You Are What Your Food Ate ๐พ๐
The science behind nutrient density and why not all food is created equal.
The phrase โyou are what you eatโ is only half the storyโฆ As the book What Your Food Ate makes clear, a more accurate version might be: โyou are what your food ate.โ The book dives into a growing body of research showing that the nutrient density of our food, everything from simple salad greens to a prime ribeye cut, is directly affected by the health of the soil it originally came from and the systems used to grow it. And when these soils are depleted, crops and livestock may still look the same to the naked eye, but their nutritional value quietly declines, which ultimately hinders our own bodyโs nutrient absorption and our long-term health.
This is one of the strongest arguments for why we need to continue innovating and scaling regenerative agricultural practices across our US Food & Ag systems. As such, we hosted a webinar with the authors of What Your Food Ate, David Montgomery & Anne Bikle, and Eric Smith, the Founder & CEO of Edacious (a Trailhead portfolio company) to explore this science further.
๐ Watch the recording here! ๐
In this webinar, youโll see the science explained in an easy-to-digest manner (pun intended!) and then hear from Edacious, who is running lab tests to show the nutrient density of our everyday foods. Edacious is helping quantify what What Your Food Ate argues: that food quality isnโt just about fancy labels or shiny appearances, itโs about measurable nutritional outcomes. Their work brings data and transparency to a question most consumers have never been equipped to ask.
Together, the science and the testing point to a simple but powerful shift in perspective and consumer decision-making: food is no longer just about calories and fuel, rather itโs a reflection of an entire ecosystem which directly affects our long-term health. And if we care about our own health and the health of our families, it may be worth asking a deeper question the next time we shop or eat: where did this food really come from, and what was it raised on?
One of the many great slides from the webinar, highlighting how disease types (infections vs. immune) have shifted over the last 70 years. Anne & David explain in microbial-level detail why exactly weโre seeing this, and how we can fix it.
Trailhead News
Pete spoke at the Food Is Health conference in Nashville and the American Regeneration conference in Bandera, TX, alongside RFK Jr.
Check out the panelist pic below! Pete discussed the market for regenerative agriculture, its potential to improve US farmer profits $25-$50bln per year, and the important tipping point weโre at for the transition to accelerate.
๏ปฟ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโ๏ปฟ๏ปฟโโ๏ปฟโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโ๏ปฟโโโโโโ๏ปฟโ๏ปฟโโโโโโโโโโโNick spoke at Why Regenerative in NYC about how โRegen Ag needs more durable buyers, not more believers.โ
He highlighted common failure modes/archetypes of AgTech companies as it relates to their misread of ultimate buyers and further related everything to the buyer types that exist in the regenerative food/agriculture system.
Spoiler: Fundamental unit economics still matter ,and durable demand is more important than distorted temporary demand from policy, corporate mandates, and false buyer signals.
In reponse to this recent Pitchbook Article discussing AgTech VC, Nick rebutted with his notorious dry-humor paired with expert insight to further explain why many investment managers have struggled to invest in early-stage AgTech, and why Trailhead is still extremely well-positioned (need further proof? See the PortCo news below).
Mark was featured in this article discussing how the Iran war is putting Americaโs food supply at risk. Mark is calling out how โThis is a wakeup call about our vulnerability to supply chain disruptions.โ Unfortunately the US Food & Ag system is overly dependent on globally sourced inputs, and farmers are currently facing the worst of it, before we consumers see it trickle down to us in the form of ever-increasing grocery prices, food shortages, and more.
Portfolio Companies in the News
Our portfolio companies are continuing to make significant strides from both a financial and environmental-impact standpoint, which are increasingly being recognized in the news.
โCamoAg reaches profitability with ag sales intel platform as Corbett Kull builds LinkedIn for farmingโ - the headline speaks for itself! ๐ Check out this great article from AgFunder featuring Camo Agโฆ who on that note, also just launched a new app thatโs compatible with CarPlay, which helps advance agribusiness info for Field teams.
HowGood was featured in this โFood Ingredients Firstโ article as a key solution provider for companies that are navigating how to purchase cleaner, healthier ingredients in the era of changing consumer demand, while also working towards a sustainable, more environmentally friendly supply chain. This is a great Q&A feature with HowGoodโs Director of Growth & Innovation, so have a look!
Crop Diagnostix has a great feature in AgFunder, which highlights their RNA-based crop health platform that detects plant stress weeks before visible symptoms appear, marking a shift from reactive to predictive agronomy. Have a read to better understand RNA sequencing (already a billion-dollar industry) and how it fits into agriculture.
Avalo and FarmRaise announced a partnership to support the scaling of Avaloโs cotton innovation program. FarmRaise is helping provide structured field-level data from distributed operations, which Avalo can then use in their gene-editing model to ultimately breed more sustainable and lower-input (reduced water and fertilizer requirements) crops.
Funga was featured in The Guardian. Itโs not often that a company gets featured by The Guardian and comes out more heroic than beforeโฆ but given Fungaโs rock-solid team, business model, and feel-good mission, they had an exception review!
TerraBlaster is racing toward a late-2026 launch with a tractor-mounted sensor that can map soilโs NPK level in real time at tractor-speed, promising to replace any guesswork and wasted fertilizer with precise, on-the-go decisions that could transform farm economics and sustainability.
Edacious has teamed up with the Nutrient Density Initiative (NDI), bringing on NDIโs 50+ regenerative food company & farmers to supply samples for the Edacious lab, ultimately to showcase how food production practices influence the nutrient density of foods.
Mad Capital argued that โyou canโt have mission without marginโ in this great article, which we wholeheartedly agree with. Read as Mad Capitalโs CEO does a Q&A with AgFunder.
