In-Person, On-Farm
Soil & Climate Alliance
Summer Network Meeting
Rodale Institute | June 16-18, 2026
On behalf of our Soil & Climate Alliance team, thank you! THANK YOU for joining us at our Summer Meeting. We convened farmers, scientists, brands, funders, and supply chain leaders who are actively shaping the future of food and farming through collaboration, innovation, and action. We built strategy, strengthened relationships, and aligned on what’s needed to scale regeneration across regions, supply chains, and communities.
We gathered in Pennsylvania for our 2026 Summer Network Meeting: a three-day, in-person convening grounded in soil health science and designed to accelerate systems alignment across the regenerative landscape.
This year, we met at the intersection of long-term organic research and the next phase of regenerative market development. Together, farmers, brands, certifiers, researchers, investors, and supply-chain leaders deepened shared understanding, strengthened cross-sector relationships, and advanced the practical collaboration required to scale regenerative outcomes with integrity.
Meeting Materials
Meeting Report (coming soon)
Photo Gallery (NEW!)
Attendee Photo Gallery (thanks for making this, Robbe!)
Speaker Slide Decks
Adam Chappell’s Presentation:
thank you to our meeting sponsors!
Quick Facts
📅 June 16–18, 2026
📍 Day 1: Rodale Institute | 611 Siegfriedale Road, Kutztown, PA 19530
🏨 Days 2–3: Americus Hotel | 555 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101
✈️ Closest Airport: Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
🚗 Transportation: Carpooling coordinated by SCA (no coach bus this year)
👕 Dress Code: Farm casual on June 16; business casual June 17–18
📞 Event Contact: Justine Ghai | 724-880-6533
Farm Field Day | June 16
🌿 Rodale Institute Field Day | Kutztown, PA
We will kick off the Summer ’26 Network Meeting with a full-day immersion at Rodale Institute — one of the most influential centers of organic and regenerative agricultural research in the world.
Through field tours and facilitated dialogue with researchers and practitioners, participants will explore long-term trials, soil health innovations, and the evolving science connecting farming practices to measurable outcomes. Meals throughout the day will be shared on the farm, offering a true farm-to-table experience that reflects the systems we are working to strengthen.
Logistics note:The field day begins bright and early on June 16. We strongly recommend arriving on June 15 to participate fully and minimize travel stress.
What to Bring for the Field Day
Long pants
Closed-toe shoes
Hat
Sunscreen
Reusable water bottle
Light rain layer (recommended)
Strategy, Alignment & Systems Collaboration | June 17-18
🌿 Americus Hotel | Allentown, PA
Following our on-farm immersion at Rodale Institute, the conversation shifts from field-level insight to the systems, markets, and partnerships shaping the future of regenerative agriculture.
Over the course of Wednesday (full day) and Thursday (half day), we will engage in cross-sector learning sessions, collaborative dialogue, and interactive working sessions focused on the real-world challenges and opportunities facing regenerative agriculture today. Together, we’ll explore farmer economics, supply-chain coordination, verification systems, regional infrastructure, policy opportunities, market development, and the growing role of data, nutrition, and consumer storytelling in accelerating regenerative adoption.
Wednesday, June 17 will focus on practical realities and emerging pathways for regenerative agriculture across the value chain. Through conversations with farmers, brands, nonprofits, researchers, and market leaders, participants will examine what it takes to build markets farmers can trust, strengthen regional supply chains, improve regenerative sourcing systems, and unlock new commercial opportunities. The day will also include interactive working sessions designed to move beyond discussion and into collaborative problem-solving around Delta Regen Rice+, Midwest grains, identity-preserved markets, and resilient supply systems.
On Wednesday evening, we will return to Rodale Institute for a shared farm-to-table dinner on the farm, creating space for continued conversation, relationship-building, and reflection in the living systems that ground this work.
Thursday, June 18 will focus on policy pathways, farmer viability, and systems-level thinking for the future of regenerative agriculture. Together, we’ll examine the structural barriers limiting regenerative transition, explore state and federal opportunities shaping the landscape ahead, and engage in collaborative dialogue around what must change to support resilient farms, functioning markets, and long-term regenerative outcomes.
Together, these sessions are designed to move from insight to coordinated action —> strengthening the relationships, infrastructure, and shared understanding needed to scale regenerative agriculture with integrity, practicality, and measurable impact.
Summer Speakers
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Ayesha Ali
InCommon Group
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Christa Barfield
FarmerJawn
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Adam Chappell
Chappell Farm
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Andrea Chu
Vital Farms
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Dr. Saurav Das
Rodale Institute
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Kristen Efurd
Soil & Climate Initiative
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Lael Gerhart
Frog Hollow Farm
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Deb Harrison
StarWalker Organic Farms®
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Taylor Herren
Soil & Climate Initiative
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Sherry Hess
The Flavor Remedy
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Jessica Hulse Dillon
Soil & Climate Alliance
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Joni Kindwall-Moore
The Ryzosphere
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Alli Koehle
Planet FWD
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Emily Lafferty
Seven Sundays
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Gabrielle Lanzoni
Lanzo
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Alania Lundquist
Regenerative Organic Alliance
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Julia Mande
Project Biome
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Cameron Miller
Non-GMO Project
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Shelly Mikel
Applegate
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Emily Moose
A Greener World
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Catherine Peebles
Rodale Institute
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Dr. Andrew Smith
Rodale Institute
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Jessica Student
Edacious
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Nan Swift
R Street Institute
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Dr. Ricky Tegtmeier
Rodale Institute
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Audrey Tran Lam
University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy & Environmental Education
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Chris Wiegert
Healthy Food Ingredients
Hotel Accommodations
Our host hotel is the historic Americus Hotel in downtown Allentown, PA. All learning and working sessions (June 17–18) will take place on-site at the Americus, making it the central hub for programming, informal conversations, and networking.
Recommended travel dates:
Arrive: Monday, June 15 (to be ready for the early field day on June 16)
Depart: Thursday, June 18 (after the half-day close)
Travel + Transportation
Flying In
Allentown, Pennsylvania is accessible from several major airports, offering flexibility depending on your travel origin and schedule.
🌾Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
Approximately 5 miles from the Americus Hotel (10-minute drive).
🌾Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Approximately 70 miles (about 1 hour 15 minutes by car).
🌾Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Approximately 80 miles (about 1 hour 20 minutes by car).
When selecting flights, we recommend arriving on Monday, June 15 to ensure you are ready for the early field day departure to Rodale Institute on the morning of June 16.
Rental Cars (Recommended)
For this year’s gathering, renting a car is strongly encouraged. Because our program includes on-farm programming at Rodale Institute (approximately 30 minutes from the hotel), rental cars provide the greatest flexibility and reliability for:
🌾Travel between airport and hotel
🌾Transportation to and from Rodale Institute
🌾Independent travel scheduling
🌾Exploring the surrounding region if desired
While we will help facilitate informal carpool coordination closer to the event, securing a rental car ensures autonomy and reduces logistical constraints.
For meeting questions, contact any member of our team:
Jessica Hulse Dillon, Senior Director: jhulsedillon@soilclimatealliance.org
Justine Ghai, Program Manager: jghai@soilclimatealliance.org