83: The Path to Climate-Smart Agriculture with Renée Vassilos

Fresh Takes On Tech

How do we usher in a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for agriculture? This season, we embark on a journey through climate-smart agriculture (CSA) to explore the solutions and innovations driving change. In our inaugural episode, we dive deep into the world of CSA with Renée Vassilos, Director of Agriculture Innovation at The Nature Conservancy. Renée addresses fundamental questions about CSA, such as the importance of rebuilding soil health for its role in climate change mitigation, freshwater systems, and biodiversity support.

You'll learn about the distinction between climate-smart and regenerative agriculture, the challenges and risks involved, and the critical need to align new technologies with business outcomes to drive adoption and scaling. Listen in to discover the profound link between soil health and human well-being, where soil microbiomes are key to physical and mental health.

Key Takeaways

• The difference between climate-smart and regenerative agriculture.
• The challenges and risks Renée sees in this line of work.
• How Renée’s team gets involved in testing solutions.
• What needs to happen in order for solutions to be adopted and scaled.
• How we can encourage farmers to adopt these climate-smart products.
• The importance of soil health.

Guest Resources

Renée Vassilos: LinkedIn | Website

Show Links

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