Ecosystems and Agriculture Programs

Good Ancestor is exploring new methods to make food production more sustainable, resilient, and decentralized in order to increase local autonomy and security. See also Agriculture in the AI Era

This includes sustainable farming techniques, ecosystem restoration technologies, and financial innovations. By implementing cutting-edge research, our goal is to prototype experimental techniques that increase local food system robustness to geopolitical, and climactic changes.

We do this through Environmental and Ecosystem Grants, as well as in the programs described below.

1. Regenerative Agriculture Research Farm

Our 50+ acre Vermont Research Farm focuses on innovation in sustainable food systems testing, implementing, and documenting regenerative agriculture techniques

• Launched a multi-year agroforestry trial that combines timber, food crops, and biodiversity restoration to increase land productivity while improving soil health.
  • Planted over 1,000+ trees and shrubs to study food forest layouts, carbon sequestration, growth optimization, and ecosystem restoration.
  • Developed experimental food forest models, integrating tree-based agriculture with renewable energy and smart water management.
  • Expanded polyculture trials—testing intercropping methods with nitrogen-fixing plants and dynamic accumulators to replace synthetic fertilizers.
  • Developing and refining soil and water optimization investigations, including tests of permanent soil amendments, erosion control via strategic land terracing, and sustainable passive irrigation via strategically placed ponds and channels.
• Developing and testing an innovative in-ground passive geothermal greenhouse, utilizing underground air exchange to regulate temperature naturally, and allowing growing in all four seasons without grid power. See: Geothermal Green House Prototype
  • Partnered with forward-thinking agricultural startups to test open-source precision farming tools and develop affordable, accessible solutions

2. Open-Source and Collaborative Research Partnerships

Good Ancestor is committed to making knowledge accessible to all.

• Partnered with open-source farming initiatives like Open Source Ecology to improve modular farming tools and decentralized food production systems. See: Open Source Ecology and Open Building Institute
• Executed technology trials, including testing AI-driven hydroponic growing systems and automation tools for improving efficiency in small-scale farms.
• Collaborated with regenerative agriculture experts, including researchers from Stanford, Boston University, and leading ecological institutes, to improve our methods.
• Built partnerships with regenerative agriculture leaders, including farmers, engineers, and researchers, to refine and scale sustainable food systems.
• Provided a matching grant to Hylo open source online community which has built tools for groups of regenerative agriculture farmers to share their results.
• Partnered with All-Fed - Alliance to feed people in global disasters
• Executed grant-funded research on AI-driven hydroponic technology to explore rapid plant growth methods that could improve food security.

3. Expansion of Eco-Endowment Investments and Financial Innovation

Good Ancestor is rethinking how environmental projects are funded.

• Developed a novel "Eco-Endowment" model, to accompany traditional endowments. See Why an “Eco-Endowment”, including blockchain-based resource models for long term agriculture investments and conservation sites.
• Explored strategic regenerative investments, including agroforestry, ecosystem resilience projects, and emerging carbon credit markets.
• Secured partnerships with financial and legal experts to navigate sustainable investment strategies, ensuring compliance and maximizing ecological returns.

4. Global Ecosystem Restoration and Environmental Impact

Beyond our research farm, we are actively involved in researching the highest importance ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts worldwide.

Our impact includes:

• Collaborating with global partners on Amazon Rainforest conservation, including working with satellite imagery and community groups to develop a protection strategy for the Amazon to maintain the trees most crucial to maintaining its hydrological cycle under biotic pump theory.
• Supporting coral reef and seagrass restoration projects, focusing on high-value ecosystems that are critical to carbon sequestration.
• Launching strategic intervention projects for protecting endangered ecosystems, including reforestation and soil restoration programs.
• Developing regenerative economy models following the work of groups like the Buckminster Fuller Institute, supporting grassroots ecological efforts in East Africa, India, and the Amazon.

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

Building on our momentum, Good Ancestor will:

• Expand our research farm and regenerative agriculture trials, adding new tree species, expanding greenhouse capabilities, and testing advanced soil improvement techniques.
• Launch Phase 2 of 3 of our in-earth geothermal greenhouse, designing and installing a modular roof and siding, followed by phase 3 of integrating hydropower, solar energy, and sustainable automatic heating solutions.
• Further develop open-source agriculture tools, including automation for small farms and distributed food production models.
• Strengthen global collaborations, including regenerative agriculture and ecosystem protection efforts in the North, Central, and South America.
• Advance Eco-Endowment funding models, scaling financial strategies that integrate ecological preservation with long-term sustainability.