The NatureBacked Podcast

The episode explores Lithuania's vibrant green tech ecosystem, focusing on the growth of renewable energy, mobility, and circular economy innovations, and the challenges startups face. Teresė Škutaitė, head of the Green Tech Hub, discusses the impact of geopolitical shifts on the cleantech sector and the importance of energy independence. At the same time, Biohifas founder Tomas Byckovas talks about the potential of alternative proteins and mycelium-based solutions. He highlights the supportive environment for startups and the need for improved access to capital and talent in the region.TakeawaysLithuania's green tech sector is rapidly growing due to geopolitical shifts.Energy independence is a key driver for renewable energy innovation.The startup ecosystem is diverse, with strong mobility and circular economy sectors.Solar and wind energy are the main focuses of Lithuania's renewable energy strategy.Challenges include access to capital and attracting talent in cleantech.Alternative proteins and agri-food tech are emerging areas of innovation.The government and agencies provide significant support for startups.The EU's regulatory environment poses challenges for scaling businesses.Mycelium startups are gaining traction in the alternative protein space.Lithuania is positioning itself as a hub for green technology innovation.The episode was recorded on the sidelines of Startup Fair conference in Vilnius in October 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Jenks discusses Rare's mission to inspire change for the benefit of both people and nature. He emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior in conservation efforts and shares insights on how community engagement and behavioral science can drive sustainable practices."People are a huge opportunity for conservation," he said. "We need both policy change and individual action."Jenks highlights successful initiatives by Rare, the impact of media on climate action, and the need for individual action in addressing climate change. He concludes with a call for a collective effort to shift behaviors and achieve conservation goals."Your individual behavior matters in climate change."Rare is a global leader in driving social change for people and nature. For over 50 years, across 60 countries, it has inspired and empowered millions of people and their communities to protect our shared planet.Each of Rare’s programs today — The Center for Behavior & the Environment, Fish Forever, Lands for Life, Climate Culture, and Innovative Finance — support the shared goal of driving collective action at the local level to address global challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climate activist Niklas Kaskeala, founder and chief impact officer at ImpactOffice.Earth, highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the role of corporate responsibility in fostering a sustainable future.Kaskeala emphasizes the need for businesses to move beyond traditional sustainability practices and focus on creating positive impacts, questioning existing business models and advocating for broader societal change.Takeaways Kaskela has over 20 years of experience in sustainability. Protect Our Winters mobilizes the winter sports community against climate change. Climate change poses an existential threat to winter sports. Sustainability should focus on creating positive impact, not just minimizing harm. Businesses need to rethink their models for a sustainable future. The climate crisis has already crossed several planetary boundaries. Traveling to ski resorts contributes significantly to emissions. Companies must take ownership of their entire supply chain emissions. Corporate sustainability should not be a box-ticking exercise. The safe limit for CO2 in the atmosphere is 350 ppm, which we have exceeded decades ago. "We've gone way beyond the point of the safe limit, but what are we doing every day? We're adding more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Each and every one of us, each and every company. So even if we miraculously stopped emitting today, we would still have a huge issue with too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," Kaskeala said."It's like having a bathtub. If the bathtub is the atmosphere and the water running in there is the carbon dioxide, we've had the tap on for centuries, decades, and the water is already overflowing. It's so high up that it's flowing over the edges of the bathtub. So our solution can't be just to turn the tap off by 5% this year, 5% next year. It'll just contribute to the problem even more. We need to close it, but then we also need to remove the plug and drain the excess water out," he said.The episode was first aired live from the Impact Day event in Tallinn.Kaskeala was interviewed by Fiona Alston.Since the recording in October, Kaskeala also co-founded The Activist AgencyThe episode cover picture was made with Designer. Powered by DALL·E 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Martin Villig, co-founder of Bolt, discusses his journey towards a sustainable lifestyle and the importance of urban planning that prioritizes people over cars.He shares insights on how his personal experiences led to a shift in his lifestyle and the mission of Bolt to create cities that foster independence and community engagement. Villig emphasizes the role of education in building strong communities and advocates for