On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, AC and Kyle sit down to record together in person for the very first time – and for the final episode of the show.

We reflect on the full journey of ReGen Brands, from a spontaneous idea to more than 119 podcast episodes, a growing regenerative CPG community, and the launch of two non-profits dedicated to supporting regenerative brands. Along the way, we share the wins we’re most proud of, the impact the community made possible, and the lessons we learned building organizations to support the movement.

We also open up about what didn’t work. From strategy and fundraising challenges to the broader macroeconomic headwinds facing regenerative brands, we walk through the real reasons behind the decision to shut down the ReGen Brands Coalition and the ReGen Brands Institute.

Finally, we zoom out to explore the current state of regenerative CPG and where the movement might go next. From retailer incentives and path-to-purchase education to brand collaboration and the future of regenerative claims, we share our honest predictions for what it will take to unlock the next phase of growth.

Episode Highlights:

📈 How far regenerative CPG has come since 2022

🏆 The biggest wins from the ReGen Brands journey

🧩 The real reasons we’re shutting it down

📍 Where the movement stands right now

🔮 Our bold predictions for the future

Links:

ReGen Brands Podcast

ReGen Brands Coalition

ReGen Brands Institute

JellyShot

Regenerative Organic Certified®

Regenified

Land to Market

A Greener World

Soil Carbon Initiative (SCI)

Expo West (Natural Products Expo West)

Whole Foods Market

Force of Nature

Maui Nui Venison

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On this episode, we sit down with Stacy Cushenbery, Senior Manager for Global Regenerative Agriculture at Oatly, to unpack how one of the world’s most recognizable plant-based brands is tackling regeneration at scale.

We explore why Oatly chose an “equivalent acres” approach instead of chasing identity-preserved sourcing, and how that decision balances procurement flexibility with landscape-level impact. We dive into why mill partners are the hidden backbone of their program — organizing farmers, shaping agronomy plans, and making regen real on the ground.

Stacy shares the nuts and bolts of what practices Oatly is paying farmers to adopt, how much support they receive, and what the company has learned about building trust and iteration into the process. And finally, we go inside the business model — how Oatly calculated program costs down to a cost-per-liter of oat milk and embedded those expenses directly into procurement budgets.

It’s a conversation about pragmatism meeting ambition, about turning lofty sustainability goals into operational reality, and about how brands can work across systems to create genuine impact.

Episode Highlights:

🌍 Working towards system-level change in their regional supply sheds

🌾 Incentivizing regen practices in their two main sourcing regions

💡 Choosing mass balance impact over a segregated sourcing approach

🤝 Partnering with mills as the backbone of farmer engagement

🧑‍🌾 Supporting farmers with flexible, farmer-choice practice menus

🌱 Incentivizing farmers with per-acre payments for practice adoption

📈 Mapping sustainability costs down to cost per liter of oat milk

🛠 Embedding regen incentive costs into the procurement budget

📺 Educating consumers through authentic farmer storytelling

🎯 Calling for recognition of the true cost of food to drive change

Links:

Oatly

Regrow Grain Millers

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