Patagonia Donates $1M to Regenerative Farming

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Patagonia Supports Regenerative Farming

In the conversation about sustainable fashion, Patagonia has always led the charge. It has consistently been at the forefront of driving change and is a certified B-Corp (the first one in California) - read more about its ambitious climate goals here. What’s great to see is that Patagonia’s popularity only seems to have increased after it got B-Corp certified in 2012, showing that consumers are keenly looking for more sustainable and ethical brands.

Patagonia is also a strong supporter of sustainable agriculture and farming. In 2017, it partnered with the Rodale Institute, a non-profit dedicated to regenerative farming. Together, they founded the Regenerative Organic Alliance and established the Regenerative Organic Certified program, which is a certification for food and textiles, showing a commitment to soil health, animal welfare, and farmer support.

What is Regenerative Farming?

Regenerative organic farming has several benefits for the soil, climate, and human welfare, and the Rodale Institute supports farmers in making the transition from conventional to regenerative farming. They provide technical guidance, support with business planning, and equipment stipends to farmers to make the transition easier.

Regenerative farming uses methods like crop rotation (to ensure single nutrients from the soil aren’t depleted), cover crops (which prevents soil erosion by ensuring fields aren’t left barren), and conservation tillage (reduced tillage aiming for minimal disturbance to the soil) to protect the soil. Conventional industrial farming, on the other hand, continues to rely on fertilizers and pesticides that are often derived from fossil fuels.

Creating the Holdfast Collective To Fight the Climate Crisis

In a bold move in 2022, Patagonia announced that from that moment on, Earth would be its only shareholder, doubling down on the company’s already robust commitment to sustainability. With that announcement, it launched the Holdfast Collective, its nonprofit arm that is committed to fighting the climate crisis - including protecting wildlife restoration, forest preservation, and agricultural regeneration.

Since its launch in 2022, the Holdfast Collective has donated over $71 million to conservation efforts, and has contributed to approximately 70 conservation projects. This includes a $5.2 million grant to help preserve Alabama’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta, also known as “America’s Amazon”, removing a dam in the Vjosa River in Albania, and supporting a California state law that restricts oil and gas operations in residential neighborhoods.

$1 Million Donation to Rodale Institute’s Efforts towards Regenerative Farming

In its latest move, Patagonia (through the Holdfast Collective) has committed to donating $1 million to Rodale Institute’s efforts towards regenerative farming in Ventura County, California. While Holdfast has given grants to support sustainable agriculture in the past, this donation marks its greatest donation to date in this space, according to Greg Curtis, executive director of Holdfast Collective. “And it was pretty easy to make with Rodale,” he adds.

Known for its expansive farmland, Ventura County is one of the largest agricultural regions in the state, with more than2,000 farms covering 260,000 acres. California produces a third of the country’s veggies and three quarters of its fruits and nuts, and Ventura County makes a significant contribution.

Unfortunately, the county is also known for its concentrated use of pesticides. These pesticides can pollute the soil, water, and air, and have been linked to various health concerns, including respiratory issues, developmental delays, and even cancer.

Which is why the Rodale Institute turned its attention to Ventura County. Rodale Institute’s efforts in Ventura County are supported by the $1 million from the Holdfast Collective, along with funds from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Want to learn more about regenerative clothing and home brands? Check out this post here.