RISE 2025: Proactive Farming, Soil Health & Biodiversity

RISE 2025

LEADERSHIP PILLAR:

Proactive Farming, Soil Health & Biodiversity

EXCLUSIVE EVENT SPONSOR: LALLEMAND PLANT CARE

WORKSHOP I: SOIL HEALTH, WATER, AND QUALITY: TECHNOLOGY MEETS TERROIR

WORKSHOP II: RISE RESULTS: HERBICIDE-FREE TRIALS AT CHIMNEY ROCK + BENEFITS OF WOOLLY & FLYING WORKERS

RISE LEADERSHIP AWARD

KEYNOTE: BUILDING COMMUNITY, FROM THE VINE UP FEATURING CHRIS RENFRO, FOUNDER OF THE TWO EIGHTY PROJECT

ASKING THE CRITICAL QUESTIONS FORUM: IS REGENERATIVE AG OUR FUTURE?

SUSTAINABLE SERVICES & TOOLS SPONSORS

MEDIA GALLERY

EXCLUSIVE EVENT SPONSOR: Lallemand Plant Care

Thank you to our exclusive event sponsor Lallemand Plant Care.

Lallemand group decided in 2006 to put its knowledge and technological assets in microbiology and fermentation for the agricultural world. And so was born the Lallemand Plant Care business unit, which has since grown significantly through the acquisition of companies specializing in plant bio protection and bio fertilization.

Workshop 1: Soil Health, Water, and Quality: Technology Meets Terroir

This workshop will elucidate the critical importance of soil health and biodiversity, beginning with Dr. Nick Madden of Vineyard Soil Technologies, and leading expert in “reading” your vineyard’s underground brain and understanding and leveraging soil analysis, providing the foundation for informed vineyard management and development. Charlie Dubbe will walkthrough how Agrology’s predictive technology takes monitoring to the next level, tracking real-time soil carbon fluxes and multiple data inputs across air, canopy, and soil – delivering actionable insights and predictive alerts for challenges from frost to heat waves to smoke taint. Eric Mayer of Napachar will share the value of flame-cap kilns to provide low-smoke and low-emissions wood waste processing AND develop biochar, offering a dual climate solution: cleanly processing pulled vines and fuel thinning while creating a powerful soil amendment that stores carbon for centuries while improving water retention and nutrient delivery.

Action Opportunities:

Develop consistent soil assessment strategies and leverage soil analysis
Implement real-time, predictive monitoring systems
Adopt management strategies that build soil health, vineyard resilience & maximize winegrape quality
Enhance water infiltration and retention through soil health
Convert pulled vines & fire fuel thinning into value-add biochar

Speakers

Nick M. Madden, Ph.D., CCA | Vineyard Soil Technologies

Dr. Nicholaus Madden is a soil scientist who started working part-time for Vineyard Soil Technologies in 2013 and joined full-time in October 2017. Nicholaus has a Bachelor of Science degree in Hydrology, a M.S. in International Development, with an emphasis in Agronomy, and a Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry. Nicholaus was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer from 1997 to 1999, and served as an Agricultural Extensionist in Honduras focusing on soil conservation. After receiving his Ph.D. in 2010, Nicholaus worked for seven years managing USAID (United States Agency for International Development) agriculture projects in the Middle East and Central Asia for UC Davis. Before joining Vineyard Soil Technologies, Nicholaus was Chief-of-Party for a USAID project in Afghanistan focused on rebuilding the Afghan agriculture extension system.

Charlie Dubbe | Head of Regenerative Partnerships at Agrology

Eric Mayer Ph.D. | Co-Founder of Napachar

Eric Mayer earned a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Stanford, where he studied fluid mechanics and hydrology and published research improving global climate simulations. After graduating and desiring to have a more immediate effect on the climate crisis, Eric went to work for LightWater, a Florida-based biotechnology company focused on developing a scalable algal bioreactor to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. However, upon learning of biochar and the simple technologies already developed for its production, Eric became convinced that biochar held more immediate promise for scalable carbon capture and storage, and Napachar was born. Today, you can find Eric and Napachar in the vineyards and forests of Napa and Sonoma, diverting pulled vines and forestry slash from burn piles to roast in their customized biochar kilns, returning the carbon to the soil.

