EU Food & Farming 56d ago

Anne van Leeuwen describes a turning point in their life after watching a documentary at age 28 about ecological regeneration in China. This showed them that restoring damaged ecosystems can go hand in hand with improving people’s economic and social conditions—a “win” on all fronts. Inspired, they became involved in a diverse European network of farmers who share common regenerative principles and a vision for sustainable agriculture. They imagine farming’s future as economically viable, socially vibrant, and environmentally restorative—places where communities thrive and connect. The speaker also reflects on their childhood: although they loved farming early on, negative social attitudes and the belief that agriculture and nature were incompatible discouraged them. The documentary ultimately changed this perspective, proving that farming can support both biodiversity and productivity together.