Rob Avis

Rob Avis is a leading voice in the land regeneration movement. He has combined an extensive background in engineering with a passion for regeneration to develop a clear process for regenerative land design and management. His background in engineering gives Rob a unique insight into the complexity of a land’s ecosystem and the ways in which systems can work together to create resilient, antifragile supplies of food, water, and energy. Rob’s background was as a Mechanical Engineer in both industrial food processing and industrial energy (oil and gas). Conflicted by the practices he saw in place in those industries, Rob left the world of oil and gas in 2008 to learn everything he could about better ways to care for and manage our natural resources. Rob studied renewable energy in Denmark for 6 months and the principles of permaculture for 3 years. After that, he launched two businesses to help educate and empower landowners with a passion for regeneration. Verge Permaculture was founded in 2008 and quickly became a premier permaculture design and education company, teaching the design process to more than 5,000 students. Adaptive Habitat was created to be a unique, cutting-edge design and management firm helping landowners apply the principles of permaculture and regenerative design. Now, 5th World Land Regeneration Consulting is Rob’s next evolution as a leader in the field. In this work he draws on more than 18 years of mechanical engineering experience. Rob specializes in the intersection of biology and thermo and fluid dynamics. This includes low energy consumption, water systems, passive solar greenhouses, irrigation, broad acre water harvesting, and renewable energy systems. Most importantly, as Rob teaches other landowners the path forward, he’s living it himself. He currently lives on a 160-acre farm in central Alberta where he is building a multi-generational, regenerative farm that is built on the ecosystem principles he teaches on permaculture design and engineering.