Workshop 2: RISE Results: Herbicide-Free Trials at Chimney Rock + Benefits of Woolly & Flying Worker

During RISE 2023, Napa Green raised funds to provide matching grants for growers & vintners to implement regenerative and climate smart practices. Join Chimney Rock Winemaker Elizabeth Vianna and Walsh Vineyard Management CEO Tim Rodgers as they share insights and outcomes of trialing three herbicide-free approaches: sheep grazing, undervine mowing, and weed knife technology. Vianna will share thoughts on the importance of phasing out herbicides for soil health, terroir, and ultimately wine quality.

Leveraging nature-based solutions is critical to reducing or eliminating synthetic pesticides. Also joining the workshop is agroecologist Tommy Fenster, sharing the results of recent research on the environmental and economic benefits of vineyard sheep integration, and Dr. Matthew Johnson, Professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, sharing ongoing research on how bluebirds and owls support natural pest management.

Speakers

Elizabeth Vianna | Head Winemaker at Chimney Rock Winery

A native of São Paulo, Elizabeth Vianna spent her early years on a bi-cultural journey moving from Brazil to the United States and back again several times. These early years of travel led her to appreciate and continuously explore what connects us as humans across different cultures such as food, wine, music and art.

Vianna was named to the position of Assistant Winemaker at Chimney Rock in January 2002, and advanced to the position of Head Winemaker in April 2005. In 2011 she was promoted to General Manager of Chimney Rock, and she continues in her role as Head Winemaker at the Stags Leap District estate winery. During her tenure at Chimney Rock, she has consistently produced wines that have been highly rated among critics and highly valued among consumers.

A staunch advocate for sustainability and the legacy of the Napa Valley, she has long served as board member and twice as President of the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association. Today she serves as a board member of the Napa Valley Vintners and is also a member of the inaugural cohort of the 2021 Napa Valley Vintners Leadership Program.

As one of the few Latina winemakers in Napa Valley she is a strong advocate for women and minorities in the wine industry and formalized her mentorship with Batonnage, a non-profit organization in 2023 When she is not walking vineyards or making wine, you will find her immersed in music or hiking with her husband and Labrador Molly somewhere in the Bay Area.

Josef Shepard | Director of Field Operations Walsh Vineyards Management

Josef Shepard is a 3rd generation grape grower and Owner at Walsh Vineyards Management based in Napa, California.

Previously, Josef was a Board Member at California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

Dr. Matthew Johnson | Professor Cal Poly Humboldt

Our lab is particularly interested in the conservation of wildlife in so-called “working landscapes”, meaning farms, rangelands, and managed forests where many of the world’s people work, live, and play. These areas not only provide food and fiber to sustain human communities and economies, they can also provide homes for wildlife, sequester carbon, filter and store water, cycle key nutrients, and offer people places of refuge and inspiration. These ecosystem services, perhaps better thought of as environmental gifts, represent a reciprocal relationship between people and the rest of nature. As Aldo Leopold once wrote, “When the land does well for its owner, and the owner does well by their land – when both end up better by reason of their partnership – then we have conservation.”

