Unreasonable

Florida's citrus industry has faced significant setbacks due to disease and environmental pressures, but Terviva, a San Francisco-based agricultural company founded by Naveen Sikka, may have a solution. Pongamia trees are native to India and well-suited to Florida's climate, requiring minimal water and pesticides. But their true value lies in their beans, which Terviva has developed a patented process to transform into both plant-based protein and sustainable biofuel. This approach offers a new revenue stream for Florida farmers and a more sustainable model for agriculture. By replacing struggling citrus groves with pongamia trees, Terviva is providing a sustainable solution for Florida farmers and contributing to environmental restoration efforts. The cultivation of pongamia trees has the potential to revitalize agricultural land, improve soil health, and reduce the environmental impact of farming. Learn more about this Unreasonable Company and their work with pongamia trees: https://lnkd.in/eEWcw7EW

One of the key challenges in regenerative agriculture is accurately baselining and monitoring soil to confirm the effectiveness of practices. Dan Rooney, PhD, Founder & CEO at LandScan, explains it well: "Imagine tracking runners in a marathon with just ten random locations. Initially, the average position fluctuates wildly. This is similar to the variability in soil samples. LandScan's technology allows for thousands of measurements, providing a more consistent and accurate picture, just like having numerous data points on those runners." LandScan integrates crop imagery with soil sensor sampling to create a digital twin for each field. This enables precision agriculture, optimizing irrigation, nutrition, soil health, and regenerative practices. LandScan’s team is the only group of people who have commercially mapped soil and vegetation across 6 continents over the past 20 years. By providing detailed soil and crop insights, they help farmers maximize yield and reduce environmental impact. You can learn more about LandScan here - https://lnkd.in/dkpUAJb7 And you can read more about Dan's bio here - https://lnkd.in/d2PXWgkj

Four months ago, a simple AI-generated image on LinkedIn caught the attention of sportswear giant Adidas. Antonio Nuño, CEO of Someone Somewhere, had shared his vision: what if Mexico's National Team jerseys incorporated traditional hand-embroidered patterns? This sparked a remarkable collaboration. That vision is a reality, embodied in the stunning new jerseys of the Mexican National Team. Each jersey features over 100 meters of intricate embroidery, meticulously crafted by artisans from the Sierra Norte de Puebla. AI was used to generate the designs, but the heart and soul of each jersey lies in the skilled hands that brought those designs to life. This collaboration is a beautiful example of what happens when companies prioritize social impact and cultural preservation. Each jersey represents 11 hours of skilled labor, a tribute to the 11 players who will wear them proudly. And, thanks to a QR code, you can even connect with the artisan who created your unique piece. As Nuño says, "When you collaborate instead of just taking advantage of something, everything changes." Learn more about this Unreasonable company —https://lnkd.in/ej5JfZBJ and their inspiring partnership with Adidas — https://lnkd.in/ef4aZRkV.

Naked Energy — an Unreasonable company, has secured £17 million of new equity in a Series B first close, led by  E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions and supported by Barclays (Sustainable Impact Capital). This funding will accelerate Naked Energy’s global expansion and the adoption of its cutting-edge solutions to decarbonize heat. The strategic partnership with E.ON EIS, supported by Barclays, is a powerful endorsement of Naked Energy’s growth plans, enabling the international distribution of their award-winning Virtu solar collectors, which are up to four times more impactful at offsetting CO2 emissions than conventional solar PV panels. Naked Energy is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for renewable heat technologies, as highlighted in the IEA Renewables Report 2023. With manufacturing bases in the UK and Europe, and plans to start manufacturing in Dallas, Texas, Naked Energy is set to make a significant impact globally. Congratulations to Christophe Williams and the entire team at Naked Energy Ltd! Learn more about this exciting partnership and Naked Energy's innovative approach to sustainable energy: https://lnkd.in/eVVXwJma

