TFT's Antony Yousefian: Soil will be the most valuable asset class

Welcome back for Series 2 of Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations.

Farmers may wind up making or breaking our chance to tackle climate change.

In this episode Claire Brady and Richard Delevan speak with Antony Yousefian, partner at The First Thirty VC, shares his journey from finance to the forefront of climate tech and sustainable investment in the UK. Delving into the impacts of climate change on agriculture, the potential of regenerative farming, Antony provides invaluable insights into leveraging technology and capital for a greener future.

Time Codes & Highlights:

• [00:01:30] - Antony shares his background in finance and the transition towards sustainable investments and the decarbonisation of financial assets.
• [00:05:25] - Discussion on the challenges of ESG quantification and the journey towards actionable metrics in sustainable investment.
• [00:06:24] - Antony highlights the significance of food security, climate change, and the crucial role of sustainable agriculture in addressing these issues.
• [00:10:56] - Insights into regenerative agriculture, carbon sequestration, and the necessity of incentivising sustainable farming practices.
• [00:25:58] - The role of AI in capturing data and enabling sector growth, and the importance of data in attracting capital to sustainability efforts.
• [00:31:22] - Why investing in nature tech and the food system is bankable and the opportunity for returns on investment.
• [00:36:47] - Antony provides recommendations for books, films, and podcasts that have influenced his perspective on sustainability and agriculture.

Antony’s Catalysts:

• Films: "Kiss the Ground" and "The Biggest Little Farm" for insights into regenerative agriculture's potential.
• Book: "What Your Food Ate" by David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklé, exploring the impact of soil health on food nutrition.
• Podcasts: "Investing in Regenerative Agriculture" by Koen van Seijen and "Regenerative Agriculture" by John Kempf for discussions on the future of farming.
• Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit on climate-caused food price inflation.

Contact:

• Connect with Antony Yousefian on LinkedIn

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