Podcasts about smallholder

Karl Madelin joins the conversation to explore a challenge most people rarely think about until food prices rise or health problems emerge: the relationship between agriculture, nutrition, and the systems that shape what ends up on our plates.We started with a simple observation.Food isn't just agriculture.It's economics.It's health.It's culture.And ultimately, it's community.Karl brings experience across healthcare, financial services, and now agricultural transformation in Africa. What began as a discussion about food supply quickly became a much larger conversation about resilience, smallholder farmers, hyper-consolidation, nutrition, and why the future of communities may depend on reconnecting consumers with local producers.This isn't just a conversation about farming.It's about how societies create healthier systems—and what happens when efficiency becomes more important than resilience.Most importantly, it's about understanding that every purchasing decision is also an investment in the kind of community we want to build.TL;DRAgriculture is the foundation of economic transformation.Nutrition sits at the intersection of food and health.Hyper-consolidation creates efficiency but reduces resilience and choice.Smallholder farmers should be viewed as family businesses, not development projects.Healthy food systems require reliable supply chains, not just good intentions.Consumer habits shape markets and determine which producers survive.Supporting local agriculture strengthens communities and economic independence.Food choices are investments—not just purchases.Memorable Lines“Agriculture is actually the foundation of economic transformation.”“Nutrition is where health and agriculture meet.”“The original family business was the farm.”“Efficiency without resilience creates fragility.”“Healthy food isn't always accessible, and that's a problem.”“Consumers don't just buy food—they shape markets.”“Every purchase is an investment in someone's community.”“Support smallholder farmers, and you support families.”GuestKarl MadelinBased in Nairobi, Karl has spent his career across healthcare, financial services, and agricultural transformation. His work focuses on economic development, nutrition, and building sustainable agricultural systems that empower smallholder farmers and strengthen communities.Why This MattersMost people think about agriculture only when food prices increase.But food systems shape far more than what's on our dinner tables.They influence health.They determine economic opportunities.They affect communities and culture.And they define how resilient societies become when disruptions happen.Industrial efficiency has delivered abundance.But efficiency without diversity creates fragility.The challenge isn't choosing between global and local systems.It's finding the balance between scale and resilience.Because healthy societies aren't built only by producing more food.They're built by creating systems that allow communities, families, and farmers to thrive together.And sometimes, transformation starts with something as simple as asking where your food came from—and who you're supporting when you buy it.Listen to the full episode of Second Life Leader for a deeper conversation on agriculture, health, resilience, and why rebuilding stronger systems starts closer to home than we think. Get full access to Second Life Leader at www.dougutberg.com/subscribe

To mitigate climate change, we must reduce new emissions. But what about the greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere? And what about the emissions that we can't easily reduce with existing technologies? In this episode, James and Daisy discuss carbon dioxide removal (CDR). How is it done? What does it cost? And do we really need it?SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: The State of CDR – Reports on the state of progress. Nearly 2.1 billion tonnes of CO₂ are already being removed annually, but around 7–9 billion tonnes are needed by mid-century.CDR.fyi – Provides trusted insights and analytics on durable CDR orders, projects, and financings across the carbon removal market.Counteract – Backs early-stage founders fostering innovation in carbon removal.  OTHER ADVOCATES AND RESOURCES:IPCC – CDR refers to technologies, practices, and approaches that remove and durably store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It only refers to human activities that intentionally remove CO2 (not natural CO2 removal such as natural forest growth). RMI (2023) – CDR approaches can be sorted into three categories: (1) Biogenic CDR (plants); (2) Geochemical CDR (minerals); and (3) Synthetic CDR (energy). WRI (2026) – Outlines six carbon removal methods. Note: carbon removal is different from carbon capture and storage (CCS), which captures emissions at the source (a form of emission reduction).RMI (2024) – Five charts showing how much CO2 we need to remove from the atmosphere. CDR.fyi (2026) – Approximately $3.6B in private capital was invested in CDR companies between 2021 and 2025, with Direct Air Capture (DAC) accounting for ~61%.Climeworks – A Swiss company specialising in DAC and storage (DACCS) technology. 1PointFive – Once operational, the STRATOS facility in Texas aims to capture up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.XPRIZE – The XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition is a $100 million global challenge intended to accelerate scalable solutions for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The 2025 winner was Mati Carbon, who use enhanced rock weathering – spreading crushed basalt on smallholder farms in India – to lock CO₂ as bicarbonate for millennia while enhancing soils and boosting crop yields.BCG (2025) – Smallholder farmers in India that work with enhanced rock weathering providers have seen ~20%–30% higher yields and ~30% lower fertilizer use, resulting in nearly 20%–25% higher household incomes. ESG Today (2026) – Microsoft signed agreements to remove 45 million metric tonnes of CO2 in 2025. By comparison, Frontier Buyers coalition (the second largest purchaser) has purchased around 1.8 million tonnes to date. Microsoft has confirmed that their carbon removal program has not ended but that at times they may “adjust the pace or volume” of procurement. Frontier Climate – An advance market commitment to buy an initial $1B+ of permanent carbon removal between 2022 and 2030. It was founded by Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, McKinsey and tens of thousands of businesses using Stripe Climate.Responsible Investor (2025) – SBTi allows high quality removals to be used for residual emissions (capped at 10% of total emissions).Interface – Created the first-ever carbon negative carpet tile. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3Producer: Podshop StudiosHuge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.

At the start of every planting season, smallholder farmers needs seeds and fertiliser, but the income from the harvest that would pay for them is many months away. With no credit history and no collateral, banks aren't going to give credit to farmers.They cope by selling livestock, pledging part of the harvest to a trader at a discount, or turning to neighbours.Can we do a better job of lending to farmers? Monica Lambon-Quayefio of the University of Ghana tells Tim Phillips about a digital lending product for farmers in southern Ghana shows what this approach can do — but also where it still falls short. Working with Farmerline, a social enterprise that scores creditworthiness from farm and sales data rather than formal records, the trial randomly assigned eligible applicants to receive input loans worth around $40. Farm input expenditures rose by around 11%. But not profits. Find out why in this week's episode.The research behind this episode:Karlan, Dean, Monica Lambon-Quayefio, Utsav Manjeer, and Christopher Udry. 2026. "Access to Digital Credit for Smallholder Farmers: Experimental Evidence from Ghana." Journal of Development Economics 181.To cite this episode:Phillips, Tim, and Monica Lambon-Quayefio. 2026. "Can digital credit unlock investment in smallholder farms?" VoxDev Talk Assign this as extra listening: the citation above is formatted and ready for a reading list or VLE.About Monica Lambon-QuayefioMonica Lambon-Quayefio is a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana, where her research focuses on social protection, agricultural technology, and experimental methods in development economics. The paper discussed in this episode is co-authored with Dean Karlan, Utsav Manjeer, and Christopher Udry, all of Northwestern University.More VoxDev Talks on this topicMobile money in Ghana: Lessons for boosting financial inclusion: Tim Phillips speaks with Francis Annan about what Ghana's experience with mobile money reveals about reducing fraud and misconduct in rural financial systems, and what it takes for digital finance to reach the very poor.What have we learned about microfinance?: What decades of research have established, where the evidence remains contested, and what the most important open questions are for policymakers thinking about expanding access to credit in low-income settings.Related reading on VoxDevThe impact of digital credit in low-income countries: an overview of the evidence on how digital lending products affect borrowers, including the risks of overborrowing and the conditions under which short-term digital credit translates into improved economic outcomes.How to boost digital banking adoption and savings in Ghana: evidence on what drives uptake of digital financial services among low-income households in Ghana, and what works when trying to shift behaviour away from informal savings arrangements.

