How Ted Turner’s Vision Helped Elevate Farmers as Leaders in Renewable Energy and Climate Solutions.
While he was certainly not an everyday farmer, Ted Turner had a significant impact on agriculture.
Solutions from the Land (SfL) says it mourns the passing of Ted Turner, the influential philanthropist and media pioneer whose vision and generosity helped elevate agriculture as a central force in America’s renewable energy and climate policy landscape.
Turner was a longtime supporter of Solutions from the Land (SFL) and played a pivotal role in advancing farmer-led solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges. SFL says Turner's backing helped shape national conversations around energy independence, environmental stewardship, and the essential role of farms, forests, and ranches in delivering real-world solutions.
In 2004, at the invitation of the United Nations Foundation and with financial backing from the Turner Foundation, Solutions from the Land convened a diverse group of farmer leaders to examine agriculture’s role in the nation’s energy future.
These early discussions became the foundation for what would grow into a major national movement.
That collaboration led directly to the creation of the 25x’25 Renewable Energy Alliance, an ambitious effort that sought to reposition America’s working lands as a significant source of clean, renewable energy. The initiative united farmers, industry leaders, environmental organizations, and policymakers around a shared goal:
According to SFL, "By 2025, America’s farms, forests and ranches would provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States, while continuing to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber.”
The 25x’25 vision gained remarkable bipartisan support. Nearly 1,000 organizations endorsed the goal, including 35 governors, 15 state legislatures, 34 United States Senators, and 70 members of the United States House of Representatives. The effort ultimately received recognition from the United States Congress through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, marking a rare moment of national consensus around agriculture-driven energy solutions.
Beyond renewable energy, Ted Turner’s financial support helped fund many of Solutions from the Land’s most impactful initiatives. These included long-standing work in climate-smart agriculture, as well as the Native Pollinators in Agriculture project, which highlighted the critical role of biodiversity in sustaining productive and resilient farming systems.
Turner’s commitment also made possible a major organizational milestone. In 2014, Solutions from the Land formally became a not-for-profit corporation, strengthening its ability to convene producers, scientists, and policymakers to advance practical land-based solutions to global food, energy, and climate challenges.
According to SfL leadership, Turner’s support was more than financial. His belief in farmer-led, grassroots solutions helped reinforce the credibility of producers as innovators and problem-solvers on the world stage. That trust empowered farmers, ranchers, and foresters to engage directly in policy development, ensuring agricultural perspectives were grounded in real-world experience.
Throughout its history, Solutions from the Land has focused on pragmatic, science-based approaches rather than ideology. Ted Turner’s unwavering backing helped sustain that mission, enabling steady progress in shaping agricultural policies that balance productivity, environmental responsibility, and economic viability.
As Solutions from the Land reflects on Turner’s legacy, the organization emphasizes that his influence continues through the partnerships, policies, and producer-led initiatives he championed. His vision helped align agriculture with long-term national goals for energy security, environmental resilience, and sustainable growth.
Bison Farm
Turner’s 107,000-acre Flying D Ranch near Bozeman, Montana became a cornerstone of his conservation legacy. After purchasing a small number of bison for his Florida property in the 1970s, he gradually expanded the herd into the largest privately owned bison population in the United States, spread across ranches in five states, including Nebraska.