Can smarter materials help us transition away from harmful chemical pesticides while keeping our global food systems productive and resilient? In Episode 28 of The Carbon Circle, host Roshan Rai sits down with Gilad Yarkoni, CEO & Co-founder of Israeli AgTech startup Platypus. With over 15 years of experience in materials engineering and industrial chemistry, Gilad shares how Platypus is solving one of agriculture’s biggest challenges: the field durability gap of biological pest control. Learn how their innovative water-free gel platform, PlatyForm, extends the active life of natural compounds (like essential oils and pheromones) from days or weeks to over 200 days—slashing reapplication labor, lowering toxicity, and paving the way for low-toxin food systems. 💡 Key Takeaways in This EpisodeThe Broken Innovation Cycle: Why bringing a synthetic pesticide to market takes $300M+ and 12 years, and why biopesticides are taking over. The Field Stability Gap: Why natural bioactives fail quickly under heat, UV, and weather, and how ecological chemistry fixes it. Inside PlatyForm: How a water-free, slow-release gel matrix controls the volatility of bio-organic compounds. Economics for Farmers & Brands: How extended-release solutions save labor, reduce application frequency, and command premium market value. India 2047 Vision: Strategic Indo-Israeli AgTech collaboration for IPM adoption, Scope 3 reduction, and resilient food systems. ⏱️ Chapter Timestamps00:00 - Introduction: Ecological Chemistry in Pest Control 01:53 - Subtopic 1: From Factory Floor to Ecological Chemist 10:42 - Subtopic 2: The Pesticide Dilemma: Synthetics vs. Biopesticides 27:48 - Why Natural Compounds Evaporate & Fail in the Field 49:07 - Subtopic 3: The Solution: How PlatyForm Works at a Microscopic Level 01:01:06 - The Economics of Extended-Release Pest Control for Growers 01:11:02 - Subtopic 4: India 2047: Building Low-Toxin Food Systems via Israel-India Collaboration 01:13:40 - A 10-Year Roadmap for Sustainable Crop Protection 01:17:30 - Outro & Closing Remarks 👤About the Guest Gilad Yarkoni is the CEO & Co-founder of Platypus, an Israeli materials innovation startup transforming pest management with ecological chemistry. Holding a B.Sc. in Polymer/Plastics Engineering and a Master of Design from Shenkar, Gilad combines over 15 years of chemical industry experience with design thinking to build scalable, climate-relevant material solutions. 🌐 Platypus Website: https://www.platypus-materials.com/ 🔗 Gilad Yarkoni on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilad-yarkoni 🎙️ Carbon Mandal provides sustainability consultancy, ESG strategy, carbon accounting, and climate-risk execution to help organizations build resilient, low-carbon food and industrial supply chains. 🌐 Website: https://www.carbonmandal.com 📧 Contact: connect@carbonmandal.com🏷️ Relevant Hashtags #agtech #sustainableagriculture #PestControl #EcologicalChemistry #Biopesticides #IPM #CarbonMandal #TheCarbonCircle #ClimateTech #India2047 #GreenChemistry