Advertising SponsorJoin the Map It Forward Patreon Monthly Live Discussion Group and network with other like-minded coffee professionals and business owners from around the world and across the value chain https://patreon.com/mapitforward Episode DescriptionThis is the final episode of our five-part series with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo.We examine the short-term, medium-term, and long-term outlook for smallholder producers if volatility continues. Ana explains that while the C market price is falling, farm-level costs, climate instability, and currency fluctuations remain. She discusses the need for producers to detach their pricing from corporate commodity structures and to assert pricing based on their real cost of production. We also explore acquisition strategies, the shrinking number of hectares dedicated to coffee, and the misconception that supply will suddenly flood the market.Finally, Ana speaks about hope. Technology, AI tools at farm level, knowledge-sharing between producers, transparency, and collaboration across the value chain are the forces that may define the next decade of coffee.Volatility is not ending. The future depends on whether the industry chooses to respond collectively.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorJoin the Map It Forward Patreon Monthly Live Discussion Group and network with other like-minded coffee professionals and business owners from around the world and across the value chain https://patreon.com/mapitforward Episode DescriptionThis is the final episode of our five-part series with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo.We examine the short-term, medium-term, and long-term outlook for smallholder producers if volatility continues. Ana explains that while the C market price is falling, farm-level costs, climate instability, and currency fluctuations remain. She discusses the need for producers to detach their pricing from corporate commodity structures and to assert pricing based on their real cost of production. We also explore acquisition strategies, the shrinking number of hectares dedicated to coffee, and the misconception that supply will suddenly flood the market.Finally, Ana speaks about hope. Technology, AI tools at farm level, knowledge-sharing between producers, transparency, and collaboration across the value chain are the forces that may define the next decade of coffee.Volatility is not ending. The future depends on whether the industry chooses to respond collectively.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorLooking to advertise your business on a Map It Forward podcast? Email us at support@mapitforward.org or DM us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Episode DescriptionThis is Part 4 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo in Colombia.In this episode, we move from diagnosis to responsibility.After examining yield loss, currency shifts, financial market instability, and the lived experience of volatility, we now ask what it will take to move forward together as value chain partners.Ana emphasizes that redistribution of risk will only come through real conversations across the value chain. Producers must understand the pressures faced by roasters and buyers, but buyers must also understand that smallholders are carrying climate, currency, and market risk simultaneously. She also speaks directly to producers. This is a moment where smallholder farmers must see themselves not as “the poor part” of the supply chain, but as business owners. That means improving efficiency, understanding cost structures, adopting regenerative practices, using data, and leveraging new tools including AI to forecast production and manage risk more intelligently.We also discuss generational transition. If the next generation of producers does not see a viable value proposition in coffee, they will leave. And if producers decide not to sell when conditions are unfair, the industry must be prepared for that reality.This episode challenges every stakeholder. Producers must grow into their power. Roasters must understand they operate in a commodity business, not just hospitality. Consumers must be educated about what cheap coffee truly costs at origin.Moving forward requires courage, transparency, innovation, and shared responsibility.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorLooking to advertise your business on a Map It Forward podcast? Email us at support@mapitforward.org or DM us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Episode DescriptionThis is Part 4 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo in Colombia.In this episode, we move from diagnosis to responsibility.After examining yield loss, currency shifts, financial market instability, and the lived experience of volatility, we now ask what it will take to move forward together as value chain partners.Ana emphasizes that redistribution of risk will only come through real conversations across the value chain. Producers must understand the pressures faced by roasters and buyers, but buyers must also understand that smallholders are carrying climate, currency, and market risk simultaneously. She also speaks directly to producers. This is a moment where smallholder farmers must see themselves not as “the poor part” of the supply chain, but as business owners. That means improving efficiency, understanding cost structures, adopting regenerative practices, using data, and leveraging new tools including AI to forecast production and manage risk more intelligently.We also discuss generational transition. If the next generation of producers does not see a viable value proposition in coffee, they will leave. And if producers decide not to sell when conditions are unfair, the industry must be prepared for that reality.This episode challenges every stakeholder. Producers must grow into their power. Roasters must understand they operate in a commodity business, not just hospitality. Consumers must be educated about what cheap coffee truly costs at origin.Moving forward requires courage, transparency, innovation, and shared responsibility.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by The Honduran Coffee Alliance, connecting Honduran coffee producers with global buyers in a fair, sustainable, and commercially viable way.WhatsApp: https://wa.me/50487350786Email: sean@hondurancoffeealliance.comEpisode DescriptionThis is Part 3 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo in Colombia.In this episode, we examine what “high prices” actually mean at farm level.After experiencing yield reduction, rising input costs, currency devaluation, and increasing financial pressure, Ana explains that recent price levels have not translated into meaningful profitability. For many producers, these prices have barely covered cost of production.We explore the role of currency exchange in shaping margins, including how contracts signed in US dollars interact with expenses paid in Colombian pesos. We also discuss the hidden costs of marketing, trade shows, and relationship-building — investments producers must make to sustain direct trade relationships.The conversation widens into financial market mechanics. Coffee futures pricing is influenced not only by supply and demand fundamentals, but also by hedge fund positioning, margin calls, currency trades, and macroeconomic forces unrelated to farm production. These second-order financial effects can push prices down even when physical coffee remains scarce.For smallholder farmers, these shifts are not abstract. They create uncertainty in planning, cash flow pressure, and concern about long-term viability.Ana closes this episode by stating clearly: these are not high prices. They are prices that barely cover cost.If we do not separate financial market volatility from farm-level economics, we risk misunderstanding what sustainability truly requires.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by The Honduran Coffee Alliance, connecting Honduran coffee producers with global buyers in a fair, sustainable, and commercially viable way.WhatsApp: https://wa.me/50487350786Email: sean@hondurancoffeealliance.comEpisode DescriptionThis is Part 3 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo in Colombia.In this episode, we examine what “high prices” actually mean at farm level.After experiencing yield reduction, rising input costs, currency devaluation, and increasing financial pressure, Ana explains that recent price levels have not translated into meaningful profitability. For many producers, these prices have barely covered cost of production.We explore the role of currency exchange in shaping margins, including how contracts signed in US dollars interact with expenses paid in Colombian pesos. We also discuss the hidden costs of marketing, trade shows, and relationship-building — investments producers must make to sustain direct trade relationships.The conversation widens into financial market mechanics. Coffee futures pricing is influenced not only by supply and demand fundamentals, but also by hedge fund positioning, margin calls, currency trades, and macroeconomic forces unrelated to farm production. These second-order financial effects can push prices down even when physical coffee remains scarce.For smallholder farmers, these shifts are not abstract. They create uncertainty in planning, cash flow pressure, and concern about long-term viability.Ana closes this episode by stating clearly: these are not high prices. They are prices that barely cover cost.If we do not separate financial market volatility from farm-level economics, we risk misunderstanding what sustainability truly requires.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Arcadia Green Coffee, Colombian coffee exporters taking fresh green coffee from Colombia to the world — farm to roastery, direct.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is Part 2 of our five-part series with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo.Direct trade is often framed as the solution to structural imbalance in coffee. In this episode, we unpack what it actually requires from a smallholder producer.Ana explains that direct trade takes years to build. It requires aligned values, transparent communication, and strong relationships. It also requires significant capital. Producers must sustain operations for months while waiting for contracts to be fulfilled and payments to clear. Unlike traditional cooperative sales, which may provide faster liquidity, direct trade can amplify short-term financial stress, particularly during volatile periods.We also explore how climate volatility compounds this stress. Rising unpredictability in rainfall patterns, yield instability, and multi-year climate disruption create structural fragility that direct trade alone cannot solve. This episode offers a grounded perspective on how direct trade functions in practice — and who carries the burden when volatility increases.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Arcadia Green Coffee, Colombian coffee exporters taking fresh green coffee from Colombia to the world — farm to roastery, direct.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is Part 2 of our five-part series with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo.Direct trade is often framed as the solution to structural imbalance in coffee. In this episode, we unpack what it actually requires from a smallholder producer.Ana explains that direct trade takes years to build. It requires aligned values, transparent communication, and strong relationships. It also requires significant capital. Producers must sustain operations for months while waiting for contracts to be fulfilled and payments to clear.Unlike traditional cooperative sales, which may provide faster liquidity, direct trade can amplify short-term financial stress, particularly during volatile periods.We also explore how climate volatility compounds this stress. Rising unpredictability in rainfall patterns, yield instability, and multi-year climate disruption create structural fragility that direct trade alone cannot solve.This episode offers a grounded perspective on how direct trade functions in practice — and who carries the burden when volatility increases.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Arkena Coffee Marketplace, connecting you to the next coffee harvest in Ethiopia through direct trade.https://arkenacoffee.com/https://www.instagram.com/arkenacoffee/Email: hello@arkenacoffee.comEpisode DescriptionThis is Part 1 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo.In this opening conversation, we unpack what volatility truly means for smallholder producers.Volatility is often discussed in relation to the C market, futures prices, or export trends. For smallholder farmers, however, volatility is lived through yield loss caused by climate shifts, rising fertiliser and labour costs, unpredictable exchange rate movements, and limited access to financial risk management tools.Ana shares a real example of signing a direct trade contract at what appeared to be a strong exchange rate, only to experience a significant drop in yield and a peso devaluation that altered her cost structure dramatically.When production volume drops, cost per pound increases immediately. When currency shifts, the value of revenue changes in local terms. When labour and inputs rise, margins tighten further. In this context, high global coffee prices do not automatically translate into stability or profitability.The conversation also addresses the structural gap between corporate farms, which may have access to hedging instruments or financial advisors, and smallholder producers who cannot afford the capital required to participate in those tools.This episode reframes “high prices” by grounding them in the layered financial realities of farm-level economics.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/ Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/ ***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Arkena Coffee Marketplace, connecting you to the next coffee harvest in Ethiopia through direct trade.https://arkenacoffee.com/https://www.instagram.com/arkenacoffee/Email: hello@arkenacoffee.comEpisode DescriptionThis is Part 1 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo.In this opening conversation, we unpack what volatility truly means for smallholder producers.Volatility is often discussed in relation to the C market, futures prices, or export trends. For smallholder farmers, however, volatility is lived through yield loss caused by climate shifts, rising fertiliser and labour costs, unpredictable exchange rate movements, and limited access to financial risk management tools.Ana shares a real example of signing a direct trade contract at what appeared to be a strong exchange rate, only to experience a significant drop in yield and a peso devaluation that altered her cost structure dramatically.When production volume drops, cost per pound increases immediately. When currency shifts, the value of revenue changes in local terms. When labour and inputs rise, margins tighten further. In this context, high global coffee prices do not automatically translate into stability or profitability.The conversation also addresses the structural gap between corporate farms, which may have access to hedging instruments or financial advisors, and smallholder producers who cannot afford the capital required to participate in those tools.This episode reframes “high prices” by grounding them in the layered financial realities of farm-level economics.Guest linksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/ Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/ ***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

