The Nest Family Office

The Nest Reads: Holiday Edition is here! 🎄 📕 The Japanese language has a single word for the pile of books avid readers accumulate: tsundoku. 📚 Chances are your holiday list has a few people on it with a penchant for hoarding knowledge. We understand. We all have our own book stack at the ready, whether they are filling the digital queue on our e-readers and audio apps, toppling a shelf, or precariously stacked at our bedside. Here are some of our recent favorite food, agriculture, and nature titles we recommend for filling stockings, topping off stacks, or perfecting a friend’s tsundoku stash. ❄️ ⛄ 🎁

Farmers, we heard you! We’ve extended the Top 50 Farmers application deadline to Tuesday, December 17 at midnight! 🎉 This gives you the weekend to put those final touches on your application—and we’re here to clear up a few doubts we’ve heard along the way: 1️⃣ The application process is quick It takes about 20 minutes to complete once you’ve gathered your materials. 2️⃣ The video isn’t about production quality. 👉 Yes, we know it’s winter. 👉 Yes, we know the fields are bare. What matters is YOU—your story, your passion, and why regenerative farming matters to you. This is your chance to highlight your story, why you want to be part of Top 50 Farmers, or your vision for the future. 3️⃣ All farmers are welcome Whether you’re just starting your regenerative journey or further along, this isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, bravery, and the unique challenges you’ve embraced to transform your business and the land. 4️⃣ Your story matters Top 50 Farmers is about celebrating pioneers like YOU—those who are learning, experimenting, and inspiring others. Every journey is unique, and your perspective can spark change for someone else. 🚜 Don’t pre-judge yourself! You’re good enough just as you are. Leave the decision to the selection committee—they want to hear from farmers at all stages and backgrounds. So, let’s do this! 📝 Submit your application today and take the next step to share your story with the world. 🌍

🍂 As November closed, we started the holiday season. These late fall and winter months mark a time of gratitude and gatherings for many. At The Nest, we are celebrating the accomplishments of our portfolio and foundation partners. We deeply appreciate the hard work and unshakable dedication of the people who power the change to our food and agriculture system. Thank you all 🍁 In our November update we cover news from Top 50 Farmers, Zymofix, Pymwymic, Marifish.Inc, biotope by VIB, and more. We also highlight the latest series from the Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast. And as winter approaches, the team at Domaine de Graux is still hard at work! 🥕 #regenag #aquaculture #impactinvesting #drivingimpact

🎙️ Protein, Protein: With a growing population, the demand for #protein keeps rising. So, what’s the lowest-impact—and potentially positive-impact—protein source? While we often discuss ruminants grazing on healthy pastures, let’s shift the focus. 💡From factory-farmed beef to pork, chicken, some fish, and soy meal, there’s a hierarchy of protein sources in terms of sustainability. Near the top of this list are bivalves, especially #mussels. With John Holmyard, CEO of Offshore Shellfish Ltd, we dive into Europe’s largest offshore mussel farm, where large quantities of mussels are grown by grazing on the abundant #plankton naturally flowing by. Interestingly, there’s so much plankton because #overfishing has depleted many fish stocks that once fed on it. 🌊 We dive in how they established the UK’s largest mussel farm, navigate regulators who often misunderstand shellfish farming (thinking it’s about hunting wild mussels), and why mussels are such a positive crop. Not only are they sustainable, but they can also help restore natural mussel #reefs- once abundant in the North Sea before bottom trawling decimated them. 🇬🇧 Finally, we explore why politics is fundamental to the business. With nearly all mussels shipped fresh to mainland Europe, Brexit has added challenges to the mix—though the UK’s low consumption of mussels makes exporting a necessity. Thank you to The Nest Family Office for supporting the Regenerative Aquaculture series. https://lnkd.in/dtAArHFd

Nominate or apply for Top 50 Farmers today! Top 50 Farmers celebrates and empowers regenerative farmers across Europe. Whether you’re a farmer or know one, this program uplifts those transforming agriculture—and inspires others to join. ✅ Just starting out? Show others that it is possible to join the journey of regenerative farming and inspire them to take the first step. ✅ Been at it for a few years? Share your experience to guide others and strengthen your farm’s visibility and connections. ✅ A leader in the field? Whether you’re a community mentor or a seasoned pioneer, expand your reach and inspire farmers across Europe by sharing your wisdom. No matter what stage you’re at, your story has the power to inspire others and grow the regenerative movement. By sharing your journey, you show what’s possible, give others the courage to take their first steps, and strengthen the community of agriculture. The fifty selected farmers also get access to: 🌾 Resources and training to strengthen their farm’s economic and ecological resilience 🔎 Increased visibility to unlock partnerships and opportunities 🤝 Community and mentoring to exchange ideas and grow together 📢 Link in comments to nominate a farmer or apply today! #Top50Farmers #RegenerativeFarming #FutureOfFood #FarmingForChange Analisa Winther Cindie Christiansen Cyrus Sutton Charles Post