Why do generic ESG tools fail Global South supply chains? Discover how 180Pi builds localized climate data infrastructure to help Indian and African SMEs navigate CSRD and IFRS mandates.0:00 - Introduction 2:12 - How did managing a €100M climate portfolio reveal the SME data gap? 5:32 - Why should climate startups build data infrastructure instead of generic consulting? 9:05 - How do you calculate carbon emissions for supply chains using firewood and motorbikes? 11:44 - How do you deploy regional emission factors and proxy datasets to fill data gaps? 13:54 - Where do typical African and Indian businesses currently archive operational logs? 17:12 - How does the EU CSRD mandate impact exporters serving European markets? 20:18 - What does day-to-day data look like for an agricultural exporter without an ERP? 24:36 - How are Kenya and Nigeria mandating sustainability reporting for businesses? 27:01 - What are the technical building blocks of localized climate data infrastructure? 31:38 - How do you turn scattered operational metrics into investor-ready ESG reports? 36:46 - How much of Africa’s $277B climate finance gap is a pure data problem? 39:11 - Who should pay for climate intelligence in thin-margin SME value chains? 43:16 - How can India and Africa leverage South-South collaboration on carbon accounting? 45:52 - How do we make climate reporting as vital as commercial financial reporting? 49:56 - How can Carbon Mandal support your practical enterprise transition roadmap? Overcoming Data Scarcity: A technical deep-dive into establishing a verifiable data layer using raw utility receipts, WhatsApp dispatches, and regional benchmarks when an ERP system is absent. Localized Carbon Accounting: Why generic off-the-shelf Western templates fail on the ground and how to replace them with university-backed proxy methodologies. Proportionate Compliance Strategies: Utilizing the VSME standard as a practical stepping stone for mid-sized suppliers to meet aggressive CSRD and value chain requirements. Unlocking Green Capital: Structuring data outputs to align with emerging local currency financial products and development finance institution (DFI) parameters. Maha Chairi specializes in sustainable finance architecture and capital mobilization in emerging markets. Having engineered large-scale climate clusters for GIZ, she established 180Pi to standardize SME data for IFRS compliance frameworksPlatform: https://180pi.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maha-chairiCarbon Mandal designs custom carbon accounting pipelines, strict regulatory alignment frameworks, and data-driven ESG transition strategies for Global South enterprises.Email us : connect@carbonmandal.comVisit our website - https://www.carbonmandal.com#SMEClimateData #ESGReporting #CarbonAccounting #CSRDCompliance #IFRSS2 #VSMEStandard #SupplyChainDecarbonization

How much money is your business throwing away in food waste? In Episode 27 of The Carbon Circle, host Roshan Rai sits down with Philippe Schuler—author of 'The Wise Man & The Story of Plenty', sustainability consultant at Quest Impact Design Studio, and former Global Impact Manager at Too Good To Go.Philippe breaks down why food waste is not just an environmental crisis, but a massive supply chain flaw and a major bottom-line leak for hospitality, retail, and FMCG sectors. From inspecting potato supply chains in Denmark to auditing luxury resort buffets in Thailand and the Maldives, Philippe shares data-driven strategies and AI technologies that turn waste into measurable corporate savings.🌿 About Carbon Mandal:We help organizations build resilient supply chains, implement credible ESG strategies, and achieve net-zero goals without carbon tunnel vision. Our mission: Sustainable Bharat by 2047.👉 Explore our services: https://www.carbonmandal.com---------------------------------------------------📌 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:• Why food waste sits at the heart of climate, nature, and social challenges.• How supermarkets unintentionally push food loss onto farmers.• The economic reality of hotel buffet waste in Thailand and the Maldives.• How AI, smart bins, dynamic pricing, and forecasting reduce waste across the value chain.• Why technology fails without human-centric change management and culture.• Building a Nature Strategy: Moving beyond carbon-only thinking to biodiversity and circular economy.• Supply chain lessons for India’s growing retail and quick-commerce sectors.---------------------------------------------------⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Introduction

0:27 Who is Philippe Schuler and how does his background shape his work in supply chains?

1:17 What are the systemic issues hidden within fresh produce supply chains like potatoes?

7:34 Why does a gap exist between supermarket standards and actual farmer waste?

10:16 What does food waste look like in luxury hotels and resorts?

13:40 How can we summarize the complex journey of supply chain sustainability for C-suite executives?

14:40 Why is addressing food waste a primary lever for climate action?

17:18 How can companies translate food waste reduction into actual financial margins?

22:11 How does the concept of 'plenty' influence our modern planetary crisis?

25:17 What are the top three organizational blind spots regarding sustainability?

28:53 How should Indian hospitality and retail leaders approach the challenge of waste?

33:06 How can AI and smart technology practically reduce waste in food systems?

38:58 Why is human-centric culture and change management more critical than technology alone?

46:01 How can household habits and behavioral nudges fight food waste?

51:21 How should companies structure financial models and data ownership for tech implementation?

54:12 What questions should quick-commerce platforms ask before integrating AI solutions?

57:02 What is the economic case for nature-positive business models?

