Sunday, April 12th | Breakout: Regenerative Foodsystems Preserving Soil & Waterways

Wietse van der Werf is a social entrepreneur and conservationist dedicated to large-scale nature recovery. His work is driven by a central question: What if new career paths could empower the next generation to actively restore our natural ecosystems?

In 2016, he founded the Sea Ranger Service, an organisation that creates purposeful careers for young people at the intersection of maritime operations, ecology, and data. Through this initiative, Wietse works to restore marine ecosystems while strengthening coastal economies, building youth resilience, and helping industries transition toward more sustainable models.

Wietse is known for bringing together unusual partnerships between business, government, and civil society. His work has involved collaborations with organisations such as The Crown Estate, the Royal Navy, the Port of Rotterdam, IKEA, Nestlé, and Patagonia, aligning commercial capabilities with environmental regeneration and public value.

For his innovative leadership and ability to bridge sectors that rarely work together, Wietse has received numerous awards and fellowships. Across his work, he continues to explore how industry can become a force for regeneration while offering meaningful career paths for the next generation.

During the breakout session "Regenerative Food Systems Preserving Soil & Waterways," Wietse van der Werf and Volkert Engelsman explore how regenerative approaches can restore ecosystems while transforming food systems. Drawing on their experience in nature restoration and sustainable supply chains, they discuss the opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors to accelerate this transition.

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