John Brubaker

Excellent post. As an NZ resident of some years personally commited to prosperity and opportunity for all NZ citizens, some thoughts: The massive drain of talent, capital, and opportunity from NZ to Australia has a lot to do with a Kafkaesque maze of self-defeating regulations that strangle NZ prosperity for all of society. Bureaucracies don’t build equitable societies, but they can regulate to death the economies that enable them. A country of a few million people facing huge deficits, a butchers’ bill of climate change consequences just starting to present itself for payment, and a fragile over-reliance on ag and tourism should not be so resolutely hostile to ideas, innovation, and capital from outside.

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Is the Permian SWD Landscape Shifting, or Rockin’ and Rolling’? We are going with the latter, not related to seismicity, in this case, but rather recent regulatory announcements. Below we’ll hit the highlights of two July 11th announcements.   (In the comment under the post we’ll include links to the source announcements.)   Both of these announcements are “big deals”; one suggesting the permitting landscape will change in Texas going forward pending independent review results, and the other a “done deal” in the rescinding of up to around ~ 1-1.5 M BPD (estimated at 20K BPD/well Max Allowable Volume) of "potential" new permits around the Texas-New Mexico Border, “County Line Seismic Response Area”. 1). The Texas RRC announced “The RRC has requested the Groundwater Protection Council (GWPC), a respected organization of national groundwater experts, conduct an independent peer review of its Class II Underground Injection Control (UIC) program.” According to TXOGA, “this is in response to Earth Justice’s petition to EPA to revoke Texas’ primacy over its Class II program. EPA is under no obligation to respond to this petition. If EPA chooses to review this petition, RRC will be given a chance to respond.” Concerns itemized in the originating protest were comprehensive and extensive.  The period of review by the GPC is anticipated to take 6 months to a year and is anticipated to be rigorous. No communications, yet, on handling of current and ongoing permit activity during this review period. Stay tuned.  2). Also on July 11th, the New Mexico OCD announced (thanks to Nate Alleman for the initial post, and Jerri Pohl 's repost!) that “OCD has identified (75) UIC Class II permit applications within the 10-mile radii” (around the County Line Seismic Response Border) “that are to be administratively cancelled unless and until such time that the OCD our proponents of those wells are able to demonstrate that additional disposal capacity with the SRA can be accommodated without increasing seismic activity. The cancellations are to be effective immediately.” #producedwater; #PermianBasin; #BeneficialReuse #PoreSpace #CCUS #BottomholePressure #InducedSeismicity #Sustainability #Midstream #OilandGas  Zacariah Hildenbrand Ph.D. Nate Alleman Mark KidderDan Arthur, P.E., SPEC, CPG, FGS, QMS⭕️ Barron S.Karen Lechtenberg Lawton Driscoll Gabriel Rio Sharlene LeurigBrett PerlmanCharles NunuGreg JohnstonStu Mussler Raymond L Straub Jr., P.G. Lana S.Steve CoffeeWalt ParmerKathie ForneyWally GeorgieRajendra Ghimire Jay Keener Ivan Morales, MBA Morris Hoagland George Knapo David L Lynch Ron Yair Brian Bohm Amanda Drane Hannah Brock Alex Procyk Michael GrossmanBen Samuels Dustin Brownlow Ed Longanecker

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🌍💡 Embracing Interoperability: The Evolution of Carbon Markets 💡🌍 The landscape of carbon markets is rapidly evolving, with a significant shift towards fungibility and interoperability. What does this mean? We (at the SoHo Global Climate Fund) spoke with leading climate fund manager, Charles Bedford of Carbon Growth Partners, to shed light on this important trend in the carbon markets. It's about creating seamless connections between compliance and voluntary markets, allowing for the exchange and recognition of carbon credits across borders and sectors. This trend marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts towards combating climate change. By enabling carbon credits to be fungible and interoperable, we're fostering a more efficient and scalable approach to carbon pricing and emissions reduction strategies. Companies and organizations now have greater flexibility to participate in markets that align with their goals. #CarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #Fungibility #Interoperability #Sustainability #Innovation #GlobalImpact