a society where everyone cares for each other and the environment.TakeawaysSustainable living can lead to a happier lifestyle.Urban planning should prioritize people, not cars.Community independence is essential for family well-being.Education is key to creating equal opportunities.Leadership in schools can significantly impact student success.Awareness of transportation choices can influence city planning.Scaling a company requires a mission-driven approach.Shared mobility can reduce the need for personal cars.Building a community can combat loneliness and mental health issues.A caring society is one where everyone looks out for each other.The episode was recorded live at Impact Day in Tallinn by Fiona Alston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast episode with Larry Selzer from the Conservation Fund discusses balancing economic development with environmental conservation. Larry discusses the Fund's mission to protect critical lands in the U.S. while supporting sustainable economic activities. "It's not an easy endeavour, because there's a long history, over a century, of keeping these two powerful forces, the environmental movement and the free enterprise system separate in the United States. Our mission is to bring them together to create a mighty river of action," Selzer said.The fund aims to protect five million acres of forest and contribute to the national goal of conserving 30% of U.S. land by 2030. The conversation highlights the importance of integrating conservation with economic vitality and the unique challenges and strategies in achieving these ambitious goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Kari Sinivuori discusses the significant health benefits of nature and the alarming trend of urbanization leading to a disconnect from natural environments. The discussion highlights a research study that emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature, particularly through innovative products that incorporate natural microbes. "We need to reconnect people back to nature," Sinivuori said. "Every second person has a disease caused by one's own immune system."Kari explains how urban living contributes to health issues and how their company, Uute, is working to bridge this gap by providing nature-derived solutions in consumer products. The conversation also touches on future aspirations for the company and the potential for their technology to revolutionize health and wellness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NuCicer is a startup focused on breeding better chickpeas to have a positive impact on the environment and the growing population. The founders, Kathryn Cook and her father, aim to connect the fragmented food and agriculture system by bridging the gap between ag technologies and food brands. "By understanding the challenges that consumer brands and formulators are having, we can take those challenges and bring them back to the seed level," said Kathryn Cook.NuCicer's promises its first commercial variety, NC1, has up to 75% more protein than a standard chickpea and offers strong yields and a shorter time to maturity. "Our long-term vision is to provide growers with a regenerative crop that can be grown on tens of millions of acres," Cook said.By increasing the adoption of chickpeas, NuCicer aims to replace animal-based products, improve soil health, and reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the episode, Clover Hogan discusses her journey from a nature-loving child in Australia to a climate activist. She emphasizes the need for systemic change and regulation to address climate issues, highlighting the limitations of relying on corporate goodwill.Hogan also stresses the importance of diverse approaches, including nonviolent direct action, to push for meaningful climate action.She reflects on the challenges of maintaining optimism in the face of overwhelming climate news and the importance of focusing on grassroots solutions and effective communication.Finally, she encourages a broad definition of activism, emphasizing that anyone who cares and acts on that care can be considered an activist.Clover will be a keynote speaker at Impact Day in Tallinn in October. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pat Hill from Mott Corporation discusses his background and the company's history. Mott Corporation, founded over 60 years ago, specializes in porous metal products used in various industries. Pat explains their involvement in green hydrogen production through electrolysis and their role in making traditional industries like oil, gas, and chemicals more environmentally friendly. He also highlights their water recovery solutions for different markets, including digestate and craft spirits. The company operates globally, with significant sales in North America, Asia, and Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erkki Kubber, co-founder of Impact Day, says that the festival aimed at making sustainability appealing and fostering B2B partnerships has grown significantly, attracting more attendees each year, and plans to expand internationally.Despite its growth, the festival emphasizes reducing environmental impact through various measures, such as using reusable materials and encouraging digital participation.The upcoming event in October will focus on the theme "less is more," aiming to minimize resource overuse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices