Rhode to Regenerative

From Forest to Sea

May 19-20, 2025 | Monday - Tuesday

Join us to discuss agroforestry, ocean farming, and land-to-sea connection at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. Join us for two days of conversation and collaboration exploring the future of land and sea stewardship. We'll spotlight ocean farming and its vital connection to terrestrial agriculture, examining how forests, farms, and coastal systems interact through shared watersheds. From the establishment of silvopasture in the Northeast to innovations in regenerative aquaculture, farmers, funders, technical service providers, researchers, and policymakers will come together to begin a dialogue that informs and supports these interconnected efforts.

Farmers Tix - 90% discount

URI Students & Faculty - Free!

Interested in presenting a poster?

Join us at the University of Rhode Island (URI), an R1 Research University recognized for its cutting-edge research and commitment to sustainability. With strong programs in environmental science, marine biology, and sustainable agriculture, URI provides the perfect setting to explore the connections between agroforestry and aquaculture.

  • 401 Oysters, Advancing Eco Agriculture, African Alliance RI, Agroforestry Partners, Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund, Ashawaug Farm, Berkshire Agricultural Fund, Blue Acres Aquaculture, Breadtree Farms, Brown University Library, Contour Lines Corp, Conservation Resource Partners, Eating with the Ecosystem, Edmonds College, Edge Perma, ecoRI News, Fidelity, FORA, FPAC-NRCS, RI, Fractal Ag, Furman University, Girls Leadership Collaborative, Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, Interlace Commons, Johnson & Wales University, Matunuck Oyster Bar & Farm, Maine Farm & Sea Coop, Metcalf Institute, MESM Program, Mindful Cooperative Inc, Mohegan Tribe, Moonstone Land and Cattle, Moonstone Oyster Farm, NOAA, North Star Shellfish Company, Ocean Hour Farm, Potter Hill Farm, Propagate, Rhody Wild Sea Gardens, RI Agriculture and Food Systems Fellowship, RI Department of Environmental Management, RI Food Policy Council, RI Sea Grant, Roch's Fresh Foods, Roots2Empower, SAS Farm, South County Environmental, Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, Southern Thyme Cattle Co, Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, Sunset Farm, Sweet & Salty Farm, Terranova Farms, Morrone Legal, TEST, The Farmers Land Trust, The Farmstead, The Model Organic Farm Foundation DBA McEnroe Organic Farm, The Nature Conservancy, The Trustees of Reservations, TNT Farms, Trees for Graziers, UMass Boston, URI, USDA Conservationist & President of RI Association of Conservation Districts, USDA FSA, Violet's Village, Watershed Watch, Wayward Farm, Whalers Brewery, Wild Harmony, Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Yale University + more.

SPEAKERS

Meg Giroux

Executive Director, Interlace Commons

Cassius Spears Sr.

Farmer & Policy Advisor, Ashawaug Farm

Marc Parlange

President, University of Rhode Island

Sally McGee

Director, Climate and Strategic Initiatives, The Nature Conservancy

AGENDA

Monday, May 19

  • Registration & coffee

  • Speakers: Marc Parlange (URI), Mary Parlange (URI), Cortlandt Meyerson (Why Regenerative)

  • Speakers: Rachel Sayet (Mohegan Tribe / Umass Boston)

  • Speaker:  Sara Wuerstle (Ocean Hour Farm)

  • Speaker: Moderator: Gina Fuller, (Southern Rhode Conservation District), Maria Peterson (University of Rhode Island), Oliver Dixon (Blue Acres Aquaculture) Brian Pinsky (401 Oysters), Coleman Replogle, (URI Peckham Farm)

    The Blue-Green synergies panel will be focusing on the connections between upland farming and ocean farming, how what we do on land affects our coastal waters, and how by-products of ocean farming can be used in upland farming.

  •  Greta Bolinger (Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership), Perry Raso (Matunuck Oyster Bar & Farm), Mick Chivers (North Star Shellfish Company), Cindy West (Moonstone Oyster Farm)

  • Speakers: John Quinn (Furman University), Harry Greene (Propagate Ag), Meg Giroux (Interlace Commons ), Abby DeVries (Ocean Hour Farm)

  • SESSION 1: Finding Demand

    Speakers: Oliver Dixon (Blue Acres Kelp Farm) Brian Pinsky (401 Oysters), Zach Roch (Roch’s Market), Doug Clopp (Maine Farm & Sea Coop)

    As regenerative ocean farming gains traction for its environmental and economic benefits, producers face a key challenge—expanding demand for their products. From kelp to shellfish, finding reliable markets, scaling distribution, and educating consumers are critical to making ocean farming financially sustainable This breakout session will bring together industry experts to explore market opportunities, supply chain challenges, and strategies for growing consumer demand.

    SESSION 2: Multifunctional Agroforestry

    Speakers: Ethan Farrell, (Sunset Farm), Harry Greene (Propagate Ag)

    Agroforestry is more than just a farming practice—it can serve as a model for integrating food production with environmental stewardship, community engagement, and economic diversification. This breakout session will explore how farms can generate revenue beyond crop yields by offering education programs, agrotourism experiences, and ecosystem services like conservation and carbon sequestration. Panelists will discuss successful business models, funding opportunities, and strategies for communicating the value of agroforestry to consumers, policymakers, and investors. 