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Excited to share RFSI’s first Quarterly Round-up for Regenerative Food Systems Investing! We’ve been tracking deals, fund activity and other news happening across the regen ag and food space for years but this is our first time sharing a summary of what we’re seeing. So what are the highlights from Q1 2024? 🌎 More than $722 million was committed to regenerative agriculture and food 🌱 Biologicals was the top investment theme by number of deals 🧑🏼‍🌾 Farmland transition was the top theme in terms of total capital invested 💸 We tracked 5 new investment funding vehicles launched and 3 fund closes 👀 Plus, some incredible reports released to help advance engagement in the space. Has us thinking: ⚙️ Could regenerative be a bright spot for a still slow agtech venture space? ⛓ We're pleased to see two investments in the middle of the food supply chain - is there more of this on the horizon? 🍎 Human health and nutrition is gaining well-deserved attention... and more capital - where else can we fund to move this forward? There’s lots more - read all the details here: https://lnkd.in/gJ3mxqNY Regenerative Food Systems Investment #investment #regenerativeagriculture #foodfinance #farmfinance #agtech

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It's not easy for early-stage deeptech businesses to get quality editorial coverage in the media. Science sounds difficult, and most national publications - short on staff and time, hungry for clicks - prefer to focus on the big, the familiar, or the extreme (and one suspects, a dream subject is all three...) Yet proper media coverage - not advertorial - is very useful for helping secure new business, new staff, and new investment. It can raise awareness and educate, and can also provides a kind of validation that is not entirely logical but is nonetheless still extremely powerful in helping businesses move to the next level. A few days ago The Times ran an op-ed by Oxford University Innovation CEO Edward Bussey, calling for the new UK government to help deeptech companies scale and commercialise breakthrough research. There's no doubt that the areas Ed outlines would help realise the potential of the UK innovation economy. But it would also really help deeptech companies if more media publications were to follow the example of The Times over the last four years (an effort led by Richard Tyler and Hannah Prevett) and commit to greater coverage of entrepreneurship and early/growth stage businesses. This isn't altruism. Focusing business pages on the FTSE350 made sense in the days when most readers were either employed by a UK listed business or had their savings invested in UK shares. But today many big UK pension schemes invest less than 5% of their members' savings in UK equities, and there are far fewer listed employers. The new government, like the last one, is likely to push hard for more of our savings to be channelled into unlisted private companies, which offer the potential for better long term returns. Younger people, whose savings these will be, who say they care about where their money is invested, and who are far more likely to be working for these high growth, tech-focused companies - will expect more from the mainstream media, and if they don't get it, they will go elsewhere... #startups #scaleups #deeptech #investment #innovation #entrepreneurship

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The use of fertilisers in a growing world

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Farming is a business with high capital investment and historically low margins making it tough to navigate for young growers. So, as we celebrate Financial Literacy Month, we look to Nutrien Financial’s John Maman who discusses the financial fundamentals that the next generation of farmers need to succeed. Listen now at https://bit.ly/4aTGtJx

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This is exciting. Hutan is growing a drop in replacement for marine diesels. Even better post refining the algal oils are a sustainable aviation fuel. Even even better the algal platform produces a lot of oil but also biomass: this means it’s capturing CO2 whilst growing and so the platform produces oil and biomass which is a crop feed whilst being carbon negative. Even even even better the company’s platform grows algae in hot coastal regions where other crops cannot be grown so doesn’t squeeze food crops.

