A new way of looking at climate solutions with Anthony MyintIn this Episode Anthony Myint shares his journey from pioneering pop-up restaurants to leading a climate-focused nonprofit transforming agriculture. He explains why consumer choice alone doesn’t change farming systems and introduces a new model: funding regenerative agriculture directly through small, scalable contributions. Through Zero Foodprint, businesses and individuals can help finance on-the-ground practices like compost application and cover cropping. The conversation r...
A new way of looking at climate solutions with Anthony Myint
In this Episode Anthony Myint shares his journey from pioneering pop-up restaurants to leading a climate-focused nonprofit transforming agriculture. He explains why consumer choice alone doesn’t change farming systems and introduces a new model: funding regenerative agriculture directly through small, scalable contributions. Through Zero Foodprint, businesses and individuals can help finance on-the-ground practices like compost application and cover cropping. The conversation reframes “farm-to-table” into “table-to-farm,” emphasizing collective action to restore soil and climate.
Our Guest: Anthony Myint is the executive director of Zero FoodPrint, a nonprofit named one of the most innovative companies in the world by Fast Company. Zero FoodPrint leads, collaborations with state agencies, local governments, and hundreds of businesses to implement impactful and validated regenerative agriculture projects. The organization has awarded over $8 million to 600 plus farm projects
Key Topics & Entities
- Zero Foodprint nonprofit model
- Regenerative agriculture practices
- Table-to-farm vs. farm-to-table
- Restaurant industry innovation (pop-ups, Mission Chinese Food)
- Climate-beneficial agriculture
- Compost application and soil carbon sequestration
- Cover crops and reduced soil disturbance
- Grant funding for farmers (up to $25,000)
- Carbon measurement and cost-effectiveness modeling
- Public-private partnerships (state, local, conservation groups)
- Consumer participation through 1% contributions
- Collective regeneration concept
- Limitations of organic market growth (1% of U.S. farmland)
- Economic barriers for farmers transitioning practices
Key Questions Answered
What is regenerative agriculture?
A system focused on improving land management through practices like compost use, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and integrating livestock, working with nature to restore soil health and sequester carbon.
Why don’t better consumer choices alone change farming?
Because farmers operate within tight financial systems driven by loans and input costs. Paying slightly more for products doesn’t provide enough capital or reduce risk for farmers to transition practices.
What is Zero Foodprint’s solution?
A funding model where businesses and consumers contribute small amounts (often 1% of sales), which are pooled and distributed as grants to farmers implementing regenerative practices.
How does the funding reach farmers?
Farmers submit simple grant requests for specific practices. Funds are allocated based on cost-effectiveness (e.g., cost per ton of carbon sequestered) and verified by local experts.
What does “table-to-farm” mean?
Instead of just sourcing from good farms, it means sending money back to farms to actively support the transition to regenerative practices across the entire system.
How can individuals participate?
By dining at participating businesses, contributing monthly donations, or supporting campaigns that direct funds to regenerative agriculture projects.
What impact has the model achieved so far?
Over $8 million has been awarded to 600+ farm projects, funding real changes like compost application and cover cropping at scale.
What is the biggest barrier to adoption?
Even small contributions (like a penny or 1%) are still a new concept, and businesses and consumers are not yet accustomed to paying directly for climate solutions.
Episode Highlights
- Anthony’s early career helped pioneer the pop-up restaurant movement, leading to Mission Chinese Food.
- A turning point came after realizing organic farming still represents only ~1% of U.S. farmland after decades.
- The failure of “vote with your dollar” thinking led to a new model focused on direct funding.
- Zero Foodprint enables consumers to participate passively—just by eating at certain restaurants.
- One restaurant group generated $650,000 for farm projects through a 1% contribution model.
- A single music tour commitment created $300,000 for regenerative agriculture.
- Grants are simple and accessible, taking farmers just 15–20 minutes to apply.
- The long-term vision mirrors recycling and renewable energy programs—small fees funding systemic change.
Resources
Resource — Zero Foodprint Website
Donate — Support Regenerative Agriculture
Apply (Farmers) — https://www.zerofoodprint.org/apply
Visit www.urbanfarm.org/ZeroFoodPrint for the show notes on this episode, and access to our full podcast library!
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