What is the competition about?
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We’re passionate about regenerating soils and improving habitats through innovative approaches to profitable small-scale agriculture that feed people locally with incredible food. We also acknowledge that whilst we need a lot more entrepreneurial folks getting started with progressive methods of production, access to land and investment capital are extremely limiting factors here in Europe.
Because we all see the pressing need to catalyse change regarding farming and food, we have teamed up to create an initial €100,000 fund to help kick-start up to four new projects in Europe. |
The competition is open to all to apply, and has been designed in a way to benefit all those who put in the effort to develop their property design and business plans regardless of whether they are selected for funding.
Applicants should read this information very carefully, and consider if their visions are aligned with what we are offering and will meet the basic criteria outlined below. Further resources are provided below to assist everyone in their preparations. All projects will be considered, but should fit within the framework and tenets described in the video below; |
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
How does it all work?
For applicant’s projects to be considered they need to complete a coherent land and business plan within the given timeframe, and upload their application as a .pdf file here. After initial screening these documents will be available here for public viewing and feedback. Richard Perkins will be scrutinising all entrants’ work; selecting successful projects and allocating funding limits in collaboration with the team at Ecosia.
The pool of €100,000 will be allocated as we see fit, and may go solely to 1 project or to a maximum of 4 projects. The capital we invest in you needs to be returned within 3 years. In addition we are asking for your proposal of a fair revenue share over the following 3 years (to be determined upon finalisation of successful funding). You should decide what this looks like to you and design it into your plan. The aim is that revenue is generated to create a larger funding pot for future competitions.
Your business planning will need to reflect and account for this, as the aim is to create a growing network and pot of start up capital to keep funding more enterprise start-ups, possibly spreading outside of Europe too. This is the first step of what could become a bigger project if it is successful.
Please consider the following conditions carefully;
The pool of €100,000 will be allocated as we see fit, and may go solely to 1 project or to a maximum of 4 projects. The capital we invest in you needs to be returned within 3 years. In addition we are asking for your proposal of a fair revenue share over the following 3 years (to be determined upon finalisation of successful funding). You should decide what this looks like to you and design it into your plan. The aim is that revenue is generated to create a larger funding pot for future competitions.
Your business planning will need to reflect and account for this, as the aim is to create a growing network and pot of start up capital to keep funding more enterprise start-ups, possibly spreading outside of Europe too. This is the first step of what could become a bigger project if it is successful.
Please consider the following conditions carefully;
- The competition is limited to within Europe only at this time.
- €100,000 can be allocated to 1-4 projects in the manner we feel is of most benefit.
- Applicants must develop their Holistic Context, A Property Design with accompanying mapping and documents, a document detailing existing/ proposed sales channels, assumptions for cost and price estimates, strategy for other funding sources and Business Plan detailing cash flow over the next 6 years. You may also submit an accompanying short video introducing yourself and your farm.
- Applicants are encouraged to look deeply at other people's applications. The aim is to get it your proposal out and refine it over time. Perfectionism goes against creativity and innovation. We judge your plan only at the closing date, and value the refinements you make based on the feedback you receive.
- Applicants must clearly state the exact amount of capital investment required (between €25,000 and €100,000) and detail how this will be utilised and returned. (We are seeking projects we believe will be successful, the capital investment amount does not affect our decision making) The capital we invest in you needs to be returned within 3 years. In addition we are asking for your proposal of a fair revenue share over the following 3 years (to be determined upon finalisation of successful funding). You should decide what this looks like to you and design it into your plan. The aim is that revenue is generated; you are 'paying it forward' to the next generation, as the funding pot grows.
- PLEASE NOTE that this may represent a higher cost than a conventional loan. You must decide if it is a good option for you. Unlike a bank, however, we do not ask for any securities. It is a truly entrepreneurial involvement and in reality is more like equity. We provide more than finance, through way of public promotion and direct mentoring from Richard. We are investing in a brighter future, and the capital gain will fund others who are in your shoes currently. We think that's an awesome thing.
- We are ideally looking for people who have secured land with concrete plans for it. If you are in the process of acquiring land and have a business plan for it, do apply and make a separate note of it. If the plan is convincing, we will see whether we can help you to secure financing for the land as well.
- The definition of ‘Regenerative Agriculture’ looks different to different people; use the guidelines outlined in the video above and think ‘does this build soil?’ as a bottom line.
- Capital can be used to kick-start an entire project, or to diversify an existing farm. The revenue share returned will be based on the enterprises the capital is funding, with particulars to be finalised upon successful funding.
- All Applicants agree to have their work posted online after successful screening for public viewing and feedback.
- Applicants may post their draft work at any time after the competition starts and keep working on it over time; what is presented upon the closing date is what will be considered. (We do encourage you to seek external critique and input for your benefit).