In this episode, Scott reflects on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) through the lens of three decades of work on forest protection and responsible sourcing. Drawing on his direct involvement in pioneering the world's first corporate No Deforestation, Explotiation and Peatland Clearance (NDPE) commitments with companies such as Nestlé, Golden Agri-Resources, Asia Pulp & Paper and Wilmar, Scott situates the EUDR as both a continuation of — and a departure from — earlier, more collaborative approaches to stopping deforestation. While welcoming the ambition of the EUDR, Scott raises serious concerns about its implementation. Based on recent fieldwork in cocoa-growing communities in Cross River State, Nigeria, he describes a troubling disconnect: smallholder farmers have little or no awareness of the regulation, are continuing to clear forest to expand production, and risk losing access to European markets without receiving the support needed to improve yields on existing land. Scott argues that, as a blunt legal instrument, the EUDR risks producing perverse outcomes — including displacement of deforestation to non-EU markets, worsening farmer livelihoods, and potentially accelerating forest loss. He questions whether the regulation sufficiently accounts for land-use realities, customary tenure systems, and the ethical implications of restricting land-use decisions in developing countries. The episode concludes with a call to learn from the NDPE experience of the early 2010s: bringing companies, NGOs, governments and farmers into structured dialogue, replacing accusation with cooperation, and recognising that forest conservation is ultimately about people as much as trees. Keywords deforestation, EUDR, environmental regulation, sustainable sourcing, smallholder farmers, corporate responsibility, traceability, forest conservation, agricultural practices, NGO involvement Takeaways The EUDR aims to prevent deforestation linked to various commodities. There is significant pushback against the EUDR from industries. Smallholder farmers are often unaware of regulations affecting their livelihoods. Traceability systems are crucial for compliance with the EUDR. Past commitments have shown the importance of engaging all stakeholders. The EUDR's implementation has been delayed multiple times. Companies are concerned about the lack of guidance on EUDR enforcement. The regulation could inadvertently lead to increased deforestation in some areas. Collaboration between NGOs and companies is essential for effective solutions. The EUDR must consider the rights and needs of local farmers. Sound Bites "Did anyone ever talk to those farmers?" "It's about people, not just trees." "The EUDR has very rocky ground ahead." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Deforestation Regulation 04:57 The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Overview 09:33 Challenges in Implementing EUDR 14:05 Impact on Smallholder Farmers 19:04 Lessons from Past Commitments 24:46 The Need for Collaboration and Compromise

In Cambodia, smallholder farmers are struggling with depleted soils that make it harder each year to grow enough food. At the same time, the country’s rice industry produces mountains of husks that often end up as waste.HUSK Ventures saw possibility in this problem—transforming rice husks into a regenerative soil solution. Their approach has already boosted yields by 30% across 250 farms, and they aim to uplift 100,000 farmers by 2030 while sequestering millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide. On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks with Ingrid van Ginkel, Managing Director of HUSK Ventures, to find out how HUSK blends ancient wisdom, modern science, and circular innovation to tackle both poverty and climate change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thiong'o Gachie is a permaculture trainer in Kenya, focused on inspiring smallholder farmers on how to apply permaculture principles, such as crop diversity, to strengthen their yields and build greater community.   Alex sat down to talk to Thiong'o about his own process about setting up a small 1 acre farm, developing community, and understanding the larger agriculture-sector wide changes happening in Kenya, such as seed sovereignty and ubiquitous agrochemica use.   If you want to help Thiong'o, he has a really active LinkedIn and Instagram highlighting education and insights for communities in Africa. He recently started a GoFundMe focused on funding a pond-liner, which is comparatively hard to purchase in Kenya. 