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Fantastic article by Philippa Nuttall featuring Ryan Cameron, chief investment officer of Regenerate Asset Management. ‘A process, not a status’ Ryan Cameron is chief investment officer at London-based Regenerate Asset Management. It manages the Regenerate European Sustainable Agriculture Fund, which makes investments generally of around €10mn-€40mn in European farm businesses using a regenerative approach. Cameron too is clear that measuring regenerative agriculture is not a quick and simple exercise that can be dealt with through a couple of simple metrics. “Regenerative agriculture is a process, not a status like organic farming,” he tells Sustainable Views. “It is not about box-ticking, but about principles. Carbon is only one of the considerations. We need to look at a wide span of metrics and agro-ecological outcomes over time.” He cites the non-profit Savory Institute’s ecological outcome verification as an example of such an approach. Any verification for regenerative agriculture needs to be centred around the holistic improvement of soil health Ryan Cameron, Regenerate Asset Management Regenerate’s way of dealing with carbon has been to seek the “highest standard of verification” with standards organisations such as Verra, says Cameron. The BeZero rating “could be a helpful indicator on a richer dashboard” or “negative if it becomes a distraction” and the carbon potential of regenerative agriculture taken as the main focus of whether the system is a success or not, he adds. “Any verification for regenerative agriculture needs to be centred around the holistic improvement of soil health,” he says. “There is a big opportunity to demonstrate leadership by delivering results, rather than making unsubstantiated claims.” Nicholas Burlington Addy Windsor-Clive David Bates Jeremy Stroud Ananya Manna Philippa Saxon Matt Jordon Tom Dillon Christopher Heathcote Erik Bruun Bindslev Regenerate Outcomes BeZero Carbon Financial Times

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Climate Sector is Hot Yet Not Always VC Backable - Enter AgFoodTech Touché. The climate sector has garnered significant attention, media coverage, and resources recently. However, not all companies are VC-backable. Many are great projects, but they are often long-term, non-scalable, and not tech-oriented, with revenues projected in the distant future. They often aren’t the best match for VC funding. AgFoodTech is changing the game. It starts with the rising demand for sustainable solutions. AgFoodTech companies like NotCo a Chilean food-tech company, have really surprised many investors. Not the favorite thesis of many, but surpassing expectations, NotCo has shown the potential of plant-based alternatives. Their approach to creating plant-based versions of traditionally animal-based foods has driven significant consumer interest and investment. Technological advancements are key. And Solena, a biotech company from Mexico, leverages advanced microbiome technology to enhance soil health and productivity, significantly reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. This breakthrough not only improves sustainability but also promises substantial returns by cutting input costs. Investor interest is driven by returns, and companies like Agrolend, a Brazilian AgFinTech, and part of our portfolio at SP Ventures, have attracted investment due to their potential for high returns. Agrolend provides credit solutions for farmers, helping them adopt sustainable practices and technologies. Their success showcases the profitability of integrating financial support with advanced tech in agriculture. Scalability and profitability are essential. Another AgFinTech, Verqor, also in our portfolio at SP Ventures, provides credit solutions for farmers in Mexico, a country with a very fragile financial system where credit is often nonexistent. Verqor has made it possible to reduce industry risk by helping CPGs enable more sustainable protocols and reduce climate impact for growers. By offering accessible financing, Verqor supports the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies, enhancing resilience and productivity across the agricultural sector. Highlighting agriculture as a main thesis, it's crucial to recognize its impact on the climate. Agriculture accounts for approximately 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and innovative solutions in this sector can lead to substantial climate benefits. Companies like Verqor, Solena and Agrolend are leveraging technology to transform agriculture. Latin America, in particular, stands out for its innovation and implementation of these cutting-edge solutions, driving both environmental and economic benefits. So, is the climate sector venture backable? Absolutely, with the right combination of market demand and technological innovation, makes the climate sector, particularly AgFood Tech, a promising area for venture capital investment. Ready to back the future? The climate sector is waiting…Enter SP Ventures.

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I’m often asked about the most exciting and potentially transformative investment thesis in agtech globally. My answer consistently points to what G. Bailey Stockdale is building at Leaf Agriculture. Leaf is unique in its vertical, with a clear and direct appeal to the "big tech" giants like Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS) & Alphabet Inc.. It’s constructing a multilateral B2B network that spans the entire agribusiness value chain—from financial services and trading conglomerates to input suppliers, farm equipment manufacturers, and food CPGs. Leaf has clear parallels with companies in other sectors, such as Plaid, which were acquired at multibillion-dollar valuations. What’s even more compelling is the critical role Leaf Agriculture plays in the technological evolution of agribusiness. Leaf’s core infrastructure is the key enabler of digital adoption in agriculture, unlocking the full potential of data and AI in one of the most complex and science-intensive industries on the planet. At SP Ventures, we’re incredibly honored to have supported Bailey and Leaf since their Seed round. The fact that Spero Ventures, one of the most respected tech venture firms, is leading Leaf’s Series A is further validation that this isn’t just another agtech opportunity. Leaf is where industries and technologies converge, shaping the future of global agriculture.

