Dirt Smart
Dirt Smart brings bold conversations with the farmers, technologists, entrepreneurs, and change makers who are rethinking how food is grown, how land is cared for, and how technology is shaping the future of our food systems. No fluff. No jargon. Just bold ideas, hard-earned insights, and real-world stories from real people doing the work.From soil health to ag tech, climate resilience to farm entrepreneurship, we dig into the challenges and breakthroughs shaping the future of food and the planet.If you're a grower, a builder, or just someone who gives a damn — you're in the right place.
Dirt Smart
Ep. #10 Vineyard Visionary - Caine Thompson
Caine Thompson is Head of Sustainability at O'Neill Vintners and Distillers. A regenerative wine pioneer who is rewriting what sustainability looks like in viticulture, Caine is helping O'Neill steward their grapes toward a future where wine is not only world class, but also climate positive. He has become one of the most influential voices in regenerative wine. A New Zealand born viticulturist, he has also co-founded the global One Block Challenge, a program aimed at de-risking the transition to regenerative viticulture and enabling growers to implement regenerative practices in a secure way.
In this episode host Ben Bardsley and Caine dig deep into the regenerative playbook, from turning a vineyard into a living lab to measuring soil health like a balance sheet, to scaling regenerative viticulture across thousands of acres on the west coast of the United States.
Learn more about O'Neill Vintners & Distillers
Learn more about O'Neill's Sustainability Initiatives
Learn more about the One Block Challenge
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