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.

In this episode of Earth Central, we speak with Hikaru Wakil Hayakawa, co-founder and executive director of Climate Cardinals—one of the world’s largest youth-led climate organizations. Hikaru shares how a small group of high school students with a mission to translate climate information evolved into a global movement spanning 134 countries and over 16,000 volunteers.

We explore how Climate Cardinals tackles the overlooked but critical issue of language accessibility in the climate movement, empowering youth and communities by making climate science, risk data, and emergency information available in local languages. Hikaru also discusses the intersection of climate justice, open data, AI, and indigenous knowledge—and why breaking information silos is essential for a truly inclusive and effective response to climate change.

Whether you’re in the nonprofit world, building sustainability tech, or working with corporate ESG data, this is a conversation full of insight on what it really means to make climate action accessible, inclusive, and global.

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.

In this episode of Earth Central, host Alex Wowra speaks with Karl Burkart, Deputy Director of One Earth, about the intersection of climate science, biodiversity conservation, and emerging technologies. Karl shares the journey of developing the One Earth Climate Model, a pioneering effort to map a path to net zero using nature-based solutions.

They discuss the critical role of geospatial data and AI in tracking deforestation, improving carbon credit integrity, and shaping climate policy. Karl also dives into the challenges of corporate sustainability reporting, the need for better land cover mapping, and how global initiatives like 30x30 and nature-positive frameworks are reshaping environmental action.

Join us for a compelling conversation on how science-driven strategies can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable world.

In this episode of Earth Central, Selina Rathke, Senior Consultant for Sustainability Supply Chains at LRQA, joins the conversation to explore the key challenges and trends shaping sustainable supply chains today, along with the implications of EUDR for sustainability.

Selina shares her expertise on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), emerging ESG requirements, and the challenges companies face in managing risks across global supply chains. She also sheds light on the importance of transparency, responsible sourcing, and minimizing negative impacts while navigating today’s rapidly changing landscape.

Whether you’re a business leader or just curious about sustainability, this conversation offers practical insights into tackling supply chain risks with clarity and purpose.

Tune in and discover how thoughtful strategies can help shape a more sustainable future.

In this engaging episode of Earth Central, Matías Yudelevich, Account Director for EMEA at Puro.earth, joins the conversation to shed light on the evolving landscape of voluntary carbon markets. As a pioneer and leader in durable carbon removal crediting, Puro.earth sets the standard for innovation and reliability in the sector.Matías shares insights into what sets Puro.earth apart in an increasingly competitive field, emphasizing their commitment to transparency and trust. The discussion delves into the trends shaping the future of voluntary carbon markets, addressing challenges such as misconceptions and market skepticism. The episode also explores the transformative potential of biochar and its critical role in advancing sustainable solutions.Transparency and CredibilityFuture Trends in Carbon MarketsAddressing Challenges and MisconceptionsThe Role of Biochar in the Global SouthTune in to uncover how Puro.earth is leading the charge in reshaping carbon markets with a focus on transparency, innovation, and collaboration.

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/

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/