Fractal Agriculture has received a ringing endorsement from Big Tech, bolstering its mission to scale regenerative farming. The Cisco Foundation’s Regenerative Future Fund is investing in Fractal Ag’s Farmer Agriculture Regenerative Management (FARM) Fund, an investment vehicle that provides critical equity financing for the growth of farming operations. This backing serves as a testament to Fractal Ag’s innovative approach to equity financing while signaling growing institutional demand for financial models that empower U.S. growers to overcome barriers in adopting regenerative land-use practices.
Fractal Ag believes a new model is required to drive alignment between farmers and investors, and the Cisco Foundation agrees. Led by co-founders Ben Gordon and Dr. Emma Fuller, Fractal Ag harnesses deep roots in agriculture, data science and finance to empower farmers with flexible capital. Their unique approach lets growers tap into the equity of their own land without losing control, using proceeds to invest in expansion or infrastructure, for example. In return, the capital is tied to measures like soil health and climate impact. It’s a financing solution built to align with long-term resilience, not just short-term returns.
The Cisco Foundation, the philanthropic arm of tech giant Cisco Systems, extends the company’s reach beyond networking hardware into social impact and climate action. In 2021 it pledged $100 million over 10 years to back climate solutions, splitting that commitment between nonprofit grants and early-stage venture investments. Out of that commitment grew the Regenerative Future Fund, which now focuses on regenerative economies, ecosystem restoration and climate equity. Regenerative agriculture is a core theme, with the fund channeling capital into startups and funds that can drive improvements in soil health, carbon reduction and farmer resilience.
Cisco Foundation Regenerative Future Fund Climate Investment Associate Ryan Jones posted about the investment on LinkedIn, saying, “Fractal’s model flips the script: minority equity stakes (not debt), real incentives for regenerative practices and a data-driven approach. This isn’t just about improving crop yields or sequestering CO₂ (though it’s doing that too). It’s about shifting how risk is priced, how resilience is rewarded, and how farmers access the capital they need without losing ownership or autonomy. Fractal is building the financial and data infrastructure needed for a more climate-resilient agriculture system where farmers are better off, the land is healthier, and the model actually scales.”
Consulting giant McKinsey projects that regenerative agriculture could remove up to 0.8 tons of carbon dioxide per acre each year and deliver as much as $80 billion in added value for Corn Belt farmers over the next decade. But turning that potential into reality often stalls at the farm gate, where access to capital is limited. Fractal’s model tackles this hurdle by tying investment directly to soil health and climate metrics, handing farmers the support they need to generate both climate and economic returns.
For the Cisco Foundation, the investment reflects a commitment to climate-positive innovation across its portfolio. By adding FractalAg to its roster of regenerative and agtech solutions, the foundation is signaling confidence in a scalable farmland investment model that can unlock both environmental and economic returns. Fractal Agriculture’s Ben Gordon recently spent some time with GAI News, the conversation from which can be accessed here.
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