Sustainability Now - exploring technologies and paradigms to shape a world that works

Mira Rubin & Scott Bille
Sustainability Now - exploring technologies and paradigms to shape a world that works

Sustainability Now is engaged in the exploration and proliferation of cutting edge sustainable technologies that solve planetary problems related to food, energy, housing, water, waste, health, economics and consciousness. http://www.sustainabilitynow.global with Host Mira Rubin

  1. Pacha—Bread of Life: Nourishing People and Planet

    6 DAYS AGO

    Pacha—Bread of Life: Nourishing People and Planet

    A Sustainability Now interview with Co-Founder, Maddie Hamann. PACHA’s mission is centered around regenerative agriculture, leveraging the power of buckwheat—an adaptable, nutrient-dense crop—to provide delicious nutrition, enhance soil health and foster long-term ecological restoration. In contrast to conventional farming methods that rely heavily on synthetic chemicals and tilling, regenerative practices like those championed by PACHA enrich the soil, sequester carbon, and promote biodiversity. More than just a bread product, PACHA is part of a movement to heal the planet, one loaf at a time. But sustainability doesn't stop at the farming. PACHA Bread’s commitment extends to every aspect of its operation, from using 100% home compostable packaging to minimizing food waste. In a bold move away from petroleum-based plastic, PACHA's bio-based packaging not only aligns with their eco-conscious values but also champions a circular economy where waste is reduced and resources are repurposed. Even the byproducts from their grain, like buckwheat hulls, are upcycled into new products like their upcoming sourdough buckwheat tortillas—making PACHA a true innovator in the quest for more sustainable food systems. In a landscape where environmental responsibility often takes a back seat to profit margins, PACHA Bread stands out as a business that seamlessly integrates ecological stewardship with entrepreneurial creativity. Join us for our exploration of PACHA's truly regenerative business model which incorporates regenerative agriculture, reducing plastic waste, and producing nourishing, allergen-friendly food, exemplifying the potential for sustainable, values-driven business to serve both people and the planet.  Resources and links from this episode can be found at https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2025/02/16/090-pacha-bread-of-life-nourishing-people-and-planet/ #Sustainability #RegenerativeAgriculture #EcoFriendly #PlasticFree #FoodInnovation #ClimateAction #OrganicFarming #CircularEconomy #HealthyEating #ZeroWaste

    13 min
  2. AERTH Meets Earth - Mapping Our Planets Delicate Web

    FEB 2

    AERTH Meets Earth - Mapping Our Planets Delicate Web

    A Sustainability Now interview with Founder, Adina Popescu—a groundbreaking AI-driven predictive platform that integrates global oceanic and satellite data to map and monitor ocean health. Starting with the oceans, ÆRTH’s bold mission is to eventually build a real-time, dynamic digital twin of the planet—to uncover global ecosystem patterns, predict ecological impacts, and drive sound restorative interventions. The importance of this work cannot be overstated as illustrated by the cautionary tale of a proposed project to cover the Saharan Desert with solar panels. Predictive modeling revealed the fact that such a project would disrupt the flow of nutrient-rich Saharan sand to the Amazon, potentially causing the rainforest’s collapse. ÆRTH’s mission is to make visible the hidden connections within Earth’s ecosystems to guide responsible environmental stewardship. Having been an advisor to organizations like Apple’s Media Arts Lab and Conservation International, Adina brings an audacious vision founded in science and technology to creatively address the intricate web of our global environmental challenges.  Links and other resources from this interview: https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2025/02/02/089-aerth-meets-earth-mapping-our-planets-delicate-web/ #SustainabilityNow, #OceanConservation, #DigitalTwin, #ClimateAction, #EcoInnovation, #AIforGood, #GreenTech, #EnvironmentalStewardship, #SustainableFuture, #TechForGood

    53 min
  3. 088 Sustainable Synergy - Where Ecology Meets Economy

    JAN 4

    088 Sustainable Synergy - Where Ecology Meets Economy

    Featuring Neal Spackman, Founder and CEO of Regenerative Resources Co. and globally recognized pioneer in ecological restoration and sustainable design. Through his work, Neal showcases the power of nature-based regenerative practices to restore ecosystems, revitalize economies and build cultural and environmental resilience. We discuss Neal’s groundbreaking Al Baydha Project, a prime example of regeneration in action. In the heart of the desert, he collaborated with semi-nomadic tribes to turn barren, unproductive land into a thriving ecosystem. By employing techniques such as watershed management, reforestation, and agroforestry, and scalable solutions like check dams and silvopasture systems, the project restored the land, revitalized the local community and reintroduced life to one of the harshest environments on Earth. Neal’s current project, RAFT (Regenerative Aqua-Forestry Technology), reimagines aquaculture through a circular economy lens. By integrating sustainable shrimp farming with mangrove restoration, RAFT addresses global challenges like habitat loss, food insecurity, and climate change. Spackman discusses how this closed-loop system creates symbiotic relationships between aquaculture and coastal ecosystems, restoring biodiversity, improving water quality, and sequestering carbon—all while producing economic value. At the heart of Spackman’s work is the concept of regenerative systems, going beyond conservation to rebuild the relationship between people and planet. His projects illustrate the profound potential of working with natural processes to align human and ecological interests to foster human well-being along with planetary health. Resources and links from this episode: https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2025/01/04/88-sustainable-synergy-where-ecology-meets-economy/