1:01:53 How do you build a scientific nature strategy and biodiversity assessment?

1:05:28 What supply chain lessons can be learned from global logistics examples like the Uganda case?

1:17:28 How does Carbon Mandal drive value towards a Sustainable Bharat by 2047?---------------------------------------------------🔗 GUEST RESOURCES & LINKS:• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippeschuler• Book: 'The Wise Man & The Story of Plenty'---------------------------------------------------💡 CONNECT WITH CARBON MANDAL:• Website: https://www.carbonmandal.com• Email: connect@carbonmandal.com#FoodWaste #ArtificialIntelligence #SupplyChain #CircularEconomy #ESG #Sustainability #CarbonMandal #TheCarbonCircle #NaturePositive #FoodSystems #ViksitBharat2047

Corporate climate risk reporting has become a tick-box exercise, but a near-1.5°C world requires genuine disruption-ready strategy. In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, we unpack how businesses can move beyond compliance into real corporate resilience. ⏳ Timestamps 0:00 - Moving beyond tick-box TCFD2:01 - Iain Watt’s journey: Co-authoring the first GRI guidelines4:06 - Inflection points: What 25 years in corporate climate strategy reveals7:14 - Demystifying TCFD, IFRS S2, and GRI frameworks12:51 - Why corporate climate risk reporting became a compliance trap16:35 - The fatal flaw: How models underplay tipping points and physical risk21:50 - The Catch-22 of climate scenario analysis for boards25:18 - Re-engineering strategy: Asking the right questions to Indian CXOs30:03 - Finding the balance: External consultants vs. in-house sustainability teams36:35 - Tipping points, monsoons, and supply chain dependencies41:16 - Climate economics: Where value will be created or destroyed45:49 - The ultimate resilience test for modern business models52:15 - Key takeaways & summary for Indian business leaders 🎯 What You'll Learn In This EpisodeHow standardized disclosures (TCFD, IFRS S2, BRSR) are being diluted by short-term boardroom thinking. Why current econometric and physical climate models act as strategic "comfort blankets" by omitting macro tipping points. Practical steps for CEOs and CFOs to apply a climate screen directly to high-stakes investment decisions. The shifting economics of supply chains, access to capital, and resource dependencies in volatile markets. 👥 About Our Guest: Iain Watt is a climate risk and corporate climate strategy expert with over 25 years of experience advising global business boards. Early in his career, he co-authored the original Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines at Ceres. He later led foundational climate work at Forum for the Future and served as a Senior Manager for Climate Risk at Accenture. Today, through IJW Climate Strategy, he works directly with boards and executive teams to help them navigate TCFD/IFRS style disclosures and build true climate resilience. 🔗 Connect With UsConnect with Iain Watt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-watt-a7187011/Learn more about IJW Climate Strategy: https://iainwatt.com/Visit Carbon Mandal: https://www.carbonmandal.com Follow host Roshan Rai on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshan-rai-mohandas-55a30662/Reach out to us: connect@carbonmandal.com#CorporateClimateRisk #TCFD #IFRS #ClimateStrategy #CarbonMandal #TheCarbonCircle #Sustainability

