Meridian Hosts Inaugural Field Lab at Duke Farms

In May 2024, we hosted our inaugural Systems-Based Investing Field Lab at Duke Farms in New Jersey. For the Field Lab, we brought together investors, philanthropists, systems change experts, and food and agricultural leaders from the Easter Seaboard and beyond.

The four-day convening offered a highly collaborative, co-learning experience for individuals deploying capital to transform regional food and agricultural systems. Out in the field, the group spent time meeting farmers and ranchers from Duke Farms, Cotton Cattle Farms, Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, and Wildflower Farm. Participants heard directly from them about the challenges they face and the opportunities they see.

The Field Lab was sponsored by the Doris Duke Foundation, Builders Vision, and the McKnight Foundation.

More Field Labs to Come

These multi-day, place-based, issue-based experiences apply systemic investing theory to real-world systems challenges. They draw on our 25-year history supporting systems change processes and are designed to support the growing interest in Systems-based Investing.

The Field Labs enable private wealth owners, philanthropists, and systemic investing thought leaders to meet and learn from the individuals and institutions working on the ground to drive systems change.

We have two more Field Labs on the horizon, with others in the works.

Upcoming Field Labs

• October 2024: Minneapolis, MN, USA – Diversification of Row Crop Systems in the US Midwest 
• April 2025: Maine, USA – Aquaculture, Coastal Change, Blue Economy 

If you’d like to learn more about future Field Labs, please complete this form: https://bit.ly/3V9bS5G