How do we bring biodiversity back to the farm—and make it work for farmers and the food system at scale? Gerard has been working on exactly that question for more than 15 years. As the lead of the Food & Agriculture program at Future Up (formerly MVO Nederland), founder of Boeren Natuurlijk (Farmers Naturally), and chairman of the Dutch Food Forestry Foundation, he operates at the intersection of farmers, businesses, and system change.

Together with his team, Gerard works with more than 100 agrifood companies to help restore biodiversity in agriculture. The approach: build regenerative and nature-inclusive supply chains that actually work in practice. By connecting farmers who are adopting regenerative practices with experts, financiers, market players, and even health organisations from the cure and care sector, Gerard is helping turn ambition into action. Because the future of food isn’t just about producing more—it’s about farming in a way that restores ecosystems, supports farmers, and strengthens the health of people and planet.