Tommy Fenster | Agroecology Consulting

Since 2017 Tommy has been conducting research quantifying the potential ecosystems services provided by regenerative agriculture, with carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and the impact of regenerative management on profitability key aspects of his research. His background spans field experience from working with over 100 different farming operations to advanced modeling and producer/stakeholder engagement. Tommy earned his MS in Biology from Cal State East Bay in 2021, working as a researcher with the Ecdysis Foundation, the Oikawa Lab at Cal State East Bay, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. His research focused on regenerative management in commercial almonds orchards and using eddy covariance to compare carbon fluxes in working rangelands with and without compost applications. Tommy is currently a PhD Candidate (graduating 2025) in the Horticulture and Agronomy Program at UC Davis, working as a researcher with the Gaudin Agroecology Lab and the Ecdysis Foundation. The goal of his PhD research is to rigorously evaluate the environmental and economic outcomes of integrating sheep grazing on commercial vineyards with different management legacies along the conventional-regenerative gradient.

RISE Leadership award

Congratulations to Grgich Hills Estate for the award for Soil Health & Biodiversity leadership with their holistic approach to regenerative farming, and economic analysis showing the financial value of collaborating with nature.

Keynote: Building Community, From the Vine Up featuring Chris Renfro, Founder of The Two Eighty Project

Join visionary Chris Renfro for an inspiring exploration of how viticulture can transform communities and create pathways to wine industry inclusion. Through The Two Eighty Project, Renfro is reimagining San Francisco’s relationship with urban agriculture and wine, turning public spaces into hubs of opportunity and learning. Discover how their Viticulture Fellowship Program, in partnership with Steve Matthiasson and UC Davis, is opening doors for underrepresented communities through hands-on education and paid apprenticeships. Learn how this groundbreaking model connects sustainable farming practices with social equity, demonstrating how the wine industry can grow stronger by growing more inclusive.

Action Opportunities:

Partner with regional organizations who facilitate inclusive mentorship & training
Design inclusive recruitment strategies
Connect regenerative viticulture to community development

Speaker

Chris Renfro | Founder of The Two Eighty Project

In 2019, Christopher and Jannea founded The Two Eighty Project to increase equity and diversity within the wine industry — and access to the spaces occupied by it. They began their work at Alemany Farms, a public park in San Francisco, originally dedicated to giving inner-city individuals the space to practice urban community gardening. As the nature of the space, industry, and city have grown increasingly exclusive, it’s become increasingly urgent to reclaim and revitalize them for the local community.

The Two Eighty Project is dedicated to building a sustainable food and wine community that nourishes every member of the local economy and ecosystem.

Asking Critical Questions Forum: Is Regenerative Ag Our Future?

Join three leading voices sharing comprehensive evidence for regenerative agriculture’s ability to improve soil health, farm resilience, and store carbon. Dr. Jonathan Lundgren reveals insights from the unprecedented 1000 Farms Initiative, which has already documented regenerative outcomes across more than 1,280 farms since 2022, and shares farm-level results, including economics and net profitability, back to agricultural communities to inspire change. Dr. Kimberly Nicholas will share the results of a recently published study that quantified soil carbon sequestration rates across seven key regenerative practices in vineyards and croplands, finding that all seven practices effectively increased carbon sequestration, and that stacking these practices may further enhance carbon storage. Caine Thompson brings it home with remarkable results from Robert Hall Winery’s side-by-side trial of regenerative and conventional viticulture, from higher soil water content to dramatic reductions in peak canopy temperature to improved wine quality. Together, these leaders demonstrate how regenerative practices are yielding measurable benefits, including financial benefits.

Action Opportunities:

Design regenerative practice trials for your vineyard
Work with Napa Green’s expert team to achieve the regenerative Napa Green Vineyard certification
Monitor and measure regenerative outcomes
Track vineyard resilience and ROI indicators

Speaker

Ben Mackie | Vineyard Program Manager at Napa Green

For the past 15 years, Ben has been designing and implementing regenerative farming systems in a variety of ecosystems. A New Englander by birth, Ben fell in love with agriculture in the verdant fields of northern California in high school. Ever since, Ben has been managing farms, improving soils, and educating the next crop of environmental stewards with a holistic view of farming with natural systems. No stranger to Napa, he previously lived on Mt Veeder, where he fell in love with the oak and madrone woodlands and made friends with the local ravens. When Ben is not helping Napa’s vineyards adopt 21st century practices, he is spending time with his impressive wife and two wild children in the woods and on the water. Ben currently occupies Nisenan Territory and is a proud alumnus of Sterling College in Northeast Vermont, where he received a BA in Sustainable Agriculture.