    1h 23m
  4. 087 Green Growth - Citric Solutions and the Future of Farming

    12/30/2024

    087 Green Growth - Citric Solutions and the Future of Farming

    Featuring Nedo Bellucci, Phenom Biotech CEO Join us for a stimulating conversation with Phenom Biotech’s CEO, Nedo Bellucci, as he introduces us to an eco-innovation with potential to shake up agriculture as we know it. With their Energy Potential Technology (EPT), Phenom has crafted a way to boost crop yields and improve livestock health—all without the usual chemicals and costs. Imagine healthier, faster-growing plants and animals powered by natural compounds like citric acid instead of synthetic inputs.   But that’s just the beginning. Nedo reveals how EPT doesn’t just support better farming; it tackles organic waste too. Turning animal waste into high-quality fertilizer with minimal emissions, EPT is redefining what waste management can do for a cleaner planet. Plus, Phenom’s citric acid-based sanitizers are outclassing chlorine and could reshape food safety with natural, powerful disinfection that extends shelf life and neutralizes pathogens.   More than just a cool concept, Bellucci’s vision offers a blueprint for the future: profitable, sustainable, and scientifically savvy. This episode showcases how one company's game-changing technology is poised to reshape our food system, turning bold ideas into actionable, eco-friendly solutions. Join us for an inspiring look at how innovation and nature can work hand-in-hand to create a healthier, more sustainable world. Resources and links mentioned in this episode are available at https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2024/12/30/087-green-growth-citric-solutions-and-the-future-of-farming/

    1h 9m
  5. 086 From Pews to Planet- Galvanizing the Churchs Resources for Global Good

    12/30/2024

    086 From Pews to Planet- Galvanizing the Churchs Resources for Global Good

    Featuring Molly Burhans, environmental advocate and Founder of GoodLands Imagine harnessing the vast resources of one of the world’s largest landowners to combat climate change and promote social justice. This is precisely the visionary work of Molly Burhans, an American cartographer, data scientist, and environmental activist who is transforming how the Catholic Church—and potentially other major landholders—responds to our planet’s most pressing sustainability challenges. At just 26, Molly founded GoodLands, an organization dedicated to mobilizing the Church’s extensive landholdings for ecological conservation and community benefit.She spearheaded the creation of the first unified digital global map of the Catholic Church, a groundbreaking project unveiled at the Vatican in 2016, which revealed the immense potential for environmental stewardship embedded within the Church’s properties—estimated to exceed the combined size of France and Spain. Molly’s innovative use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology has not only illuminated the Church’s carbon footprint and conservation opportunities but also set the stage for strategic, mission-aligned land use on a global scale. Her extraordinary contributions have earned her numerous accolades including: being named a United Nations Young Champion of the Earth, an Ashoka Fellow, National Geographic Emerging Explorer, Sierra Club Earth Care Laureate, one of Encyclopædia Britannica’s “20 Under 40 Shapers of the Future” and many more. In addition to a Master’s in Ecological Design from the Conway School and her work on projects, advocacy, and creative initiatives, Molly is an adjunct professor of Urban Design at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. With a deep personal commitment to her faith, Molly embodies a new generation of leaders who are leveraging technology, data, and visionary thinking to create sustainable solutions.Today, she stands at the intersection of ecology, technology, and spirituality, demonstrating how innovative approaches to land management can have profound implications for environmental sustainability and social justice worldwide.

    1h 52m
  6. 084 Empowering Nonprofits - How Better Giving is Revolutionizing Financial Sustainability 1

    11/09/2024

    084 Empowering Nonprofits - How Better Giving is Revolutionizing Financial Sustainability 1

    Founder and Executive Director of Better Giving, Chauncey St. John’s innovative platform is transforming the nonprofit landscape. With a free, all-in-one solution for fundraising, savings, and investment, Better Giving is helping nonprofits globally to streamline their operations and enhance financial sustainability. With more than $6 million raised for over 180 nonprofits, Chauncey shares how Better Giving is reducing administrative burdens and enabling organizations of all sizes to thrive. Better Giving's model, allows nonprofits to accept donations in multiple forms—from traditional payments to cryptocurrency and stock donations—opening doors to a broader range of affluent donors. The platform’s approach also democratizes access to high-yield savings and managed investment funds, creating a long-term financial strategy for organizations. By providing a seamless, no-cost fundraising service, Better Giving empowers even the smallest nonprofits to compete on a global stage. Chauncey shares insights into the importance of financial self-sufficiency for nonprofits and how Better Giving simplifies the traditionally complex world of fund management. He explains the revolutionary potential of allowing nonprofits to grow their funds through investments, thus shifting the typical cycle of constant fundraising into one of strategic financial planning. As we wrap up, Chauncey reflects on the long-term vision of Better Giving, including the role of blockchain technology and the future possibilities of integrating cryptocurrency donations in ways that could reshape how charities manage and grow their resources. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of innovation, technology, and philanthropy.  Join us to discover how Better Giving is not just changing the way nonprofits raise money, but how it’s creating a pathway to financial autonomy. Links and other resources related to this interview: https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2024/11/09/084-empowering-nonprofits-how-better-giving-is-revolutionizing-financial-sustainability/ #FinancialSustainability #NonprofitInnovation #BetterGiving #podcast #FundraisingSolutions #CryptoDonations #PhilanthropyTech #NonprofitLeadership #FinancialAutonomy #BlockchainForGood #CharitableGiving

    53 min

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
12 Ratings

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Sustainability Now is engaged in the exploration and proliferation of cutting edge sustainable technologies that solve planetary problems related to food, energy, housing, water, waste, health, economics and consciousness. http://www.sustainabilitynow.global with Host Mira Rubin

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