay the foundation for the support and tools on the T50F Platform.
2. The Top 50 Farmers Network: The online Network connects farmers with a curated group of nonprofits, educational hubs and community organizations that offer resources and practical solutions that support the work of farmers in transition or farmers practicing regenerative agriculture. T50F’s Platform gathers initiatives and projects to give easy access to everyone who wants to enter the regenerative farming space.
3. Mastermind Groups: Facilitated groups that bring business leaders and other stakeholders together with the fifty selected farmers, fostering knowledge sharing, brainstorming, and co-creation of scalable solutions that enhance regenerative farming.
When and where was the idea for this project born?
The idea for Top 50 Farmers has roots in the Danish countryside. In 2022, Astanor, a pioneering agrifood tech impact fund, brought together chefs, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and farmers for a two-day summit in Denmark. The goal: to explore bold ways to scale regenerative agriculture across Europe and beyond. During a collaborative breakfast session, a breakthrough idea emerged. Just as chefs have built powerful platforms and personal brands that have elevated their influence, diversified their income, and attracted a new generation, farming is ready for a similar transformation. From this shared vision, Top 50 Farmers was born—an initiative to showcase diverse role models leading the next wave of farming. Launched by Foodprint Nordic in partnership with Analisa Winther and seeded by Astanor, Top 50 Farmers has rapidly grown into a platform uniting the regenerative agriculture movement across Europe. What started as a spark has become a thriving initiative, supported by a consortium of European foundations dedicated to driving the regenerative revolution. Together, we’re not just changing the narrative—we’re creating real opportunities for farmers to thrive.