👨🌾 Top 50 Farmers (T50F) is now accepting nominations for its inaugural cohort of regenerative farmers across Europe! This initiative is dedicated to recognizing farmers who are leading the charge in regenerative practices, transforming agriculture to heal the planet, and helping to build resilient communities. By putting farmers at the heart of the sustainability conversation, T50F is creating a vibrant network of role models, innovators, and change-makers. The founders of T50F, Cindie Christiansen and Analisa Winther, are on a mission to put farmers at the center of the sustainability conversation. Their vision? To build a powerful platform where regenerative farmers can share their stories, access resources, and inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders. Why nominate? Selected farmers will have the chance to: ✅ Access a powerful network of nonprofits, investors, and organizations ✅ Receive new pathways to markets, capital, and mentorship ✅ Share their stories and inspire the next generation of regenerative farmers 🌍 At The Nest, we’re proud to support this incredible initiative. Let’s put farmers back in the spotlight as the true heroes of our food systems! Nominate a farmer today, and help elevate the voices that are shaping the future of food. 🌾 Nominations are open until December 13, 2024. 👉 Nominate Now: https://lnkd.in/erV-GSCd #Top50Farmers #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFarming #FoodSystemTransformation #ClimateAction #FarmersFirst

🚀 Exciting News for N-Fix -> Zymofix! 🚀 We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve raised €2 million in seed funding! This investment, led by @High-Tech Gründerfonds with @The Nest Family Office and @VP Capital, will power our mission to transform biomass waste into high-value microorganisms, enhancing soil health, promoting eco-friendly agriculture, and reducing industrial reliance on chemicals. With this funding, we’re also launching a new chapter as N-Fix becomes Zymofix — a name that reflects our commitment to scaling sustainable microbial solutions! Learn more about our mission at our new website: Zymofix.com 🌱 Turning waste into microbial gold for a sustainable future 🌱 We’re expanding our team to support this growth and can’t wait to welcome new talent to help tackle these important challenges. Check out our current job openings in the first comment! A heartfelt thank you to all of the partners, mentors, and stakeholders who’ve supported us on this journey, including biotope by VIB, VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), VIB and Invest in Ghent. Your belief in our vision for regenerative, sustainable solutions is what drives Zymofix forward! 🌍 Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/eN-eNf2w #SustainableAgriculture #Biotechnology #CircularEconomy #GreenInnovation #Zymofix Photo: © Yann Bertrand Photography

📢Second Pymwymic Fund Oversubscribed!📢 Our food system is broken, it's the leading cause of biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and major health crises. That’s why our Healthy Food Systems Impact Fund II, now successfully closed at €71.5m (surpassing our €70m target! 👊), is dedicated to fixing it. Backed by 250+ private investors and 7 major institutions, we’re supporting AgriFood scale-ups that are transforming how we grow, distribute, and consume food. Thank you to all the people and partners that made this possible AGCO Corporation, ASR, Invest International, Invest-NL, Klaverblad Verzekeringen, Leisurelands, Oost NL, PI Impact, Goeie Grutten Impact Fonds, The Nest Family Office, Van Lanschot Kempen and VP Capital. Change starts here 👇 Read full press release here: https://lnkd.in/eE_4Kk2M #ImpactInvesting #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFood #AgriTech #HealthyFoodSystems

🍁 As the vibrant colors of autumn arrive, farmers shift focus from the high-energy days of summer harvesting to a more reflective period of gathering and planning. October brings cooler days, with fields of pumpkins, apples, and root vegetables reaching their peak. This season is also a key time for soil care and planning ahead: from planting cover crops that enrich the earth to maintaining tools and machinery, every effort made now supports a strong start for next season. Here’s to celebrating the harvest and setting the stage for a productive year ahead! ☘️ October was an energizing month with a successful edition of RFSI in Denver and an inspiring event in Belgium by Voedsel Anders. In this newsletter we cover the latest news from Propagate, ReelData AI, Buoyant Ventures, Ardo, Steward , Omnivore, Blume Equity, and more. #regenerativeagriculture #agroforestry #foodsystems #impactinvesting

Going on a hunt for edible and medicinal plants in our estate, harvesting and cooking our meals with our own fresh produce, plants and other products from the farm, and camping under the stars. You've got to admit, this team-building program sounds pretty appealing, doesn't it? It's ours, the one we organized with the Domaine de Graux and The Nest Family Office team recently. We were accompanied by the inspiring Louis De Jaeger. Clearly the kind of event that makes sense, allows us to reconnect with others and with nature. Contact us if you too would like to experience this kind of extra-ordinary day. --- Domaine de Graux is an agroecological farm. We're convinced that the future of mankind and the planet depends on a better harmony between agriculture and ecology. And we're determined to get our hands in the soil and show that this is not just a pipe dream. 🧑🏽🌾 🌿 Stay in touch! Subscribe to our Domaine de Graux Linkedin page to find out about upcoming news, events and talks related to agroecology and regenerative agriculture