🌎 Earth Central - By Orbify

Orbify Inc
🌎 Earth Central - By Orbify

This podcast series explores stories & concepts relevant to climate crisis and its mitigation while putting the emphasis on the one thing that can help us understand the real scale of it: the ever objective satellite-based data. Brought to you by Orbify, a company on a mission to use Space to make better decisions on Earth. Follow us: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/orbify X: @orbifyinc

  1. Smallholders, Big Impact: Reza Azmi on Palm Oil, Sustainability, and the

    JUL 2

    Smallholders, Big Impact: Reza Azmi on Palm Oil, Sustainability, and the

    In this episode of Earth Central, we speak with Reza Asmi, Executive Director of Wild Asia, to explore SPIRAL Connect — a bottom-up model transforming palm oil supply chains by empowering independent smallholders and progressive mills across Southeast Asia. Reza shares the evolution of Wild Asia’s mission: from early conservation work in Malaysian forests to pioneering certified smallholder groups under RSPO standards. Today, their SPIRAL Connect initiative is redefining how sustainability works on the ground — integrating regenerative practices, fermentation-based farming, and real-time traceability into everyday palm oil production. With a footprint now reaching over 32,000 hectares, SPIRAL Connect demonstrates how investing in soil health, biodiversity, and farmer livelihoods can reduce costs, improve yields, and lower carbon footprints — making palm oil both more inclusive and resilient. Reza also shares how open-source training and farmer-to-farmer learning are helping scale this approach from Malaysia to Thailand, Indonesia, and even Peru. The conversation highlights how SPIRAL differs from traditional top-down certification schemes. Instead, it builds value-chain relationships that align farmer incentives with downstream buyer commitments. Reza emphasizes the need to engage procurement departments — not just sustainability teams — to drive real transformation. We also discuss the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the readiness of SPIRAL’s smallholders for compliance, and the limitations of current traceability efforts. Reza offers a grounded, nuanced view on what’s needed next: better tools, two-way data flows, and stronger partnerships that go beyond compliance to foster long-term regeneration. Key themes: Regenerative palm oil rooted in biodiversity and soil health Farmer-led innovation using fermentation and natural farming Scaling traceability and compliance with EUDR Unlocking real value through procurement and buyer alignment Building a global network of farmer champions and knowledge hubs SPIRAL Connect is not a certification — it’s a movement. One that centers smallholders, strengthens value chains, and brings measurable gains in carbon, biodiversity, and livelihoods.

    54 min
  2. Making Nature Data Work: Accessibility Challenges and the Future of Data Innovation

    APR 10

    Making Nature Data Work: Accessibility Challenges and the Future of Data Innovation

    In this episode of Earth Central, host Alex sits down with Alex Logan to discuss the evolving landscape of environmental data and the growing importance of accessibility in the climate and conservation space. As environmental monitoring technologies continue to generate vast amounts of data—particularly through remote sensing—the challenge is no longer availability, but usability. Logan sheds light on the often-overlooked hurdles that researchers, technologists, and organizations face when trying to turn raw data into actionable insights.The conversation highlights three key obstacles: identifying the most relevant datasets, navigating the technical complexity of geospatial formats, and managing licensing or pricing constraints that can limit access. New tools and platforms are emerging to bridge these gaps by simplifying integration and reducing the burden on science and engineering teams. These solutions are helping to accelerate the development of applications that rely on nature data, as illustrated through collaborative use cases such as carbon project planning and ecosystem monitoring.The discussion also explores the importance of community-driven efforts to share knowledge and resources in this rapidly growing field. Logan introduces initiatives that aim to provide ethical, legal, and technical guidance for sharing environmental and Indigenous data responsibly. As interest in biodiversity, land use, and soil data intensifies, the conversation underscores the need for shared standards and infrastructure to support more effective decision-making. This episode offers a thoughtful look into how collaboration and data accessibility are shaping the future of environmental action.

    1h 1m
  3. Enhancing Carbon Market Integrity: The Intersection of Data, Technology, and Sustainability

    11/20/2024

    Enhancing Carbon Market Integrity: The Intersection of Data, Technology, and Sustainability

    In this insightful episode of Earth Central, Konstantinos from Orbify engages in a deep conversation with Billy Richards, CEO of Changeblock. They delve into how cutting-edge technologies like satellite data are revolutionizing the carbon markets by enhancing transparency and trust. Billy shares his expertise on overcoming skepticism in the voluntary carbon market, addressing challenges like bad press and lack of regulation, and the critical role of collaboration in the climate tech sector. Discover how Changeblock and Orbify are partnering to provide accurate, reliable data that improves the integrity of carbon credits. Learn about the future of sustainable finance, the importance of standardization, and how technology is bridging the gap between innovation and impactful environmental action. Key Takeaways: • Leveraging Technology for Transparency: Explore how satellite data are being used to enhance the accuracy and trustworthiness of carbon credits. • Overcoming Market Skepticism: Understand the challenges posed by bad press and lack of regulation in carbon markets, and how innovative solutions can rebuild confidence. • Collaboration in Climate Tech: Learn why cooperation between startups and established organizations is essential for advancing sustainability goals. • Future of Carbon Trading: Gain insights into how regulation and technology intersect to shape the future of carbon markets and sustainable finance. Changeblock: https://changeblock.com/ Billy Richards: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billybrichards/

    35 min
  4. How Satellite Data is Changing the Game: Frontierra’s Take on Deforestation, EUDR, and TNFD

    10/23/2024

    How Satellite Data is Changing the Game: Frontierra’s Take on Deforestation, EUDR, and TNFD

    In this episode of Earth Central, host Konstantinos welcomes Lewis Rattray, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Frontierra, to explore the exciting world of satellite technology, nature-related risks, and how businesses are navigating sustainability challenges. Lewis takes us through Frontierra’s journey from its inception to becoming a leading consultancy that uses satellite data to monitor deforestation and environmental risks. We discuss how satellite monitoring is revolutionizing industries, helping companies manage their impacts on nature, and empowering them to act quickly on environmental challenges. Lewis sheds light on how Frontierra’s work with TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures) pilot projects in Latin America and the evolving landscape of biodiversity and nature-related assessments are shaping global sustainability practices. Key Topics Covered: • Satellite Technology for Environmental Monitoring:Discover how satellite technology is helping businesses in industries like finance and agriculture identify and mitigate nature-related risks. From monitoring vast supply chains to tracking deforestation, satellite data is a game-changer in sustainability efforts. • TNFD Pilot Projects in Latin America:Lewis discusses Frontierra’s involvement in TNFD pilot projects with financial institutions in Colombia and Brazil. These projects are helping shape how companies assess and report on nature-related risks, setting new standards for environmental accountability. • Real-Time Satellite Monitoring – The Future:We explore the potential of real-time satellite monitoring, which could revolutionize how industries respond to environmental changes. Luis explains the challenges of making this technology widely accessible and affordable, but emphasizes its future importance, especially for preventing deforestation. • Challenges in Working with Remote Farmers and Smallholders:Sustainability efforts often face hurdles in remote areas, where farmers may lack the technology to monitor their plots. Luis highlights the difficulties and potential solutions in helping smallholder farmers engage with sustainability programs, particularly under the EUDR (European Deforestation Regulation). Lewis Rattray - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-rattray/Frontierra - https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontierra/

    31 min

About

This podcast series explores stories & concepts relevant to climate crisis and its mitigation while putting the emphasis on the one thing that can help us understand the real scale of it: the ever objective satellite-based data. Brought to you by Orbify, a company on a mission to use Space to make better decisions on Earth. Follow us: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/orbify X: @orbifyinc

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