Can India simultaneously achieve Net Zero by 2070, deploy 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, and guarantee affordable energy security for 1.4 billion citizens?In this episode of The Carbon Circle, host Roshan Ray sits down with Dr. Sandeep Pai, Senior Lead for International Energy Transitions at Duke University. From his early days as a Ramnath Goenka award-winning investigative journalist in the coal fields of Jharkhand to advising global policy at elite think tanks, Dr. Pai brings a unique bottom-up perspective to India’s defining balancing act.We dive deep into the geopolitical realities of the West Asia crisis, the economic feasibility of coal gasification, the upcoming CBAM compliance crunch for Indian CFOs, and how state-owned giants like Coal India and NTPC must transform from within. We also unpack the "chokehold" China maintains over the Global South’s critical mineral supply chains and what India must do to build a resilient, indigenous R&D ecosystem for the future.⏰ Timestamps00:00 - Introduction & Dr. Sandeep Pai’s Journey01:36 - What Journalism Taught Me That Academic Spreadsheets Couldn't12:35 - India's Energy Paradox: Net Zero 2070 vs. Near-Term Growth16:15 - Geopolitical Volatility: The West Asia Crisis & Domestic Coal19:54 - Coal Gasification: A Clean Win-Win or a Temporary Solution?30:38 - Preparing for CBAM: Crucial Timelines & Advice for Manufacturing CFOs34:25 - Transforming State-Owned Enterprises: The Inside Story of Coal India & NTPC45:17 - The Privatization Dilemma in Core Energy Sectors48:08 - The Methane Blind Spot: Why India Omitted Coal Methane from NDCs51:50 - Critical Minerals: Breaking the Chinese Monopoly on Processing59:05 - The Mineral Security Partnership (MSP): Strategic Breakthrough or Just a Press Release?01:01:29 - Mitigating Carbon Risk: How Indian Businesses Can Turn ESG into a Competitive Edge🚀 Key Takeaways From This EpisodeEnergy Addition vs. Replacement: Unlike Europe, India’s transition path is about adding clean energy to meet surging demand, not immediately replacing fossil fuels.The Coal Gasification Frontier: Gasifying coal can reduce emissions by up to 50% compared to traditional power plant burning, serving as a vital bridge for energy security.The Processing Chokehold: The Global South holds the raw mineral wealth, but China controls 60% to 80% of critical mineral processing. India must pivot from raw mining to value-added processing tech.Actionable Advice for CFOs: To survive CBAM and global trade shifts, Indian manufacturers must establish clear net-zero targets, rigorously document emission reductions, and bake sustainability into core corporate policy.🎙️ About the Guest: Dr. Sandeep PaiDr. Sandeep Pai is the Senior Lead for International Energy Transitions and Executive in Residence at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University. He is the co-founder of the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South and the author of Total Transition: The Human Side of the Renewable Energy Revolution. He also co-hosts The India Energy Hour podcast.🏢 About Carbon MandalCarbon Mandal is a premier sustainability consulting firm helping Indian businesses transform climate risk into a distinct competitive advantage. From carbon foot-printing and ESG readiness to long-term decarbonization strategies, we help corporate leaders navigate the road to a sustainable Bharat by 2047.Connect with Sandeep: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pai-366ba281/Connect with us: connect@carbonmandal.comWebsite: www.carbonmandal.com#TheCarbonCircle #EnergyTransition #NetZero2070 #CriticalMinerals #Sustainability #IndianEconomy #ViksitBharat #ClimatePolicy

Is your state prepared for net zero, or headed for climate regret? In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast by Carbon Mandal, host Roshan Rai sits down with Abinash Mohanty, Global Sector Head of Climate Change and Sustainability at IPE Global. Together, they unpack India's groundbreaking Climate Readiness Index and dissect why a shocking 80% of Indians live in districts highly exposed to meteorological disasters.From the frontlines of the 1999 Odisha super cyclone to balancing state budgets with green technology, this conversation cuts through the corporate jargon to reveal what a low-carbon, resilient India must look like by 2047.🕒 Timestamps00:00 – Introduction & Overview of State Climate Readiness05:00 – The Methodology: How we evaluate Indian States15:00 – Key Findings: Top performing states in sustainability30:00 – Identifying the Gaps: Common challenges across regions45:00 – Policy Recommendations & Consulting Insights01:00:00 – Future Outlook: Climate goals for 2030 and beyond01:10:00 – Conclusion & How to get in touch with Carbon Mandal💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:👉 How India transitioned from mapping mere climate vulnerability to measuring active state readiness.👉 The breakdown of the S-T-F (Systemic, Technological, Financial) Framework used to audit public policies.👉 Why traditional climate risks are fundamentally swapping places across 45% of Indian districts.👉 The raw economic truth behind decarbonizing state-level revenue engines like manufacturing, tourism, and automotive sectors.👉 How corporate ESG teams and business leaders can leverage hyper-granular risk maps for capital allocation and enterprise management.🔗 Connect with the Guest & Partners:Connect with Abinash Mohanty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abinash-mohanty-ing-05742390/Learn more about IPE Global: https://www.ipeglobal.com/ Partner with Carbon Mandal: https://carbonmandal.com/Inquiries & Consulting Services: Email us at connect@carbonmandal.com🏷️ Keywords & Hashtags#ClimateChangeIndia #NetZero2070 #ClimateReadinessIndex #ViksitBharat2047 #Sustainability #CarbonMandal #TheCarbonCircle #IPEGlobal #ESGIndia #GreenTechnology

Food waste in India is a 92,000 crore problem and BillionCarbon has built a bioreactor that solves it in 72 hours. In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, we unpack how.📺 TIMESTAMPS0:58 - Part Two Introduction & Recap2:16 - Standardization & NPK Mobilization9:29 - Carbon Credits & Climate Impact15:23 - Entrepreneurial Journey & Global Positioning19:10 - Startup Strategy: Pitching & Fundraising30:46 - Building Without Factories34:25 - Policy Levers & Systemic Change43:10 - Future Opportunities & Ecosystem Partnerships48:48 - Collaboration with Carbon Mandal51:26 - Closing Remarks🎙️ ABOUT THE GUESTAnkita Vijayvergiya is the Co-Founder of BillionCarbon, a climate-tech startup focused on decentralised food waste treatment and soil regeneration solutions. She is a London Business School MBA, BITS Pilani alumna, LinkedIn Top Voice, and a World Economic Forum UpLink Top Innovator. BillionCarbon’s mission is to enable 1 billion tons of CO2e mitigation and create 100,000 climate jobs by 2030.💡 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN• Why food waste is one of India’s biggest hidden climate problems• How methane emissions from landfills impact climate change• The science behind BillionCarbon’s 72-hour treatment system• Why decentralised waste treatment matters for Indian cities• How bio-fertilisers improve soil health and carbon sequestration• The economics of climate hardware startups in India• How carbon credits could reshape food waste management• Key policy and ecosystem gaps in India’s circular economy transition🔗 LINKS & RESOURCESConnect with Ankita Vijayvergiya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankitavijayvergiya/Visit BillionCarbon: https://www.billioncarbon.com/💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATIONDo you think decentralised waste treatment can work at scale in Indian cities? Drop a comment below 📬 CONTACT USHave questions or want to collaborate? Reach out at: connect@carbonmandal.com Website: https://www.carbonmandal.com#FoodWaste #Sustainability #ClimateTech #CleanTech #CircularEconomy

Plastic waste in India is a ₹92,000 crore problem — and the circular economy holds the key to solving it. In this episode of The Carbon Circle Podcast, host Roshan Rai sits down with Dr. Sameer Joshi, Chairman of the Indian Plastics Institute and UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiator, to unpack how India can turn its plastic waste crisis into a circular economy opportunity.What you'll learn:• Why plastic waste is a systems problem — not just a recycling problem• How India's EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) rules are reshaping business models• What the UN Global Plastics Treaty means for Indian companies right now• The 3 biggest risks and opportunities for Indian businesses over the next decade• How design for recyclability can reduce costs — with real examples from automotive• What non-negotiable milestones India must hit in the 2030s to reach a circular economy by 2047⏱ Chapters:0:00 — Introduction and Part 1 recap: plastic waste as a systems problem6:05 — Business model of a plastic recycler in India and the role of waste pickers17:00 — UN Global Plastics Treaty explained: what it is and why it's stalled25:00 — Risks and opportunities for Indian businesses under the treaty35:00 — Waste as a resource: CBAM, circular finance and the automotive sector45:00 — Vikasit Bharat 2047: budget signals, startup ecosystem and clean tech54:00 — Non-negotiable milestones for a circular plastic economy and closing remarks🔗 Connect with Dr. Sameer Joshi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esameerjoshi/📩 Connect with Carbon Mandal:Website: www.carbonmandal.comEmail: connect@carbonmandal.com#PlasticWaste #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #EPR #IndiaClimate #CarbonCirclePodcast #PlasticsRecycling #UNTreaty #VikasitBharat #GreenIndia #WasteManagement