Light Forest

EP 20. Regenerating Soil & Food in Thailand (with Avika & Abhi)

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Description

60+ years of industrial farming has left us with degraded soil, farmers on the brink of ruin, nutritionally hollow food, and a disconnection from how our food arrives to our homes.

Here lie the roots of the health crises we experience today.

In this conversation we get a root-level understanding of this picture from Avika & Abhi, co-founders of Living Roots, on a mission to help regenerate the soil and food production in Thailand.

Avika Nerula and Abhi Agarwal are co-founders of Living Roots, an agricultural technology company building climate-resilient futures through biological innovation. Based in Thailand, they’re working with farmers across Southeast Asia to revolutionize food production by prioritizing soil health, farmer profitability, and improving crop yields.

Before becoming farmers and entrepreneurs, Avika and Abhi were software engineers working in New York. They left their tech jobs, moved back to Thailand where they grew up, and started a farm, Sunshine Permaculture.

Today they open up on their journey.

Chapters

04:54 The State of Soil in Thailand

09:41 The Impact of Chemical Fertilizers

14:56 The Nutritional Deficiency Crisis

19:40 The Disconnect Between Farmers and Consumers

24:51 The Role of Living Roots in Regenerative Agriculture

29:30 Innovations in Soil Health and Farmer Profitability

34:27 The Future of Food Systems and Consumer Choices

01:03:09 Building Trust in Agriculture

01:06:07 Navigating Business Challenges in Regenerative Farming

01:09:12 The Shift Towards Regenerative Practices

01:16:40 Personal Journeys and Life Perspectives

01:21:02 The Reality of Farming and Its Challenges

01:27:57 Community and Connection in Agriculture

01:36:14 Envisioning a Regenerative Future

01:40:09 Practical Steps for Consumers

01:43:40 Resources for Understanding Regenerative Agriculture

01:48:03 Understanding Crop Burning and Its Implications

Resources:

Connect with Avika & Abhi