Our Impact

Impact-First Approach

We support farmers who understand how farms shape their landscape and try to positively impact their ecosystems - farmers who welcome accountability and look to build business models that sustain themselves and their communities.

We invest in regenerative farmers.

Impact Framework

At Dirt Capital, we invest in opportunities that deliver across the four themes of our impact framework. We use this impact framework to consider new investments and allocate our resources.

We weigh a project's impact and financial return together, allowing us to underwrite higher-impact projects to a lower target return. We seek to achieve these outcomes across our portfolio, and each project individually does not need to address all impact outcomes.

A graphic of the 4 Impact Outcomes - Ecological Stewardship, Farmer Equity, Community Benefits, and Field-Building.

Impact Themes

  • Our investments put land on a path toward regenerative agriculture.

    We consider the impacts of our investments on farmland conservation and land health through regenerative agriculture practices.

    Through our investments, we support farmers who prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and the stewardship of the natural resources. We value stewardship in service of climate resilience.

    Outcomes we seek to advance under this impact theme:

    • Farmland Conservation

    • Land Health

    • Biodiversity

    • Water Conservation

    • Healthy Livestock Management

    • Climate Resilience

    • Renewable Energy

  • We take a strong interest in the financial well-being of our farmer partners.

    Our investments offer farmer partners a stable financial platform for their farm success.

    We look to assess how our investments provide for both asset-building and increased revenue generation. We account for our investments’ impact on helping farmers achieve long-term land security.

    Outcomes we seek to advance under this impact theme:

    • Equitable Land Access & Security

    • Farmer Wealth Building

    • Profitability, Expansion, & Diversification

    • Farmer Housing & Amenities

    • Non-Farm Revenue Diversification

  • Farmland investments can positively impact communities.

    We seek opportunities where our investments contribute to job creation, economic development, and improved local food access.

    We’re conscious of the ways agricultural investment has been inequitable and value opportunities to provide financing to under-served communities and farms that focus on meeting the needs of those communities.

    Outcomes we seek to advance under this impact theme:

    • Local Food Economies

    • Community Outreach & Engagement

    • Racial Equity

    • Farmer Networks

  • We partner to catalyze greater and more equitable farmland investment.

    Lasting impact in the farmland investment sector requires collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation.

    We strive to advance the field of farmland investment by contributing to the growth of investor networks, fostering partnerships, and sharing and replicating proven models.

    Outcomes we seek to advance under this impact theme:

    • Innovative Finance Models

    • Replicability

    • Investor Education

    • Farmer Capacity Building

    • Catalytic Partnerships

Impact Report 2014-2024

For over a decade, we've invested in the idea that good farmers are good for the land.

This report traces the results of that impact-first approach and introduces our new impact framework, a significant evolution in our approach shaped by feedback from farmers, partners, and the wider food systems community. This framework defines clear outcomes for our investments and integrates impact considerations into our processes, particularly with our new Dirt Capital 2023 Fund.

The report features inspiring interviews with our farm partners, shares important lessons learned, and showcases the diverse and significant impacts that stem from connecting farmers to land.