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Mark: Being able to get to near expert level on practically anything very quickly.Smallholder farmers are facing unprecedented challenges. With 97% of farm income concentrated in just 3% of farms, the remaining 97% struggle to make ends meet, often forcing the next generation to leave farming altogether. Mark Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Carbon Country, is working to reverse this trend with a groundbreaking vision that combines renewable energy, sustainable farming practices, and economic innovation.Mark's approach centers on agrivoltaics, a system of integrating solar panels with farming. “The idea behind Carbon Country is to transform the economics and sustainability of smallholder farms by adding agrovoltaics, which is a fancy word for solar above farming,” Mark explained. By installing solar panels over grazing land and using regenerative practices like rotational sheep grazing, Carbon Country creates a dual-purpose solution that enhances both energy production and soil health.The potential doesn't stop there. Mark is pioneering carbon removal practices, including biochar production and “wood vaulting,” a process developed by a University of Maryland professor. “We're building the first large-scale biochar facility in Maryland,” Mark said. These initiatives not only sequester carbon but also improve soil quality, making farms more productive and sustainable.To further amplify the economic viability, Mark has integrated energy storage and Bitcoin mining into the model. “We're putting battery storage and Bitcoin mining together, creating an ecosystem with our panels,” he said. By arbitraging peak and non-peak power prices, Carbon Country maximizes revenue while helping stabilize the energy grid.Currently, Carbon Country is raising capital through a regulation crowdfunding campaign on Vicinity Capital. This innovative platform connects investors with high-impact projects, providing opportunities to support sustainable solutions like Mark's.Mark's work is more than a business—it's a mission to ensure smallholder farms remain productive for future generations. “Our goal is to make these farms legacy assets,” he said, “doing important things for both the economy and the environment.”If you want to learn more or invest in this inspiring initiative, visit Carbon Country's crowdfunding page and join the movement to reshape agriculture and energy for a better future.tl;dr:Mark Smith shares how agrivoltaics can transform smallholder farms by combining solar panels with farming.Carbon Country integrates biochar production and carbon storage to improve soil health and sequester carbon.Renewable energy, Bitcoin mining, and storage create economic opportunities for struggling smallholder farmers.Mark explains his superpower of rapid learning and offers advice for mastering new fields.This episode highlights Carbon Country's crowdfunding campaign to support sustainable farming and energy solutions.How to Develop Rapid Learning As a SuperpowerMark Smith's superpower is his ability to quickly master new fields of knowledge. “I think my superpower really is being able to get to near expert level on practically anything very quickly,” he said. This remarkable skill has allowed him to tackle challenges in diverse areas such as recycling, water filtration, and now agrivoltaics. Mark credits his success to curiosity, humility, and a willingness to dedicate time to learning and experimentation.Illustrative Story:Mark shared an example of how his rapid learning ability transformed an idea into reality. Initially exploring abandoned mining sites for solar projects, he discovered that ranches were a better fit. By asking questions about land use and grazing practices, he realized he could integrate rotational grazing and biochar production with solar installations. Through research and conversations with experts, he developed a model that improves soil health, sequesters carbon, and generates renewable energy—all while supporting smallholder farmers.Tips for Developing This Superpower:Be Curious: Read extensively and watch content to understand the basics of new fields.Seek Advice: Approach experts with humility and ask thoughtful questions.Experiment: Start small and learn by doing, even if it means making mistakes.Stay Open: Embrace being a beginner and remain receptive to unexpected insights.By following Mark's example and advice, you can make rapid learning a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileMark Smith (he/him):CEO and Co-Founder, Carbon Country, LLCAbout Carbon Country, LLC: We are transforming the economics and sustainability of smallholder farms by adding agrivoltaics and carbon removal.Website: carboncountry.usOther URL: marketplace.vicinityventures.co/offers/106Biographical Information: Mark Smith, is CEO and Co-Founder of Carbon Country. Previous to starting this venture, he served for 12 years as the Director of Government Affairs of Clorox, where he helped create BRITA's municipal water business. Before joining Clorox, Mark led Claren Power, a waste to energy developer focused on the sugar cane sector in Brazil. Mark also formally served as the Managing Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce. He holds a BA in Government from the College of William & Mary and an MBA from Georgetown.LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/mark-smith-72178b5Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Rancho Affordable Housing (Proactive), and InnerSpace. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture |  Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on September 16, 2025, at 1:30 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, September 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on "What's the Difference Between Gambling and Investing? Diversification." When it comes to money, too many people confuse speculation with true investing. In this session, Devin will explore what separates gambling from responsible investment practices—and why diversification is one of the most important tools for reducing risk and improving outcomes. Drawing on real-world examples and practical strategies, he'll help you understand how to evaluate opportunities, spread risk wisely, and think long-term about your portfolio. Whether you're new to investing, considering your first community round, or looking to refine your approach as a seasoned investor, this SuperCrowdHour will give you actionable insights to strengthen your decision-making. Don't miss this chance to sharpen your perspective and invest with greater confidence.Superpowers for Good Live Pitch, September 29, 2025. Hosted by Devin Thorpe on e360tv, this special event gives purpose-driven founders the chance to pitch their active Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns to a nationwide audience of investors and supporters. Selected founders will gain exposure to investors, national visibility across social and streaming platforms, and exclusive prizes from judges and sponsors—all at no cost to apply or pitch.Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Earthstock Festival & Summit (Oct 2–5, 2025, Santa Monica & Venice, CA) unites music, arts, ecology, health, and green innovation for four days of learning, networking, and celebration. Register now at EarthstockFestival.com.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Impact Accelerator Summit is a live in-person event taking place in Austin, Texas, from October 23–25, 2025. This exclusive gathering brings together 100 heart-centered, conscious entrepreneurs generating $1M+ in revenue with 20–30 family offices and venture funds actively seeking to invest in world-changing businesses. Referred by Michael Dash, participants can expect an inspiring, high-impact experience focused on capital connection, growth, and global impact.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

Elizabeth Nsimadala is a Ugandan agripreneur, smallholder farmer, and President of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF). EAFF is a regional farmers’ organisation that represents over 25 million smallholder farmers from 24 member organisations in 10 Eastern African countries to achieve one overall goal: a prosperous and cohesive community of East African farmers. In this episode, Elizabeth reflects on her father’s influence in her advocacy work and why she has dedicated herself to transforming East African food systems. She digs into how the EAFF empowers smallholder farmers through cooperative organisation and technological support, and by focusing on policies to provide more funding and support to farmers. Resources and links: Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) website Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) on Facebook Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) on LinkedIn Elizabeth Nsimadala on X Elizabeth Nsimadala on LinkedIn Connect: Future Fork podcast website Paul Newnham on Instagram Paul Newnham on X Paul Newnham on LinkedIn Disruptive Consulting Solutions website SDG2 Advocacy Hub website SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

On the latest episode of Mathematica's On the Evidence podcast, Dr. Agnes Kalibata reflects on her career as a scientist and as the former president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an African-led organization that seeks to create an environment where Africa can sustainably feed itself. It does so by focusing on scaling agricultural innovations that help smallholder farmers achieve increased incomes, better livelihoods, and improved food security. Kalibata's 10-year term as AGRA president ended earlier this year. She spoke with Mathematica President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Decker last December. Mathematica supports AGRA's implementation of its 2023–2027 monitoring, evaluation, and learning strategy. On the episode, Kalibata and Decker discuss locally led development and the role of data in helping to understand how a program, such as AGRA's Seed Systems, can be more effective. Find a full transcript of the conversation here: https://mathematica.org/blogs/increasing-the-resilience-of-african-smallholder-farmers Learn more about Mathematica's work supporting AGRA as AGRA implements its 2023–2027 monitoring, evaluation, and learning strategy: https://mathematica.org/news/measuring-agras-impact-transforming-agricultural-systems-and-improving-climate-resilience

I'm excited to share this week's conversation on The Leadership In Insurance Podcast with no other than JP Fabri, CEO of myUbuntu all about transforming agricultural insurance in Africa

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 2nd conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar and guest Paul Stewart, Global Coffee Director of TechnoServe, discuss the increasing poverty among smallholder coffee farmers, comparing today's conditions to those of 50 years ago.They explore various factors impacting profitability, including land size, yield, costs, and coffee prices. They highlight that while the costs and land sizes have changed drastically, yields have remained relatively steady, contributing to today's economic challenges for these farmers.The discussion concludes by addressing the urgent question of whether smallholder coffee farms can sustain their families and workers given these financial strains.00:00 Introduction: The Decline of Coffee Farming Livelihoods00:39 Support the Podcast01:01 Series Overview and Guest Introduction01:33 Defining Small Holder Farmers02:21 Challenges of Sustaining Small Coffee Farms04:13 Exploring the Scale of Poverty Among Coffee Farmers06:13 Components of Profitability in Coffee Farming09:04 Impact of Coffee Prices Over Time10:59 The Rising Costs of Coffee Farming14:30 Stagnant Yields and Land Size Reduction20:47 Conclusion and Next Episode PreviewConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailinglist

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 2nd conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar and guest Paul Stewart, Global Coffee Director of TechnoServe, discuss the increasing poverty among smallholder coffee farmers, comparing today's conditions to those of 50 years ago.They explore various factors impacting profitability, including land size, yield, costs, and coffee prices. They highlight that while the costs and land sizes have changed drastically, yields have remained relatively steady, contributing to today's economic challenges for these farmers.The discussion concludes by addressing the urgent question of whether smallholder coffee farms can sustain their families and workers given these financial strains.00:00 Introduction: The Decline of Coffee Farming Livelihoods00:39 Support the Podcast01:01 Series Overview and Guest Introduction01:33 Defining Small Holder Farmers02:21 Challenges of Sustaining Small Coffee Farms04:13 Exploring the Scale of Poverty Among Coffee Farmers06:13 Components of Profitability in Coffee Farming09:04 Impact of Coffee Prices Over Time10:59 The Rising Costs of Coffee Farming14:30 Stagnant Yields and Land Size Reduction20:47 Conclusion and Next Episode PreviewConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

