Alasdair’s, connection to the land ran deep, shaped first by ​childhood in the Scottish countryside, and later by time spent with his own children at the ​family’s farm in Australia. But it was the Millennium Drought that catalysed a professional and personal​ shift. ​

​Witnessing the toll on the land and those who relied on it, Alasdair began a journey to learn everything he ​could about regenerative agriculture, drawing inspiration from leaders like Charles Massy, David Marsh, ​Peter Andrews and others. Within just a few years, he’d brought the family farm back from the ​brink.

That experience inspired a broader vision: to support agriculture that works with ​nature. Macdoch Foundation was founded on this principle, becoming part of ​a small but determined group of funders in Australia focused on agriculture, nature and climate.​

For its first four years, the Foundation invested in building the resilience of people and the planet. It supported ecological restoration, training, local food systems, and partnerships with First Nations ​leaders to honour cultural knowledge and connection to nature. This work was anchored in a ​commitment to regenerative agriculture and the wellbeing of those who care for the land.​

As the Foundation’s experience deepened, so too did its ambition. In 2024, Alasdair and the team​ evolved the strategy to focus more explicitly on the food system beyond the farm gate, that shapes​ what and how we eat, and what and how we grow it.​

Today, the Macdoch Foundation is a small, nimble organisation based in Sydney, working across​ Australia, the US and the UK. Working with optimism, curiosity and ambition, it’s ​committed to growing a fair, healthy and nature-positive food future.​