Check Out Laura Zaspel’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Zaspel.

Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Laura Zaspel: When I was 21, I was in a PhD program for cognitive science, and I went into apathy. I thought, we’ve pushed the planet too far. There’s no coming back. But then I had a realization—there’s always something that can be done about it, so I better do something about it.

I ended up with a master’s in cognitive science from the University of Denver and another in environmental policy and management. I went right to work out of graduate school for the U.S. Department of Energy. My job in my early 20s was to create markets for renewable energy and alternative fuels. I came up through this viewpoint of taking these concepts that will improve the planet and figuring out how to build a marketplace around them.

Eventually, I bought a piece of commercial real estate and went into the food industry. I met and married a chef, and Serendipity was born. I’ve been in the food industry for over two decades, and my background has always been rooted in sustainability and environmental impact.

In 2020, I watched *Kiss the Ground*, and Serendipity became a trailblazer for regenerative agriculture in Colorado. I met Richard Lackey, and together we created *Farm Hero*. The solution was media. How do we communicate at the correct order of magnitude to make a change? That’s a TV series. And now, every waking moment is *Farm Hero* for me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Laura Zaspel: One of the biggest challenges with Farm Hero has been the scalability of regenerative agriculture. It’s really easy for the small farmers market guys to be regenerative because they’re lighter on their feet and can make their own decisions. But that’s not enough. There are 900 million acres of farmland in America, and less than 1.5% is regenerative.

There’s also the issue of awareness. The problem has been unawareness and being sold a false bill of goods. People don’t realize what’s in their food or how it’s grown. Regenerative agriculture is still so new. It really came to light in 2020 with Kiss the Ground. We’re up against a system powered by big pharma, big ag, and big food. Agriculture became a chemistry problem—what do you kill today?

Another struggle has been in getting supply to match the growing demand. For example, Chipotle wants to commit to using regenerative ag rice, but there’s not even that much on the market. We’re working to build that whole ecosystem so farmers know they have a buyer, and so we can truly scale this movement.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Laura Zaspel: I’m the host and executive producer of Farm Hero, a TV series that’s creating a worldwide movement through education and public awareness. We’re bringing regenerative agriculture into the spotlight, showcasing farmers and ranchers who are restoring soil health, improving food quality, and revitalizing entire communities. Our purpose is to go from conventional, industrial agriculture to regenerative agriculture as fast as possible.

What sets us apart is that we’re not just highlighting the problems. We’re giving the ideal scene. What can a consumer do? What can a farmer do? What can a consumer product group do? We’re showing solutions. Every episode is designed to empower people with real answers. Know your food. Know your farmer. It all starts with healthy soil.

I’ve worked in food systems for over two decades through Serendipity Catering and that connection to food, energy, and sustainability has shaped how I approach this work. I’m proud to have this kind of background, these connections, and this kind of company, and I’m so proud that Farm Hero is helping people understand that when you take care of the soil, it takes care of you.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In 10 years, I don’t think we’ll even be using the term “regenerative agriculture.” It’s just going to be called agriculture, because that’s what agriculture should be. Right now, we talk about it like it’s this special thing that only a small percentage are doing, but that’s the future of food.

To get there, we need to scale. We need to take these concepts and make them big enough so people can make money, grow bigger, and supply real food at real volume. We want to bring these solutions to government to accelerate regenerative farming and health worldwide. And we’re not doing this for fame or money—we’re doing this to lead the way. We want to take responsibility for moving this whole thing forward.

Farm Hero is positioning itself to be the authority, the umbrella over all others working to bring about health through soil, farms, ranches, and nutrient-rich, organic food. That’s how we’re going to create systematic, fast change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.farmhero.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmheroshow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559594017812
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmheroshow/
• Twitter: https://x.com/FarmHeroShow
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FarmHeroShow/featured

Image Credits
The first one of me is credit: Photographer, Elin Gann; Tablescape, Laura Zaspel
The rest are from Farm Hero