- Richard Perkins will mentor successful applicants with a site visit during the winter/ spring, then throughout the first year via monthly Skype calls and possible site visits.
- Applicants must be willing to open their site to the public at some time, such as running open days (for example).
- Applicants must be willing to have their work documented and featured through blog/ vlog/ social media channels during the 6-year engagement period. (These events are partly about promoting and monitoring our program, as well as good publicity for the successful applicants).
- In the spirit of this collaboration, applicants should also be prepared to invest some time in the future to share their knowledge and experiences with future waves of incubators, to be decided.
Competition Dates and Deadline
The competition opens 15th September 2018. The deadline is 15th December 2018. You have 3 months to create a solid plan. The winners will be publicly announced by 17th January 2019. We hope to enable the successful person(s) to plan for the 2019 production season.
This competition is essentially for start-up equity to enable folks who may not necessarily have the financial means to secure it otherwise. We are open to all applications, but bear in mind the return of the capital investment within 3 years plus your determined fair revenue share over the following 3 years is intended to generate revenue to ‘pay it forward’ to others in similar situations. We will be scrutinising business plans and cash flow projections very carefully, so take your time and plan well! Be open and responsive to feedback from us and the public, people will offer insight and advise for your benefit.
Regardless of whether you are selected, we have designed the competition to be a beneficial experience for all who wish to enter. Screened applications will be put online for public viewing and feedback and this is of great value in itself. As Richard always says, “success is all in the back end; the decisions and planning.” If you’re seriously wanting to start-up such an enterprise, you need to do this work, and to have critique and feedback is enormously beneficial.
Summary of submission content;
This competition is essentially for start-up equity to enable folks who may not necessarily have the financial means to secure it otherwise. We are open to all applications, but bear in mind the return of the capital investment within 3 years plus your determined fair revenue share over the following 3 years is intended to generate revenue to ‘pay it forward’ to others in similar situations. We will be scrutinising business plans and cash flow projections very carefully, so take your time and plan well! Be open and responsive to feedback from us and the public, people will offer insight and advise for your benefit.
Regardless of whether you are selected, we have designed the competition to be a beneficial experience for all who wish to enter. Screened applications will be put online for public viewing and feedback and this is of great value in itself. As Richard always says, “success is all in the back end; the decisions and planning.” If you’re seriously wanting to start-up such an enterprise, you need to do this work, and to have critique and feedback is enormously beneficial.
Summary of submission content;
- Your Holistic Context.
- Your Property Design with accompanying mapping and documents,
- Document detailing existing/ potential sales channels, assumptions for cost and price estimates, strategy for other funding sources.
- Business Plan detailing cash flow over the next 6 years.
- You may also submit an accompanying short video introducing yourself and your farm.
Some resources from Richard to help orientate you;
| Writing Your Holistic Context (pdf) |
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Why are we doing this?
We believe the world needs many more farmers; farmers who care for the soil, for habitats, for the future of their communities resource bases and the health of our children and grandchildren. We need many more innovative young people getting into agriculture, and we need to return the dignity to farming as a profession. Globally, the number of people going into agriculture has been in decline for decades, and we don’t like where that leaves us now or in the future. We have all dedicated our lives to benefitting others through our work, and if this project can help facilitate others getting started in intelligent well planned ways, then it will make us very happy.
Thank you for reading this so carefully. We look forward to see the creativity unfold and look forward to working with some of you in the next years.
Thank you for reading this so carefully. We look forward to see the creativity unfold and look forward to working with some of you in the next years.
Join our Online Training Intensive
With over 80 hrs of unseen and detailed video at the farm and in training, this is the most comprehensive online training run by a successful small farm by an experienced designer and educator available in this field. Study at your own pace in your own home with innovative farmer Richard Perkins. What makes this course unique is the combination of our wealth of design experience, our skill as educators and the fact we farm full time for a living.
We have crafted this training specifically for those interested in pursuing profitable and diverse small scale regenerative agriculture. Available as a month-by-month subscription that you can end whenever you like, this is also the best value training of it's kind you'll find out there. Find more detailed info https://bit.ly/2iQV7uY
The Full Course contains all the same video content as the Basic Course, but has additional Spreadsheets, Peer-to-Peer support, other downloads and monthly Q & A with Richard. You can also input on future course content.
We have crafted this training specifically for those interested in pursuing profitable and diverse small scale regenerative agriculture. Available as a month-by-month subscription that you can end whenever you like, this is also the best value training of it's kind you'll find out there. Find more detailed info https://bit.ly/2iQV7uY
The Full Course contains all the same video content as the Basic Course, but has additional Spreadsheets, Peer-to-Peer support, other downloads and monthly Q & A with Richard. You can also input on future course content.
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Some further inspiration;
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