  • Speaker: Sally McGee (The Nature Conservancy)

  • Speaker: Ben Coerper (Wild Harmony Farm)

  • Speaker: David Weisberger (URI), Ian McSweeney (Farmers Land Trust), Ivan Cindrich (Wayward Farm), Stanton Terranova (Terranova Farms)

    Cooperatives and nonprofit Farmland Commons can offer a powerful model for farmers and ocean growers to share equipment, knowledge, and capital—reducing costs, mitigating risks, and fostering resilient food systems. This panel will explore how regenerative agriculture and ocean farming communities can leverage cooperatives to scale their impact, access funding, and navigate market challenges. Panelists, including cooperative and nonprofit Farmland Commons organizers, farmers, and policy experts, will discuss successful models, common obstacles, and strategies for building cooperative networks that support both land-based and ocean-based regenerative practices. 

  • Speaker: Kelsey Jensen (The Soil Inventory Project)

  • Speaker: Cortlandt Meyerson (Why Regenerative)

    • Local renowned beer

    • Oyster & kelp tasting

    • Giant jenga

    • Corn hole

    • Music

*subject to change*

Tuesday, May 20

  • Field Demos with: Tom Mills (TreePro), Kelsey Jenson, (The Soil Inventory Project), Jason Parent (URI)

  • Coffee
    Poster Display

  • Speakers: Cortlandt Meyerson (Why Regenerative)

  • Speakers: Dawn Spears and Cassius Spears (Narragansett Tribe)

  • Speakers: Mary Parlange (URI), Anjali Gordon (URI), Tarshire Battle (Roots2Empower), Patrick Baur (URI), Nessa Richman (RI Food Policy Council / URI FAVS), Heather Angel (Pequot Health Care)

    Food justice is the concept that all people have the right to healthy, nutritious food. Food sovereignty means that communities are able to define and control their own food systems. This panel brings together advocates, policy makers and researchers to discuss systemic barriers in our current food system, and real-world examples of how communities can reclaim traditional and cultural farming knowledge, rebuild local food systems, and assert their rights to land and capital.

  • Speakers: David Gregg (Rhode Island Natural History Survey), Coleen Suckling (URI), Shelley Katz (Advancing Eco Agriculture)

    This panel will explore practices and tools that support biodiversity-driven farming, including semi-managed biological control systems— pollinator support, living walls, and sea urchin integration to naturally regulate pests and improve ecosystem health. Panelists will discuss real-world examples of how biodiversity can be a working tool in regenerative systems and strategies for accessing funding and technical support.

  • Try products from SIMPLi, Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed, Simple Mills, Sol Simple, Artisan Tropic, and more!

    Menu:

    Caesar Salad
    Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
    Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
    Pan Roasted Cod
    Mushroom Linguini
    Rice with Carrots & Celery
    Quinoa
    Mexican Black Bean Salad

  • Speakers: Andrew Tuttle & Mary Marshall (Edge Perma)

  • Speakers: Jason Parent (URI)

  • Speakers: : Don Ruggieri (URI), Melissa Hayden (USDA), Brett Still (Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association)

    Healthy rivers are essential for both agricultural and coastal ecosystems, yet farm runoff can threaten water quality, fisheries, and marine habitats. This panel will explore how investing in riparian buffers—vegetated areas along waterways—can serve as a natural solution for filtering pollutants, stabilizing shorelines, and protecting coastal ecosystems from excess nutrients and sedimentation. Experts discuss successful riparian restoration projects, funding opportunities, and strategies for scaling solutions.

  • Tee Jay Beaudreau (RI DEM), Tim Schartner (Schartner Farms)

  • Speakers: Brett Hundley (Agroforestry Partners), Ben Crocket (Berkshire Agricultural Ventures), Ken Ayars, (RI Department of Environmental Management), Paul Young (Conservation Resource Partners)

  • Speaker: Austin Unhruh (Trees for Graziers)

    Adoption rates of silvopasture are very low, and very spread throughout the country, mostly among the most passionate of early adopters. Yet Trees For Graziers has planted silvopasture on over 50 farms within their 2-hour radius, showing that high densities of adoption are very possible, if establishing the trees is made as easy as possible for farmers. Join to learn how you can spark silvopasture in your region as well.

  • Speakers: Doug Clopp (Main Farm & Sea Coop), Josh Dunlap, (Whalers Brewing Company) Perry Raso, (Matunuck Oyster Bar) Zach Roch, (Roch’s Foods)

Silvopasture Project

We'‘re helping plant a silvopasture on a formerly degraded sod farm at the URI. We’ve got nearly three hundred saplings planted with the help of the URI and Rhode Island community. With hundreds more saplings growing in a greenhouse for a spring planting, we’re just getting started! Join us at the Rhode to Regenerative conference to visit the project site and learn how to implement a silvopasture.

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Parking (free!): Fine Arts Parking Lot