EP 290 - Tom Williams - Number 8 Bio - Agriculture Is the Foundation of All Civilization
Aug 15, 2023
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Tom Williams, co-founder and CEO of Number 8 Bio, discusses topics such as the impact of agriculture on climate change, mechanization and automation in farming, addressing sustainability issues, and commercializing deep tech innovations in agriculture.
Agriculture is considered the foundation of civilization as it allowed humans to settle in one place and have a surplus of food, which led to the development of specialist roles and the expansion of civilization.
While mechanization and technology have greatly improved farming practices, there is a growing need for sustainable solutions in agriculture due to the negative environmental impact caused by practices like fertilizer runoff and greenhouse gas emissions.
Deep dives
The Significance of Number Eight in New Zealand Farming
Number eight wire mentality in New Zealand refers to the ability to fix anything on a farm using a piece of number eight fencing wire, demonstrating the innovative and versatile mindset of Kiwi farmers.
The Role of Agriculture in Shaping Civilization
Agriculture is considered the foundation of civilization as it allowed humans to settle in one place and have a surplus of food, which led to the development of specialist roles and the expansion of civilization.
The Advancements in Agriculture Post World War II
The Green Agricultural Revolution post World War II saw the use of synthetic fertilizer and crop breeding techniques that greatly increased agricultural productivity and prevented mass starvation.
The Need for Sustainable and Innovative Solutions in Agriculture
While mechanization and technology have greatly improved farming practices, there is a growing need for sustainable solutions in agriculture due to the negative environmental impact caused by practices like fertilizer runoff and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Asia Tech Podcast was wowed by its conversation with Tom Williams, a co-founder and the CEO of Number 8 Bio. From the origins of the company's name to the potential impact it could have on climate change, this entire conversation was truly amazing.
Some of the topics that Tom discussed:
Malthusian Population Theory - Synthetic Fertilizer and Crop Breeding
The mechanization and automation of farming
The impact that agriculture has on climate change
How the Syn Bio 10x program unlocks the latent potential of Australia’s academic scientists
The importance of addressing the sustainability issues in agriculture
The opportunities and risks of commercializing deep tech innovations in agriculture
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
The Number 8 Wire Mentality
The Sustainability Angle Is Really Important
Life Is a Little Bit Harder to Engineer Than I Originally Thought
Synthetic Biology and the Future of Agriculture
Agriculture Is Inherently a Biological Process
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