How do you scale support for smallholder farmers, in hard to reach locations, harvesting a slow maturing crop? Social Impact Pioneer Christina Mawuse Gyisun, Co-Founder of Sommalife, joins us to talk about the shea industry in West Africa and how she and her team are increasing market access, and securing the future of an industry, by better supporting female smallholder farmers. Though women shea nut farmers provide a crucial raw ingredient to the $430 billion beauty industry, many live in extreme poverty, struggle with limited access to markets, and face the devastating impacts of climate change. Sommalifeis changing the game with a bespoke tech platform that digitizes operations, connects farmers to buyers, and empowers them as environmental stewards. The Problem: Systemic Exclusion & Environmental Threats In West Africa, 60 million women smallholder farmers depend on raw commodities like shea nuts for survival. Yet, these farmers are often left out of formal markets, limited to selling their crop for low prices. Meanwhile, the shea tree—a lifeline for many communities—is at risk due to deforestation and vulnerable to climate change. In Ghana alone, 90% of charcoal production comes from shea trees, threatening both economic livelihoods and biodiversity. The Solution: Technology, Traceability & Market Access Sommalife has developed a bespoke digital platform to connect farmers directly to international buyers, ensuring fair prices and financial stability. Since 2020, the enterprise has: ✅ Digitised operations for 110,000 farmers ✅ Increased income by 23% for 40,000 women ✅ Protected 1,500+ acres of shea trees By leveraging AI and traceability technology, Sommalife enables ethical sourcing, ensuring that farmers benefit from global sustainability initiatives. This innovation aligns with the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), which mandates supply chain transparency. Call to Action: Investing in Social Impact To scale this success, funding, collaboration, and corporate partnerships are crucial. Companies and investors looking to create real change can support ethical sourcing initiatives that protect the environment while improving livelihoods. As a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of 2025, Mawuse is proving that sustainable business can be profitable and impactful. Will your organisation be part of this movement? Links FAO: West African agriculture and climate change (includes Percentage of West Africans who depend on agriculture): https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/413652/#:~:text=Agriculture%20is%20vital%20to%20livelihoods,gross%20domestic%20product%20(GDP). USAID: Sustainable Shea Butter Initiative, Fact Sheet (16 million shea producer network): https://www.usaid.gov/west-africa-regional/fact-sheet/sustainable-shea-initiative#:~:text=Demand%20for%20shea%20produced%20in,collecting%20and%20processing%20shea%20kernels. Karibon: Shea butter as cocoa butter equivalent: https://delivery.bunge.com/-/media/Files/00-Confectionery-Brochures/11-Coberine-Shea/Folder_Karibon.ashx Sommalife: https://sommalife.com/ Sommalife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sommalife/ Sommalife Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sommalife/?viewAsMember=true Sommalike Medium: https://sommalife.medium.com/ Mawuse's Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mawuse-christina-gyisun-772758123/ Mawuse's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mawusegyisun/ Schwab Foundation Awards 2025: https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/01/schwab-foundation-awards-2025-new-social-entrepreneurs-and-innovators-of-the-year-announced/ & https://www.schwabfound.org/2025-awardees

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Daniela Kandel, co-founder and CEO of the Evergreen Innovation Platform. Daniela shares her journey from impact investment and the vibrant Israeli startup ecosystem to building sustainable innovation models for smallholder farmers. Throughout the conversation, she discusses how aligning core values with business strategy, leveraging blended finance, and nurturing strong local partnerships can transform agriculture and empower rural communities. Tune in to uncover practical lessons on ecosystem collaboration, sustainable technology adoption, and addressing the real challenges that drive impactful innovation.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

Robotics technology is improving and adoption is picking up. But there is still the barrier of the price tag of this equipment.

Smallholder farmers are the unsung heroes of our food system. Tilling tiny plots, they produce a staggering one-third of the world's food and up to 80% of the food supply in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. But these vital contributors face immense challenges: such as climate change, pests, insufficient finances, and limited education and training. On this episode of Growing Impact, we're revisiting the story of PlantVillage, a project funded as a seed grant by IEE in 2016. Its aim was to empower smallholder farmers with knowledge through smartphones and machine learning. Since its creation, PlantVillage has gained strong support from organizations worldwide and has built a robust team of partners and collaborators. Looking ahead, PlantVillage plans to expand how it's helping farmers while simultaneously addressing climate change.

With a career in corporate finance, Florence originally founded Nyota as a way to continue employing her nannies once her children started school. The company partners with smallholder farmers in rural Kenya to flash-freeze local produce and create specialty sauces, tackling food waste and boosting farmers' livelihoods. Nyota soon began employing more women in the community and moved production from Flo's kitchen into a commercial facility. In this episode, discover Florence's inspiring journey, including how she has evolved her previous no-nonsense, corporate leadership style to embrace patience, empathy, and camaraderie. Nyota's nutritious foods are sold in supermarkets across Kenya, with expansion plans for New York City.

 Edit cover photoManda Scott 2.7Kfriends Add to storyEdit profileManda ScottIntroThrutopian Novelist: ANY HUMAN POWER. odcaster @AccidentalGods. Smallholder. Evolutionary economistEdit BioWorks at Self-employedStudied at Schumacher College

Jehiel Oliver is changing the lives of smallholder farmers in 18 countries.It started 10 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 60% of crops are plowed by hand.That means there's a 90% gap between what Africa's smallholder farmers could be producing and what they're actually producing.But what if, Jehiel thought, you could connect Africa's small-scale farmers with tractor owners — in the same way rideshare apps connect riders with drivers?He founded Hello Tractor to connect small-scale farmers with tractor owners to do just that.In the latest episode of The High-EQ Founder, Jehiel shares:* Why he decided not to take VC funding (even though they were using credit cards to make payroll) and what he focused on instead* The hard decision he had to make when COVID wiped out their revenue streams and how they bounced back to have their most productive year ever* How being prepared for opportunity led to moderating a panel discussion with not one, but two sitting presidents, including President Obama which then led to a series of incredible strategic opportunities for Hello TractorConnect with Jehiel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jehiel/SUBSCRIBE TO THE HIGH-EQ FOUNDER Every week I send out an EQ micro-shift that you can put into practice immediately and level up as a leader. Get full access to The High-EQ Founder by Renita Kalhorn at renitakalhorn.substack.com/subscribe

On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” author and journalist Roger Thurow talks about his new book Against the Grain: How Farmers Around the Globe Are Transforming Agriculture to Nourish the World and Heal the Planet. During the conversation, they discuss the link between the environmental and hunger crises, how farmers around the world are turning to practices that heal the soil and restore biodiversity, and becoming comfortable with new relationships that will put the Earth back in balance. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

