Rebuilding the food system: David Leon on Soil, Story, & “Ecological” Investing

David Leon—former co-founder of Farmer’s Footprint and Principal at Esso Partners—joins us to unpack a bold, systems-level approach to transforming our broken food system. Drawing on deep experience in regenerative agriculture and finance, David explains how ecological investing can unlock more than just profit—it can regenerate soil, ecosystems, and communities. This episode explores why the food system isn’t failing—it’s simply doing what it was designed to do—and how we can redesign it by aligning capital with land stewardship, local resilience, and long-term impact. We discuss real barriers and solutions across the supply chain, from farm gate to investment fund. If you're working at the intersection of sustainability, agriculture, and finance, this conversation offers rich insights, fresh metaphors, and practical wisdom for driving meaningful change. Perfect for climate-minded business leaders, investors, and founders navigating the future of food, finance, and planetary health. ⏱ Episode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 02:44 – Welcoming David Leon 03:15 – Why Food is a Mirror of the Earth 04:41 – The Story Behind a Cantaloupe 08:23 – The Economics of Industrial Agriculture 12:19 – Understanding Capital in Agriculture 18:09 – Rethinking Investment Structures 20:42 – Building Empathy Across the Value Chain 21:45 – Where the Work Is Happening 26:50 – Stacking Capital to Support Whole Systems 30:22 – A Vision for Decentralized, Resilient Food Systems 35:29 – Composting the Old System, Not Burning It Down 44:52 – Final Takeaway: Stay Curious To learn more from David Leon, contact him at [email protected] If you’re a mission-driven org looking to optimize your internal function and grow your impact, learn more about Still Point Insight at StillPointInsight.com #RegenerativeAgriculture #ImpactInvesting #FoodSystemChange #SoilHealth #SustainableFinance #ClimateLeadership #EcologicalEconomics #SystemsThinking