New Ventures Podcast

# 106 Diversifying global potash supplies.

What is the problem ? Fertiliser application needs to be balanced according to the needs of the soil but often nitrogenous fertilisers tend to be overused. What is the solution ? Bring on-line potash deposits in various parts of the world. This will reduce geo-political risks and stabilise prices What is the evidence? The team behind Millennial Potash is advancing a large scale potash development along Gabon’s southern coast. What is the caveat? Developing potash projects takes time and skills. What should organisations do ? Fertiliser companies across the world can discuss with Millennial Potash for off-take arrangements. Sections Section 1: First 10 minutes : About Farhad Abasov and this potash project. Section 2: Next 25 minutes: The importance of potash in food security. Section 3: Last 30 minutes: About implementing this potash project. Host: Sanjoy Sanyal, Founder Regain Paradise www.regainparadise.org [www.regainparadise.org] Guest: Farhad Abasov, Chairman Millennial Potash https://millennialpotash.com/ [https://millennialpotash.com/] Date : 21st December, 2025

# 105 All good things come to those who wait.

What is the problem ? China is the largest market for meat and seafood and in places like Hong Kong per capita consumption of meat is close to US levels. What is the solution ? Chinese food entrepreneurs must come up with new products and this has to be supplemented by local governments pushing on multiple fronts: ecological farming, traditional food, reducing food waste. What is the evidence? There is vibrant entrepreneurial activity, mainstream investment and interest among young customers. What is the caveat? Alternative proteins will take time to be accepted by demanding Chinese customers. What should organisations do ? Organisations – both public and private – need to be patient. Customers cannot be forced into choosing. Sections Section 1: First 10 minutes : About Tao and how he got into investing in food. Section 2: Next 15 minutes: About the changing food habits in China. Section 3: Last 25 minutes: Trends in Chinese food innovation. Host : Sanjoy Sanyal, Founder Regain Paradise www.regainparadise.org [www.regainparadise.org] Guest : Tao Zhang, Founder and Managing Director , Dao Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/tzhang1/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tzhang1/] https://www.daofoods.com/ [https://www.daofoods.com/] Date : 9th Nov, 2025

# 104 The lessons from CGIAR

What is the problem ? The funding crisis will exacerbate at the exact time when the impacts of climate change will aggravate. What is the solution ? Improved practices, irrigation, seeds and preservation of nature. What is the evidence? Seeds resilient to climate change which show no yield loss are being developed and being adopted by farmers. What is the caveat? Emissions in sectors such as energy and transport have to come down first. If they don’t the agriculture will come up against hard limits to adaptation. What should organisations do ? Organisations both in the public and private sector, need to accelerate research and deployment of climate technologies. Sections Section 1: First 10 minutes : About Aditi and how her work led to policy changes in India. Section 2: Next 40 minutes: About CGIAR’s work in climate change. Host : Sanjoy Sanyal, Founder Regain Paradise www.regainparadise.org [www.regainparadise.org] Guest : Aditi Mukherji, Principal Scientist International Livestock Research https://www.linkedin.com/in/aditi-mukherji-696bbb2b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aditi-mukherji-696bbb2b/ https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Cv7woCMAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.cgiar.org/aditi-mukherji/] https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Cv7woCMAAAAJ&hl=en [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aditi-mukherji-696bbb2b/ https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Cv7woCMAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.cgiar.org/aditi-mukherji/] https://www.cgiar.org/aditi-mukherji/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aditi-mukherji-696bbb2b/ https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Cv7woCMAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.cgiar.org/aditi-mukherji/] Date : 18th October 2025

# 103 Lessons from India

What is the problem ? How should India’s agritech companies providing advisory services become profitable. What is the solution ? They need to partner with each other, they need to partner with FPOs. Ideally large companies must partner with them. What is the evidence? There is enough evidence that companies and organisations can grow to significant levels even without significant equity funding. What is the caveat? Entrepreneurs are too busy with their own things . They feel that they can bypass and undercut the FPO. The large companies have not woken up to the importance of partnering with agritech companies . What should organisations do ? Large companies need to learn to partner with startups. Entrepreneurs need to stop believing that they can do everything. Sections Section 1: First 10 minutes : About Emmanuel , his career. Section 2: Next 15 minutes: Emmanuel’s investing experience Section 3: Last 30 minutes: India’s agriculture and agri-tech sector. Host: Sanjoy Sanyal Founder Regain Paradise www.regainparadise.org [www.regainparadise.org] Guest: Emmanuel Murray Investment Director Caspian Leap for Agriculture (LeAF) Fund. linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-murray [linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-murray] emmanuel@caspian.in [emmanuel@caspian.in] evmurray@gmail.com [evmurray@gmail.com] +91 97037 69997 24th September ,2025

# 102 We must meet climate change boldly

What is the problem ? Climate change will bring opportunities for UK farmers in the UK but farmers need support to take advantage of potential opportunities. What is the solution ? Farming has to be more profitable and farming organisations must help farmers to adopt innovations. What is the evidence? Regenerative farming practices have been spreading among British farmers. What is the caveat? Farming is not really profitable. What should organisations do? Make farming more profitable, support applied research and support ways to propagate innovations. Sections Section 1: First 5 minutes : Introduction to Ali , her farm and her career. Section 2: Next 50 minutes: Opportunities and risks of climate change and the ability of growers to innovate and adapt. Section 3: Last 10 minutes: Food security in the UK Host: Sanjoy Sanyal, Founder Regain Paradise www.regainparadise.org [www.regainparadise.org] Guest: Ali Capper Owner of Stocks Farm, Ex Chairperson of the National Farmers Union Horticulture & Potatoes Board. Director of the Oxford Farming Conference, Chairperson of the British Apples and Pears and Chairperson of Wye Hops. https://stocksfarm.net/ [https://stocksfarm.net/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-capper-71163813/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-capper-71163813/] Date : 8th September, 2025