Dr. Jonathan Lundgren | Agroecologist, Director ECDYSIS Foundation, and CEO for Blue Dasher Farm

Dr. Lundgren is an agroecologist, Executive Director of Ecdysis Foundation, and CEO for Blue Dasher Farm. Lundgren’s research and education programs are helping applied science evolve in ways that foster the evolution of a regenerative food system. He regularly interacts with the public and farmers around the world regarding ecologically intensive farming and how biodiversity fuels the resilience and productivity of an agroecosystem and rural communities.

Prof. Kimberly Nicholas | Sustainability Scientist at Lund University and Author of Under the Sky We Make

Prof. Kimberly Nicholas is a sustainability scientist at Lund University in Sweden. She has published over 55 articles on climate and sustainability in leading peer-reviewed journals; writes for publications such as Elle, The Guardian, Scientific American, and New Scientist; and is the author of UNDER THE SKY WE MAKE: How to be Human in a Warming World, and the monthly climate newsletter We Can Fix It. She gives lectures and moderates at about 75 international meetings and organizations each year across public policy, civil society, arts and culture, the wine industry, foundations, and academia. Her work has been featured by outlets including the BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, Vox, and USA Today. Born and raised on her family’s vineyard in Sonoma, California, she studied the effect of climate change on the California wine industry for her PhD in the Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources at Stanford University.

Caine Thompson | Head of Sustainability for O’Neill Vintners & Distillers and Managing Director of Robert Hall Winery

Caine Thompson, Head of Sustainability for O’Neill Vintners & Distillers and Managing Director of Robert Hall Winery has cemented his industry leadership in sustainable winegrowing and operations throughout his wine industry career.

In 2017, he joined Rabble Wine Company and as President (prior to O’Neill’s acquisition in 2021), he led the brand with the Earth in mind. Several of these sustainability programs he started continue at Rabble today through Caine’s direction at O’Neill (1% for the planet). He also initiates and implements green practices, leading the charge for sustainable certified for 200+ growers (15,000 acres) on behalf of the entire O’Neill organization. Since joining O’Neill Vintners & Distillers in October 2020, Caine has developed and launched a regenerative viticulture case study that will impact wine farming practices for years to come, which has now evolved to 1,000 in conversion to regenerative organic.

Sustainable Services & Tools sponsors

Lallemand Plant Care

Agrology

Agrology is a leading climate tech start-up and Public Benefit Corporation with a mission to help farmers adapt to and beat climate change with real-time analysis and predictive insights. The Agrology platform consists of climate and carbon monitoring systems, both based on ground-truth data and machine learning. The Agrology Climate Monitoring System delivers predictive insights and warnings, up to three days in advance, for wildfire smoke taint, extreme weather, soil conditions, pest and disease emergence, and irrigation. Agrology’s Carbon Monitoring System tracks soil carbon sequestration in real time, quickly detecting carbon loss via carbon dioxide emission events. Agrology customers include Braga Fresh, The Duckhorn Portfolio, Boisset Collection, Dana Estates, Emeritus Vineyards, Jordan Vineyards and Winery, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Langtry Farms, Lawrence Vineyards, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Renteria Vineyard Management, Signorello Estate, Silver Oak Vineyards, and numerous specialty farms. Agrology is the winner of two highly selective National Science Foundation SBIR Awards, a 2023 WINnovation Award, and is a recipient of a USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant. Agrology has offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and Sonoma, California, and can be found online at Agrology.ag.

Amos Power

Amos is becoming the benchmark in autonomous electric tractor production and sets the stage for the future of using technology and engineering across multiple platforms.

