New Ventures Podcast

Hosted by Sanjoy Sanyal

Technology

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Episodes

109

Latest episode

Dec 2025

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EN-GB

About the show

Sanjoy Sanyal is an expert in financing clean technology innovation in Asia and Africa.

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December 22, 2025Episode 1061 hr 5 min

# 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 pricesWhat 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.SectionsSection 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 Paradisewww.regainparadise.orgGuest: Farhad Abasov, Chairman Millennial Potashhttps://millennialpotash.com/Date : 21st December, 2025

November 10, 2025Episode 10551 min

# 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 Paradisewww.regainparadise.orgGuest : Tao Zhang, Founder and Managing Director , Dao Ventureshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tzhang1/https://www.daofoods.com/Date : 9th Nov, 2025

October 18, 2025Episode 10454 min

# 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 lossare 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.SectionsSection 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 Paradisewww.regainparadise.orgGuest :Aditi Mukherji, Principal Scientist International Livestock Researchhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aditi-mukherji-696bbb2b/https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Cv7woCMAAAAJ&hl=enhttps://www.cgiar.org/aditi-mukherji/Date : 18th October 2025

September 24, 2025Episode 10357 min

# 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.SectionsSection 1: First 10 minutes : About Emmanuel , his career.Section 2: Next 15 minutes: Emmanuel’s investing experienceSection 3: Last 30 minutes: India’s agriculture and agri-tech sector.Host:Sanjoy SanyalFounder Regain Paradisewww.regainparadise.orgGuest: Emmanuel MurrayInvestment Director Caspian Leap for Agriculture (LeAF) Fund.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-murrayemmanuel@caspian.inevmurray@gmail.com+91 97037 6999724th September ,2025

September 8, 2025Episode 1021 hr 7 min

# 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 spreadingamong 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.SectionsSection 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 UKHost: Sanjoy Sanyal, Founder Regain Paradisewww.regainparadise.orgGuest: Ali CapperOwner of Stocks Farm, Ex Chairperson of the National Farmers Union Horticulture & Potatoes Board. Director of the Oxford Farming Conference, Chairperson of theBritish Apples and Pears and Chairperson of Wye Hops.https://stocksfarm.net/https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-capper-71163813/Date : 8th September, 2025

August 12, 2025Episode 10145 min

# 101 Don’t Quit, Manage Risks

What is the problem ?The El Nino has affected pineapple production in Thailand.What is the solution ?Some companies are quitting the industry altogether. Ourguest – who has literally grown up in the pineapple industry- is “doubling down”but diversifyingWhat is the evidence? Pineapple leaves which would have wasted can be used tomake sustainable textiles.What is the caveat? Demand for these textiles is lower than expected.What should organisations do ? They should diversify to manage risks, not give in.Easier said that done, of course.Sections Section 1: First 8 minutes : Introduction to Jinny (Ghanyapad) Tantipipatpong and her family businessSection 2: Next 22 minutes: The impact of the El Nino on the pineapple industry in ThailandSection 3: Next 23 minutes: The plans of converting pineapple waste leaves to sustainable textile fibresHost:Sanjoy Sanyal, Founder Regain Paradisewww.regainparadise.orgGuest:Jinny (Ghanyapad) TantipipatpongExecutive Director of the Siam Agro-Food Industry and the Director of the ThaiDesignation Pineapple Canning Industry Corporationhttps://www.saico.co.th/home/jinny@tpc-canning.comWA: +66(0)81 813 6288

July 31, 2025Episode 10050 min

# 100 AI in agriculture depends on partnerships

What is the problem ? Business models to deploy AI solutions for small holder farmers do not exist.What is the solution ? Bring down costs and develop use cases in partnership.What is the evidence? Several cost reduction technologies and several real lifeapplications are being developed.What is the caveat? We are just scratching the surface.What should organisations do? Companies should partner to test and deploy solutions.Sections Section 1: First 10 minutes : Getting to know Ranveer Chandra.Section 2: Next 40 minutes: Microsoft’s strategy in AI for agriculture.Host:Sanjoy SanyalFounder Regain Paradisewww.regainparadise.orgGuest : Ranveer ChandraVice President and CTO Agri-food, Microsofthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ranveer-chandra-79bb9b/Date : 31st July 2025

July 21, 2025Episode 9944 min

# 99 Keeping the Coffee boom going.

What is the problem ? Coffee production and exports have boomed in Vietnam . The issue is to keep the boom going.What is the solution ? Doing much the same things that contributed to the boomin the first place. Organising farmers, supporting them with information and working with buyersWhat is the evidence? In Vietnam farmers have options to hold on to their cropsWhat is the caveat? The futures market could increase price volatilityWhat should organisations do ? Companies should secure supplies from farmersSectionsSection 1: First 10 minutes : Getting to know Apurva.Section 2: Next 35 minutes: about coffee industry in Vietnam, how it has grown and how it is managing.Host: Sanjoy Sanyal, Founder Regain Paradise, New Ventureswww.regainparadise.orgwww.regainparadise.orgGuest: Apurva ManekVeteran coffee trader from Southeast Asiahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/apurva-manek-44774b52/apurvamanek1407@gmail.com21st July, 2025

July 17, 2025Episode 9851 min

# 98 Cooperatives help farmers grow better coffee.

What is the problem ? Coffee production in Peru has improved significantly. It is now being affected by climate change.What is the solution ?A cooperative with research and training focus to help farmers improve quality and adopt appropriate seeds.What is the evidence? Peru coffee which used to sell at a discount is now sold as a premiumWhat is the caveat? Would cooperatives have the ability to invest and hire in an era of climate change?What should organisations do ? Cooperatives can help small holder farmers.Sections Section 1: First 15 minutes : Getting to know our guests.Section 2: Next 45 minutes: How Centrocafe works with farmers in Peru and plans to address climate changeHost: Sanjoy SanyalFounder Regain ParadiseNew Ventureswww.regainparadise.orgGuests: Jaime Cueva RamosHead of Productive and Associative Sustainability Managementhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-cueva-ramos-23340b129/ https://cenfrocafe.com.pe/Juan Pablo TorresSupply Chain Experthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-pablo-170785/Date : 17th July 2025

June 30, 2025Episode 9754 min

# 97 Africa can boost chicken production.

What is the problem? Nigeria is importing meat even as its potential to produce domestically is untapped.What is the solution ? Create linkages between small holder farmers and meat companies.What is the evidence? Farmers in Nigeria are already benefiting..What is the caveat? Farmers need training and services (inputs, purchase agreements, insurance)What should organisations do? Non-profits and companies should work together to create these marketsSections Section 1: First 10 minutes : Getting to know Kachi and Heifer’s work in Nigeria.Section 2: Next 45 minutes: about the Sustainable Market Access for smallholder Poultry Farmers.Section 3: Last 10 minutes about broader lessons.Host : Sanjoy Sanyal, Founder Regain Paradisewww.regainparadise.orgGuest : Onyekachi AyevbuomwanProgram Lead for the Livestock sector for Heifer International Nigeriahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/onyekachi-ayevbuomwan-5666a66b/?originalSubdomain=ngDate 30th June 2025