In the fourth of our six-part biodiversity podcast series, we focus on the interactions between agriculture, soil, livestock farming and biodiversity.
Nick Spencer, from Gordian Advice, a responsible investment advisory boutique, hosts this episode and is joined by a number of experts to look at potential solutions using regenerative agriculture, tech and pastoral farming methods, as well as the potential benefits from the emerging food tech sector.
Nick notes that agriculture is a large source of nitrogen emissions, as fertilizer is washed off fields and into water sources. Ammonia vapors from livestock is also a source of nitrogen. Which can damage plants and cause soil to become acidic, which prevents the absorption of nutrients by plants.
According to Nick, “as agricultural operations expand and intensify, nitrogen exceeds ecological risk thresholds in many places. Plant diversity has decreased as invasive species that love nitrogen move in. This, in turn, contributes to a loss of insect and bird biodiversity.”
In this episode, we hear from Andrew Voysey, responsible for strategy and business development at soil capital, along with Mark Lewis, who runs the Regenerative Agriculture Fund at Trailhead Capital.
Nick also speaks to Aarti Ramachandran, Director, Research & Engagements, at FAIRR, a network of institutional investors to help drive change in the animal agriculture sector. Finally, we hear from Merav Oren, founder of the ACT Foodtech hub in Tel Aviv about advances in food technology.
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