Buzz Cover Crop Seed

What’s the buzz about?

For decades we’ve known that cover crops improve soil fertility and break disease cycles. However, the list of benefits and uses just keeps growing: improved water infiltration, enhanced nutrient cycling, reduced soil compaction, better water holding capacity, weed suppression, nutrient cycling, water quality protection, excess N sequestration, erosion prevention, biodiversity enrichment, pest control, pollinator habitat support. All this and good looks too!

At Buzz Seeds we believe that all cover crop mixes should support pollinators. That’s why we design our mixes to maximize floral resources. We work closely with local natural resource experts to make sure that none of our seeds will become problem weeds.

Hope Tape

Revolutionizing agriculture with USDA-certified innovation: vine ties that feed your soil instead of poisoning it. Traditional PVC ties contaminate farmland for generations – but our breakthrough technology transforms completely into living soil. This isn’t just about replacing toxic materials – it’s about turning waste into wealth for your soil. Every tie becomes part of your land’s future fertility, creating a new standard where agricultural materials work in harmony with nature.

Experience the power of farm supplies that build soil health instead of destroying it. Your choice today shapes the legacy you leave in your soil for generations to come.

The Monarch Joint Venture

The Monarch Joint Venture is a national partnership dedicated to conserving monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Since 2008, the MJV has brought together partners from across the United States in a unified effort to conserve the monarch migration. This diverse partnership includes federal and state agencies, other nonprofits, community groups, businesses, and academic programs that work together to implement science-based conservation actions in the form of education, habitat, and science. These actions are organized in a regularly updated Monarch Conservation Implementation Framework, which serves as a framework to guide conservation planning for individuals, partners, and other interested stakeholders nationally.

Napa Recycling and Waste Services

Napa Recycling is the recycling, compost, and garbage service provider for the City of Napa and southern Napa County, as well as the operator of the award-winning Napa Recycling & Composting Facility. Recycling and composting help save resources, energy, and money. They keep materials out of the landfill, provide jobs, combat climate change, and “close the loop” through the creation of new products out of recycled materials. Through Napa’s convenient recycling, composting & waste reduction programs, we all work together towards the ultimate goal of Zero Waste.

Napa County Resource Conservation District

Napa RCD empowers the community to voluntarily conserve, protect, and restore natural resources in a landscape that supports agriculture, urban areas, and wild lands. We provide technical assistance, educational programs, monitoring programs, and funding sources to help land managers meet their conservation goals.

Scout

At Scout, our mission is to assist growers, wineries and vineyard management companies achieve their financial objectives, grow better quality fruit, and increase their yields using data harvested during the growing season. We believe in the blending of traditional farming intuition with state of the art data collection and AI assisted insights will enable sustainable, profitable, and high quality farming for generations. We are dedicated to helping our customers make the best decisions to maximize their efforts across all their planted sites while improving their bottom line.

Wild Farm Alliance

Wild Farm Alliance was established by a national group of wildlands proponents and ecological farming advocates who share a concern for the land and its wild and human inhabitants.

In the year 2000, we came together to discuss how humans don’t have the right to farm nature out of existence, but rather the responsibility to be conservationists and stewards of that wildness.

Bringing wild connectivity across farming landscapes is the work of Wild Farm Alliance.

Napa Green

Napa Green is a global leader in sustainable winegrowing, setting the highest bar for sustainability and climate action in the wine industry. Napa Green facilitates systematic soil to bottle certification for wineries and vineyards, and provides the resources, tools and connections to continuously level up leadership. In 2021, Napa Green was the first sustainable winegrowing program in the world to redevelop Vineyard certification standards to focus on climate action, regenerative carbon farming, and social equity. In 2022, Napa Green and community partners launched a first of its kind, six-event Climate & Wine Symposium (Napa THRIVES now RISE) with over 65 speakers and 600 total guests.