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Awesome to see public-private partnerships like this coming to life with USDA’s commitment to catalyzing the market-based incentives for impact in agriculture. Ask anyone of the +140 projects in this initiative and they’ll tell you there’s plenty of room for improvements - we agree - but that is the point. From the now 4 projects we’re supporting both directly and indirectly through our services and infrastructure - across row crops, grazing and grassland, and agroforestry- we’re starting to see differentiation and value being created that we believe will be the gold standard for underwriting and rewarding impact in agriculture. There are three common characteristics we see: 1. Economics: Direct payments to farmers and land stewards both on an outcomes and pay for practice (there isn’t a one size fits all incentive) basis that at least meets or goes beyond the cost of adoption and abatement. 2. Science-backed: Rigorous data collection, quantification and verification practices that leads to high integrity environmental claims aligned with latest science and leading standards. 3. Uniqueness and guarantees of origin: buyers and investors want data-backed confidence to know they aren’t inappropriately double-claiming or double-counting the same acres and outcomes. We are here to support those that are interested in moving beyond paper attestations to generate value, mitigate risk and increase operational efficiencies when it comes to generating/trading/claiming environmental assets in ag.

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My grandmother grew up on an egg farm in rural Pennsylvania in the 1940s. Much has changed in the farming sector since those days, in particular the use of sophisticated technologies to help farmers reach new levels of precision and efficiency in their operations.  Commonfund Forum 2024 convened a panel to examine emerging trends and opportunities for private equity investments in agriculture. The expert panelists in this Forum Spotlight were Ari Swiller, Partner, Renewable Resources Group (RRG), and Eli Ziskind, Partner, Aqua Capital. Both firms specialize in agriculture. The discussion was moderated by Ethan Levine, Managing Director and Head of Real Assets and Sustainability, CF Private Equity. Read the full exchange here: https://lnkd.in/dJpqvxg4 #esg #farming #environmentalsolutions #sustainablePE #sustainability #unsdg #cfprivateequity #privateequity

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Most aquaculture businesses are in their infancy when it comes to recognizing the benefits of breeding programs like this one. When you look at advances in poultry and swine genetics compared to fish, we should make tremendous gains in fish in the coming years. https://lnkd.in/gNfU5ba6

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Boosting Efficiency with the Cattler App Cattler aims to help cattle producers improve efficiency. The app covers tasks like feeding, health tracking, animal movement, finances, and more. It works with RFID tags or visual IDs. Key features include: * AutoSort - sorts cattle automatically based on weight as they move through chutes * Feeding - manage feed inventory, rations, and bunk readings * Health - track treatments and assign to animals * Layout - visualize pens and cattle locations * Costs - get real-time visibility into expenses and profit/loss Users say Cattler saves huge time on calculations and paperwork. The data integrates across modules, so changes sync automatically. Whether you have a small or large herd, it brings useful automation and data insights. The app supports operations from cow-calf through feedlot finish. And the CEO and co-founder, Ignacio Albornoz, welcomes producer feedback for constant improvement. If you're looking to modernize your cattle management, Cattler could be a helpful tool. The goal is to give ranchers an easy-to-use, one-stop shop. Read more about how it's already delivering efficiency gains for some producers. #cattler #cattlemanagement #ranchingtech #agtech

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One of the largest reductions in global greenhouse gas, actionable *today*, with increased profits for farmers and *zero* intrusive legislation or costs for those farmers -- that's what DCVC-backed CH4Global delivers.

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#regenerativeagriculturesummiteurope A fascinating discussion on the attempt to decommodify supply chains. I fully support Pascal Chapot’s statement: in the future, we should not just be buying a ton of wheat, but specific wheat with a particular climate footprint.

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