44. Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution, with Sarah Langford

My guest this week is Fritjof Capra, living systems theorist and bestselling author of The Systems View of Life. He discusses how:Systems thinking represents a shift from a mechanistic to an organic or network worldviewComplexity theory brought a breakthrough in our understanding of living systemsLiving systems are self-organising networks with processes of creativity and regenerationSocial systems are enabled by communities of practice, informal communication and cultureChange agency happens by aligning with and reinforcing feedback loops through movementsKey linksThe Capra Course (website)The Systems View of Life (book)The Environmentalist (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is Sarah Langford, author of Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution. She discusses how:The UK’s policy of “public money for public good” is helping farmers to reclaim their role as stewards of the landWe can learn lessons for transforming the food sector from farmers struggling with the transition to regenerative agricultureReforming the agricultural system needs to simultaneously tackle public health, biodiversity loss and food securityLivestock farming (and the diets that supports this) needs to change, but cellular agriculture and precision fermentation have challengesIt is a myth that there is a trade-off between food production (yields) and nature conservation in regenerative farmingKey linksSarah Langford (LinkedIn)Sarah Langford (website)Rooted (book)Radical Activist (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is Jed Emerson, Chief Impact Officer, AlTi Tiedemann Global and author of The Purpose of Capital. He discusses how:Impact investing, social return on investment, venture philanthropy, and blended value are related, reinforcing concepts and practicesESG investing is not a new idea or practice, going back at least to the Mennonite shareholder activism in relation to the Dutch East India CompanyThe ethical investment movement has evolved from screened socially responsible investments and best in class approaches to ESG integration and impact investingESG investment has reached a critical mass, but the business risk-based approach (single materiality) resulted in perceptions of greenwashingStakeholder capitalism represents a shift in societal norms and expectations of business, but face significant resistance from incumbent vested interestsKey linksJed Emerson (LinkedIn)Blended Value (website)AlTi Tiedemann Global (website)The Purpose of Capital (book)Mutualism (book)Thriving (book)I Like to Move It (poem)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is Robbin Jorgensen, Founder and CEO of Women Igniting Change. She discusses how:“Listening tours” in Rwanda reveal inspiring women with resilience, innovation and creativityWe need to work with men and change societal norms to create the opportunities for womenChanging behaviours in companies is a systemic change that takes time and commitmentImposter syndrome is common among women and can be countered by solidary groupsMen may need to “pipe down” sometimes to ensure that women’s voices are heardKey links:Robbin Jorgensen (LinkedIn)Women Igniting Change (website)Left to Tell (book)Rwandan Women Rising (book)Thriving (book)Women of Africa (poem)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is Erinch Sahan, Business & Enterprise Lead at Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). In this episode, he discusses how: Incentives in business are working against planetary boundaries and social foundationsGrowth as a core driver of business is incompatible with doughnut economicsWe need to make the deep design of business regenerative and distributiveRedesign must be at the level of purpose, networks, governance, ownership and financeNew models of business (beyond B-Corps) and financial markets are emerging Key linksErinch Sahan (LinkedIn)Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) (website)Doughnut Economics (book)A Swirling Story (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is Nicole Masters, Director of Integrity Soils and author of For the Love of Soil. In this episode, she discusses how: Farmers feel connected to the land, yet are destroying the living soil“Feeding the world” is a distribution problem, not a production problemRegenerative agriculture is a philosophy or paradigm, not a set of techniquesThe science of soil health and the movement of regeneration is still youngOur inner and outer landscape need to be more connectedKey links:Nicole Masters (LinkedIn)Integrity Soils (website)For the Love of Soil (book)We Have Earth (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is David Harland, until recently the CEO (International) of the Eden Project, with its two biomes with a million plants and the world’s largest indoor rainforest. In this episode, he discusses how:The Eden Project shows “the art of the possible” in turning ecosystem degradation into restorationBuckminster Fuller’s “spaceship earth” concept and geodesic domes served as an inspiration for the Eden ProjectThe Eden Project showcases the positive impacts of regeneration of nature, society and the economyEnd of life mining sites can become exemplars of nature restoration, social regeneration and economic resilienceEducation is crucial for demonstrating our dependence on nature and interdependence with natureKey linksDavid Harland (LinkedIn)The Eden Project (website)Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth (book)On the Brink (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is Tamara Makoni, Founder and CEO of Kazuri Consulting. In this episode, she discusses how: Equality and equity are different – and why equity is more important for creating fair outcomesDiscrimination often emerges unconsciously, for example through “micro-aggressions”Diversity and inclusion require investment of time and resources in order to make progressDE&I creates value for organisations and society, but this is not often quantifiedWe need to learn the lessons of the salmon in order to confront social injusticeKey links:Tamara Makoni (LinkedIn)Kazuri Consulting (website)What Works: Gender Equality by Design, by Iris Bohnet (book)The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth about Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations, by Robert Livingston (book)Thriving, by Wayne Visser (book)This is the Way (poem)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is Aneel Kumar Ambavaram is the Founder Director of the Raddis (Radically Disruptive) Cotton Program. In this episode, he discusses how: He made the transition from selling agricultural chemicals to leading regenerative agricultureRegenerative agriculture increases the resilience for small farmers in a climate damaged worldTransformation is a process of linking back to the traditional wisdom of older generationsBringing diversity of crops and techniques back to farming is a key to successMutual accountability in the value chain requires long term investment by big brandsKey linksAneel Kumar Ambavaram (LinkedIn)RESET Cotton Program (Instagram)The Earth Turns (poem) Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)

My guest this week is Hanan Challouki, the Founder of Inclusified. In this episode, she discusses why: Inclusion goes beyond having the right processes to having the right cultureListening is as important as giving people a seat at the tableDiverse teams are more productive and more creativeDiversity is most needed – and hardest to embrace – in times of uncertaintyCreating time and space for courageous conversations is needed in the workplaceKey linksHanan Challouki (LinkedIn)Inclusified (website)Not what you see (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)