In this episode, we have the privilege of chatting with Theresa Frost, a remarkable 68-year-old athlete who shatters stereotypes and redefines what it means to stay active and competitive at any age.  Theresa's list of accomplishments is as impressive as it is diverse, including: European Aquabike Champion 2023  Team GB Athlete  Barcelona Ironman Finisher 2022  70.3 World Championships Competitor 2016  Theresa's journey is a testament to her incredible resilience and determination. A retired teacher and smallholder living in Cornwall, UK, she balances her athletic pursuits with her family life, being a wife of over 40 years, a mother of two, and a grandmother of three. In this episode, Theresa shares her fascinating life story, from her active childhood on a farm in Gloucester to her impressive achievements in the world of endurance sports. She talks about her initial foray into running after the birth of her daughter, Harriet, and how this led to her participation in multiple London Marathons and ultimately, Ironman competitions. Listeners will hear about Theresa's triumphs and challenges, including overcoming double hip replacements, her rigorous training schedule, and her philosophy on staying active and healthy.  Whether you're looking for inspiration to take on a new challenge or tips on staying fit and motivated at any age, Theresa Frost's story is sure to captivate and inspire.  Tune in to learn how Theresa continues to defy expectations and live life to the fullest, proving that age and obstacles are no barriers to achieving greatness. *** Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.  By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement.  Thank you for your invaluable support!   Show notes Who is Theresa Retired teacher and small holder  Being a GB athlete and competing in standard, middle and long distance Aquabike (Swim and bike of a triathlon) Being European Distance Champion for the 65- 69 age group Based in Cornwall, UK 68 years young Reflecting back on her childhood and growing up on a farm in Gloucester with her 3 siblings  Doing all of the team sports at school, from hockey, netball, rounders, tennis and gymnastics.  Outside of school, doing Judo, fencing and sub-aqua Spending time outdoors exploring, and playing in the woods Being inspired by her sports teacher at school in both sports and education Becoming a PE teacher and meeting her husband at work Being married to Peter for 41 years, having 2 children and 3 grandchildren Not being active during her pregnancy's  Getting into running after her daughter, Harriet was born What her running journey looked like Starting with 10ks and half marathons and entering the London Marathon in 1990 Running London Marathon 5 times  Deciding to take on a Ironman and not knowing if she had the potential to achieve it Doing an Ironman with Harriet Having 2 hip replacements 14 years ago - August 2010 Doing the London Triathlon in 2013 at 57 Getting more confident and training better 2015 doing an half ironman  Finishing first in her age group to go to the World Championships in Australia  Being retired and working on her smallholding Speaking with and working with a coach in 2021 Deciding to commit and do a full Ironman in October 2022 What a typical training week looks like Training 13 out of 14 days (not always taking a day off) Strength and conditioning class with Ruth  Not being a fan of stretching Being a member of a running club GLL Better Leisure Centres, Cornwall SNUGGs Wetsuits Liking the thought of running   Feeling pain while running Running on her terms  What is Aquabike? https://www.aquabike.world/  The European Aquabike Championships in Portugal The mental side of races Being inspired by the Eileen's in her life The distances involved and fuelling during the race Maurten  Food and meat from the small holding  Needing to eat more protein Being a baker but not a cooker Food before a race and after Recovery and not being a fan of stretching Dog walking and active recovery Not being good at sitting down and doing nothing Turning 70 and looking forward to it How to connect with Theresa on Instagram Final words of advice for other women who are in their 60s and want to try new things Starting with one thing and why moving is so important Take opportunities and try new things   Social Media Instagram: @theresa.frost   

Support Bionic Planet: https://www.patreon.com/bionicplanet  In episode 109 of Bionic Planet, we learn how the Quilombola people of Brazil are blending the IPCC Livelihood Vulnerability Index Assessment with soil carbon methodologies developed under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) to save themselves and their soil from urban expansion and agricultural encroachment.  We begin with Sandra Pereira Braga, a descendant of enslaved peoples who has been farming on her family's land for almost 300 years. Sandra's story highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing the traditional practices and accumulated carbon stocks of these communities. Our main guest is Vasco van Roosmalen, CEO of ReSeed, a startup focused on helping smallholder farmers access climate financing. Vasco discusses the innovative approach taken by ReSeed to support vulnerable farmers who are already practicing regenerative agriculture. By adapting methodologies like VM42 for soil carbon and utilizing the IPCC vulnerability assessments, ReSeed is helping farmers access the funding they need to maintain their existing carbon stocks and continue their sustainable practices. We also delve back into the challenges of land tenure in Brazil, discussing the complexities of land titles and the implications for carbon projects. The recent Operation Greenwashing by Brazilian authorities targeting projects with fake land titles underscores the importance of ensuring legal ownership and sustainable management practices. Overall, the episode sheds light on the critical role of smallholder farmers in climate action and the need for innovative approaches to support these communities in preserving their lands and traditional practices. Through initiatives like ReSeed, there is hope for empowering farmers to mitigate climate change and protect their livelihoods for future generations. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction to Regenerative Agriculture in Brazil 00:05:30 - Importance of Carbon Finance for Smallholder Farmers 00:10:00 - Challenges Faced by Quilombola Communities 00:15:00 - Role of Carbon Markets in Agriculture 00:20:00 - Methodologies for Assessing Vulnerability and Carbon Stocks 00:25:30 - Discussion on VM42 Soil Carbon Methodology 00:30:00 - Land Tenure Issues in Brazil 00:35:00 - Operation Greenwashing and Land Title Fraud 00:40:00 - Challenges of Land Titling and Timber Management 00:45:00 - Overlap of Illegal Land Titles and Carbon Projects Quotes "My people have been on this land for 276 years." - 00:00:38-00:00:50 "Today's guest, Vasco van Roosmalen, is the CEO of a startup called ReSeed." - 00:02:58-00:03:08 "We know that the enemy is carbon, and we know its ugly face, we should put a big fat price on it, and of course, add to that, drop the subsidies." - 00:05:52-00:06:04 "Man may be unwittingly changing the world's climate through the waste products of his civilization." - 00:05:52-00:06:04 "We need to recognize what they have been doing for 300 years, the accumulating of that biomass in that soil and the protection of the agroforest that they have on their land." - 00:28:39-00:28:50 "It's a way to quantify actions that need to be taken to help that economic sector move from those high emissions to low emissions." - 00:14:56-00:15:06 "Smallholder farmers are among the most vulnerable to climate change. They're the front lines of climate change." - 00:16:10-00:16:21 "We need to really look at their ability to adapt." - 00:33:14-00:33:25 "It's a step process. First illegal land titles, then sustainable management, timber plans that weren't followed." - 00:45:10-00:45:21 "But it was all built on the very beginning of those illegal land titles." - 00:46:14-00:46:24

Usman Javaid is the CEO of Ricult International, a multidimensional artificial intelligence-powered solution seeking to empower smallholder farmers in Asia, through a digital financial technology solution.  In this episode, KJ and Usman share insights on the critical challenges faced by farmers in Asia, such as inefficiencies, financial exclusion, and climate change, and how technology can mitigate these issues.   Key Takeaways: 01:33 The Ag Tech Revolution 06:30 Challenges in Agriculture 10:05 Climate Change and Its Impact 11:57 Innovative Solutions with AI 27:54 Future Vision and Expansion   Quote of the Show (18:00): "My vision is to help farmers work their way out of poverty. Technology or access to capital is a means to an end. The end is improving lives." - Usman Javaid   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we're keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Usman Javaid LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/usmanj Company Website: https://www.web.ricult.com/   Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ricult/   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is the second largest producer of palm oil after Indonesia, making up 24% of global production. With the sector facing headwinds including challenges in productivity, regulatory impediments and uncertain demand conditions, how well can Malaysia adapt to the changing ties? We discuss these issues with Datuk Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, Director General of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

This week: At the future of food and beverage conference in Amsterdam, Jason Archie-Acheampong, international commercial programmes manager at Producers Direct, spoke with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about value chain actor and next-generation engagement in farming. They discuss the importance of improving farmer incomes and how to implement new technologies on-the-ground with farmers in mind.   Plus: Bayer Crop Sciences' head of biologics Benoit Hartmann and Innovation Forum's Savanna Razzaque talk about what to expect in the next focus on farmers webinar series. This complimentary webinar will focus on how agri-food stakeholders can efficiently scale, accelerate and unlock innovation. Click here to register.

A conversation with Emiliano Mroue, founder of WARC, about their recent funding round, being close to the farmers and why he left a corporate job in Germany to starting a farmer focussed anti poverty company in Sierra Leone which turns into a company which todays serves over 20000 farmers mostly in Ghana, in the transition to more regenerative practices. What is their secret to be close to the farmers always, not quite often but always?Smallholder maize farmers at the edge of the Sahara, brutal circumstances in the Sahel mean most farmers are growing to eat and to survive and, with climate change and current farming practices burn and deep tilling, their survival is literally on the line. These soils can be depleted in a decade or less, not like in the global North where we might have 50 to 60 harvests left. So how do you go about behaviour change with farmers that are in poverty, you want to help them to change, but don't want to risk their fragile livelihood? How do you find the recipes that work in the local context?In March 2024, the Ghana-based agricultural service provider Warc Africa has successfully closed its Series B round, securing $7.5 million. The fresh capital raised aims to boost Warc Africa's reach to serve over 100,000 farmers in Ghana, increase their incomes, and protect the soils. ---------------------------------------------------Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag. Support our work:Share itGive a 5-star ratingBuy us a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture----------------------------------------------------More about this episode on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/.Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.----------------------------------------------------The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.https://foodhub.nl/en/opleidingen/your-path-forward-in-regenerative-food-and-agriculture/Support the showFeedback, ideas, suggestions? - Twitter @KoenvanSeijen - Get in touch www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.comJoin our newsletter on www.eepurl.com/cxU33P! Support the showThanks for listening and sharing!

Wain Collen, co-founder and executive director of Fundación Aliados in Ecuador, joins Scott Stone, Marlies Quirino, and Lucia Guaita on The Lookfar Podcast: Voices from the Wild. Aliados's work is centered on four pillars – practicing regenerative agriculture, incubating bioeconomy initiatives, connecting to responsible markets, and creating new ecological value. Aliados just launched the Center for Bioeconomy with eleven indigenous and local community organizations, spearheading an innovative investment hub in the Ecuadorian Amazon to scale resilient community-led businesses. A fascinating discussion with Wain about Aliados' remarkable work. Available on all major podcast platforms. Just search Lookfar and you'll find it! 

You have a lot to thank sheep for. Yes, sheep.More than just wool and meat - sheep have played a part in the development of contraception AND reproduction of humans.It's not as dodgy as it sounds, but it is absolutely surprising and listening to this show will have you thanking every sheep you see from here on out.Featuring:Tara Farms, YouTuber, and Sheep farmer.Sally Coulthard, Historian, Smallholder, and Author of “A short history of the World according to Sheep”Dr Charles Roselli, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.Emeritus Professor Gareth Evans, University of Sydney.Dr Stephan Leu, The University of Adelaide.Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer.Petria Ladgrove, Producer.Additional mastering: Nathan Turnbull.This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Kaurna people.

In episode 147, we're excited to welcome Jon Trask, CEO of Dimitra, an AgTech company on a mission to connect smallholder farmers with easy-to-use technology to increase yields, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. We discuss how emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, and IoT devices, can help smallholder farmers grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods, how blockchain can improve monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) by equipping farmers with important data, and much more.--Three Key Takeaways--One of the biggest unlocks of blockchain is ensuring true traceability of products, allowing consumers to see every step of that product's journey from point of harvest to consumption. This will be a gamechanger for socially conscious consumerism and building sustainable supply chains.Blockchain alone won't solve the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and must be leveraged alongside other emerging technologies. In the case of Dimitra, blockchain is built into their platform in conjunction with AI, IoT devices, satellite imaging, genomics, and more.Smallholder farmers are vital to a sustainable and thriving planet. Not only do they play an important role in global food chains but are also vital to local economies and ecosystems. By improving the lives of farmers, it will lead to improved economies and a healthier environment.--Full shownotes with links available at--https://www.cryptoaltruism.org/blog/crypto-altruism-podcast-episode-147-dimitra-empowering-smallholder-farmers-with-ai-blockchain-based-agtech-solutions--Support us with a Fiat or Crypto contribution--Learn more at cryptoaltruism.org/supportus--This episode was recorded on Zencastr!--Interested in starting your own podcast? Use my special link to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan. Alternatively, head to zencastr.com/pricing and use my code "CryptoAltruism".Please note: we make use of affiliate marketing to provide readers with referrals to high quality and relevant products and services.--DISCLAIMER --While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, please do not take any of this as investment advice, and please make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity, before making an investment. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it's important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More on the disclaimer at cryptoaltruism.org.

Over the coming decades, smallholder farmers throughout Africa will play a pivotal role in supporting the continent's economic development and enabling food security. However, these farmers currently face numerous constraints that hinder their productivity and profitability. Challenges include a lack of support and access to resources such as financing, technology, inputs, and markets. Accelerating Africa's regenerative agricultural transformation requires a farmer-centric, ecosystem-led approach that involves actors across the whole value chain. Impactful partnerships and collaborations between farmers, governments, developmental organisations, entrepreneurs, food companies, and stakeholders must yield innovative solutions to help smallholder farmers overcome this complex set of constraints. Access to resources and opportunities through resilient value chains is essential to optimising profitability and improving smallholder livelihoods. Our panel of experts drew on from real-world examples and experiences, as they discussed: The current financial, economic and technological barriers preventing many African smallholders from implementing more sustainable farming techniques How can value-chain stakeholders best work together to build capacity, and support farmer-centric solutions to smallholder farmers challenges within fragmented value chains? The role of policy changes and support mechanisms in fostering robust, efficient and inclusive smallholder ecosystems Examples of new and innovative technologies that can improve rural access to financing, for improved livelihoods and climate-smart farming This webinar was moderated by Toby Webb, founder of Innovation Forum. This was the second part of the Focus on Farmers webinar series, hosted in partnership with Bayer Crop Science. To listen to the first part in this series, click here.  To find out more about Bayer's work in this area, see here.

Gillian Pais of McKinsey & Company returns to Lagos to Mombasa to discuss the importance of localizing climate solutions, strategies to promote the uptake of climate-smart agriculture, and the role of regional organizations in sharing best practices.    

Overview: Today, we're going to talk about Twiga Foods. We'll explore the story across the following 6 areas Africa Agricultural context Kenya farming & market access context Twiga Foods' early history Twiga Foods' Product & monetization strategy  Twiga Foods' Competitive positioning & potential exit options Future outlook. This episode was recorded on May 28, 2023 Companies discussed: Twiga Foods, Apollo Agriculture, Vendease, Kibanda, Kellogg, Tolaram, Multipro, Olam, Dangote, Coca-Cola, Shoprite, Cargill, Nestle, Unilever & Safaricom (M-Pesa) Business concepts discussed: Agriculture technology (AgTech, AgriTech or AgroTech), Agribusiness marketplaces, farming financing, Farmer market access opportunities, SMB Retail, B2B solutions and Agriculture Logistics. Conversation highlights: (01:00) - Twiga Foods context (08:53) - Africa Agriculture context (18:30) - Kenya background and agriculture context (23:34) - Market access context in Africa (31:20) - Market access context at Twiga Foods' founding (40:12) - Founders' background and farming context (56:10) - Fundraising (1:04:10) - Geographical expansion, Partnerships and Hiring (1:15:00) - Metrics (1:20:15) - Product & Monetization strategy, Cost structure (1:32:58) - Competition (1:35:00) - Options for exit (1:45:50) - Olumide's overall thoughts and outlook (1:58:58) - Bankole's overall thoughts and outlook (2:06:31) - Recommendations and small wins Olumide's recommendations & small wins: Recommendation: Berkshire Hathaway story on the Acquired podcast. It has multiple parts and is really good. The Acquired podcast is like the non-African version of Afrobility. They tell stories of companies in developed markets. Alternatively you could say Afrobility is the African version of Acquired. Recommendation: Exxon-Mobil analyses on Business Breakdown podcast. Business Breakdowns is like a more serious suit-and-tie version of Acquired. As you can tell from my recommendations I like podcasts that analyse businesses. Small win: Sao Paulo trip. It was fun.  Small win: To physically touch and hold the Firedom (financial independence) book. I and Samon released the paperback and hardcover versions in May and I just received my author copy. It feels magical, the book is beautiful and bright red. Bankole's recommendations & small wins: Recommendation: Article about end of Life Dreams, Hallmarks of Good Product Sense & This Company Will Give You A Free TV In Exchange For Your Data | AdExchanger  Small win: The EPL season is over, and the suffering of being a Chelsea fan is on pause… Other content: Winning in Africa's agricultural market, After 18 Months, Your Investment Probably Isn't Getting Marked Up - Angellist & Kellogg purchases 50% of Multipro for $450M Listeners: We'd love to hear from you. Email info@afrobility.com with feedback! Founders & Operators: We'd love to hear about what you're working on, email us at info@afrobility.com Investors: It would be great to link up with you. Contact us at info@afrobility.com Join our insider mailing list where we get feedback on new episodes & find all episodes on Afrobility.com

Excited to share this episode with Pankaj Mahalle, Co-founder & CEO at GramHeet. Pankaj was brought up in India in a smallholder farming family and it was through his lived experience of the physical, emotional, and financial stress facing modern Indian farmers that propelled him to co-found Gramheet, a brand which provides integrated post-harvest services to over 8,000 smallholder farmers. Their work has helped farmers increase their income by up to 40% and has prevented over 1300 metric tons of grain losses over the past two years alone.

This podcast is a commentary and does not contain any copyrighted material of the reference source. We strongly recommend accessing/buying the reference source at the same time. ■Reference Source https://www.ted.com/talks/anushka_ratnayake_a_transparent_easy_way_for_smallholder_farmers_to_save ■Post on this topic (You can get FREE learning materials!) https://englist.me/78-academic-words-reference-from-anushka-ratnayake-a-transparent-easy-way-for-smallholder-farmers-to-save--ted-talk/ ■Youtube Video https://youtu.be/1_CbEvNU4I4 (All Words) https://youtu.be/lTqtYYVdPro (Advanced Words) https://youtu.be/B_Pr8mIxSIE (Quick Look) ■Top Page for Further Materials https://englist.me/ ■SNS (Please follow!)

A conversation with Luni Libes, about the enormous opportunities of African food companies and on buying from smallholder famers and selling into the local regional markets. We also discuss why the traditional venture capital model doesn't make any sense and a holding company does, plus why and how he wants to take the holding company public in a few years' time.---------------------------------------------------Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and benefits on www.gumroad.com/investinginregenag. Support our work:Share itGive a 5-star ratingBuy us a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture----------------------------------------------------More about this episode on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/luni-libes.Find our video course on https://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/course.----------------------------------------------------The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice. Support the showFeedback, ideas, suggestions? - Twitter @KoenvanSeijen - Get in touch www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.comJoin our newsletter on www.eepurl.com/cxU33P! Support the showThanks for listening and sharing!

How do you see, capture and express abstraction to a tangible form for human consumption?The above question is deep-seated within our subconscious, harnessing the potential of being aware of our environment, be it internal or external, and manipulating it to our advantage.Our growth in every sense of the word lies firmly on the knowledge we have come to acquire by the process of learning in the light of the contacts we make unconsciously or otherwise. Through these acquisitions, we come to build unique structures that transcend generations and, at the same time, create a path for the future.If we take a closer look at the above, we will see that this phenomenon is innate and indigenous in nature. Still, the potential and innate resource somehow come to find a way of being transformed into something useful by those to whom it is native.Being a native to something, like intelligence, doesn't restrict it to that given geography in a way. Still, it somehow finds its way to other nativities in terms of geography because it is an answer to questions and solutions to challenges with a universal theme and application.One this is unique about this is that particular piece of intelligence that has now formed the base on which the applied knowledge thrives and grows does not lose its uniqueness, the identity of its introduction, and, somehow, all come to acknowledge its origin and bearer; the INDI-GENE.In this episode of the Word Café, we will be talking about the benefits of indigenous intelligence. I am honored to have an individual who sees herself as a native of intelligence. Her name is Akwugo Anyaegbunam.Akwugo Anyaegbunam is a Development Finance Lead experienced in Stakeholder Engagement, Programme Implementation, and Capacity Strengthening.She believes strongly in the triple bottom line, Doing good and doing well don't need to be mutually exclusive – if we know how.She started her career in consulting because she wanted to solve problems. She became intrigued with program implementation as an independent reviewer of non-profit beneficiaries of international grants. Aside from gaining a better understanding of the financing gaps within non-profits and government agencies, one thing became clearer - in designing impact projects; funding must align with building and strengthening the capacity of both the beneficiaries and the institutions. If people know better, they will do better.  She loves to learn and consolidate her knowledge by implementing and teaching. As a result, most of her roles involve advisory, training, capacity strengthening, and ensuring stakeholders are actively engaged throughout the process. As a result, the prevalent thread from her years of experience is communicating for change. She is well versed in strategic partnerships, generating relevant knowledge, and leveraging technical expertise across sectors.   Her work in social impact programs has led to a higher inclusion rate for traditionally excluded populations in healthcare, financial services, and access to opportunities. As an MSME Advisor administering and monitoring intervention projects worth over $550 million to micro, small and medium enterprises, reducing the funding asymmetry in the SME space and driving access to funding for businesses in the startup and scaleup phase with no access to traditional collateral. Economic opportunities for women also improved by allocating 60% of the fund to female-owned businesses. Smallholder farmers recorded improved productivity and income through out-grower programs that effectively linked organized farmers groups to markets and secured off-takers for their produce.  She will always be dedicated to providing leadership and advisory expertise to tackle economic and social issues. When I'm notSupport the show

Overview: Today, we're going to talk about Thrive Agric, the Nigerian Agricultural technology company - we'll explore Thrive Agric's story across 5 areas: First we'll start with some context about African agriculture Thrive Agric's launch & early history Product & monetization strategy Competitive positioning & potential exit options Overall outlook This episode was recorded on September 25 2022 Companies discussed: Thrive Agric, Apollo Agriculture & FarmCrowdy Business concepts discussed: Agricultural Technology (AgriTech or AgTech), smallholder farmers acquisition strategy, Agriculture financing, Crowdfunding, Agriculture value and supply chains & Debt financing Conversation highlights: (10:41) - Africa Agriculture context (19:38) - Nigeria Agriculture context (26:14) - Nigeria crowdfunding backgroun (32:30) - Founders' background and launch story (46:48) - Fundraising (55:47) - Product and monetization strategy, (1:09:15) - Competition & options for exit (1:19:20) - Bankole's overall thoughts and outlook (1:24:45) - Olumide's overall thoughts and outlook (1:32:25) - Recommendations and small wins Olumide's recommendations & small wins: Interested in investing in Africa Tech with Olumide: Read about Adamantium fund & contact me at olumide@afrobility.com Founders looking for funding: If you're a B2B founder working on Education, Health, Finance or food, please contact me for funding at olumide@afrobility.com Recommendation: Jim Rohn - How to change your life video - Incredible. He just drops non-stop knowledge bombs. Remarkable Recommendation: Toucan chrome extension to learn languages Small win: Exercise of writing 50 goals. Brought up a lot of interesting ideas. Shout to Alan Donegan for facilitating this Other content: A Thrive Agric Story. One Farmer at a Time. Bankole's recommendations & small wins: Recommendation: AI And The Limits Of Language, Lindy Hacker News & Lying For Money Small win: Strength workouts Other content: Asake - Mr Money with the vibe, ThriveAgricPR - product overview, Leadway Insurance response on Twitter, SEC Nigeria rules on Crowdfunding, Invest Like The Best - Jeff Jordan & Kevin Systrom on Lex Fridman All episodes on Afrobility.com

A safe space to save money is life-changing -- especially for the 60 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (the majority being women) who often live on less than two dollars a day. Poverty fighter Anushka Ratnayake introduces her nonprofit myAgro, which offers farmers a place to save small amounts of money and allows them to access those funds as they need them. Over the next five years, myAgro plans to reach a million farmers in West Africa, providing a stress-free, transparent and convenient system that empowers agricultural entrepreneurs by putting the purchasing power it takes to run a successful farm in their hands. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

A safe space to save money is life-changing -- especially for the 60 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (the majority being women) who often live on less than two dollars a day. Poverty fighter Anushka Ratnayake introduces her non-profit myAgro, which offers farmers a place to save small amounts of money and allows them to access those funds as they need them. Over the next five years, myAgro plans to reach a million farmers in West Africa, providing a stress-free, transparent and convenient system that empowers agricultural entrepreneurs by putting the purchasing power it takes to run a successful farm in their hands. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

A safe space to save money is life-changing -- especially for the 60 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (the majority being women) who often live on less than two dollars a day. Poverty fighter Anushka Ratnayake introduces her non-profit myAgro, which offers farmers a place to save small amounts of money and allows them to access those funds as they need them. Over the next five years, myAgro plans to reach a million farmers in West Africa, providing a stress-free, transparent and convenient system that empowers agricultural entrepreneurs by putting the purchasing power it takes to run a successful farm in their hands. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)