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation in 2005, Lisa Dyson, PhD stood in New Orleans, deeply moved by the environmental and human tragedy. Amidst the wreckage, a profound realization struck her: our environment is crucial for survival, and we are pushing it to its limits. This led Lisa to rethink her carbon footprint and explore solutions to mitigate environmental damage. "Nature has no carbon waste," Lisa reflects. "There’s just the carbon cycle." Determined to harness nature's efficiency, Lisa co-founded Air Protein, aiming to tackle our carbon footprint by turning elements of the air into protein. Drawing inspiration from NASA’s research on feeding astronauts during long space journeys, Lisa and her team adapted the concept to make food in hours using carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen, along with water and energy, to grow protein-rich microbes. "We’re essentially reimagining fermentation," Lisa explains. "Instead of producing CO2, our process consumes it." Air Protein's technology is groundbreaking, with a carbon-negative process from cradle to gate that removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits. This method uses significantly less land and water compared to traditional agriculture, offering a sustainable solution to food production. Notable milestones for Air Protein include: ▪ Raising $107 million from investors like Google Ventures, ADM, Barclays, and the Ford Foundation. ▪Commissioning a demonstration pilot in 2023. ▪Developing a commercial process for producing sustainable protein through carbon-negative fermentation. Lisa's vision extends beyond creating a new food source; she aims to transform food production, ensuring global food security while combating climate change. “Our goal is to deliver nutritious food without taxing the planet’s resources,” Lisa states. Recently, she was selected as a Fellow for the Unreasonable Food program (https://lnkd.in/gTm7bJUd), a collaboration between Unreasonable and Mars. This program is committed to empowering entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and network they need to scale their impact. Together, we're fostering a thriving ecosystem of food system innovators You can learn more about Air Protein here - https://lnkd.in/eyRCtGFM And you can read more about Lisa’s bio here - https://lnkd.in/e7Vq5X2X

The main problem with plastic is it's not going anywhere. It accumulates in landfills, pollutes our oceans, and fragments into microplastics that infiltrate our ecosystems. TIPA® Compostable Packaging , founded in 2010, offers a radical solution to this persistent challenge. Their fully compostable packaging solutions are designed to mimic the lifecycle of organic matter. Just like an apple core or banana peel, TIPA's packaging naturally breaks down, leaving behind nutrients, not pollutants. TIPA's packaging meets the same performance standards as traditional plastics, proving that sustainability doesn't have to mean sacrificing functionality. From food wrappers to fashion bags, their solutions are already making waves in multiple industries. TIPA is at the forefront of a packaging revolution, demonstrating that we can protect our products and our planet simultaneously. We commend Daphna Nissenbaum, Co-Founder & CEO of TIPA, and the entire team for their dedication to a plastic-free future. Visit https://lnkd.in/eQAYVhVC to learn more about their pioneering work and how TIPA is reshaping the packaging industry.

Exciting news from Sea Forest - an Unreasonable Company, as they partner with Morrisons to fast track lower methane beef! Sea Forest, an Earthshot finalist and innovative environmental technology company, has partnered with Morrisons to introduce their seaweed-based livestock feed, SeaFeed™, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle. This partnership aims to support Morrisons' goal of achieving net zero agriculture emissions from its directly supplied farms by 2030. SeaFeed™ has been scientifically proven to reduce methane production by up to 90% when included as a small fraction of the animals’ diet. This collaboration with Morrisons marks a significant milestone in promoting sustainable agricultural practices on an international scale. Sam Elsom, CEO of Sea Forest, shared, “Distributing our methane-busting solution to one of the most respected retailers and food producers in the UK is a tremendous milestone for Sea Forest. Our trials have shown excellent results, and we are thrilled to partner with Morrisons to make a meaningful impact on climate change globally.” A huge congratulations to Sam Elsom and the entire team at Sea Forest for this incredible achievement! Learn more about this partnership and Sea Forest's innovative approach to sustainable agriculture: https://lnkd.in/gKVsU2wC

Alloysius Attah knows the land intimately. Growing up in a farming community in Ghana, he witnessed firsthand the daily challenges smallholder farmers face. Despite their tireless efforts, they were always at the mercy of limited resources and unpredictable weather. This early experience instilled in him a deep understanding of their struggles and a fierce determination to drive change. After completing his studies in Kumasi, Alloysius realized that many solutions to his community's problems existed over 100 years ago for most farmers in developed countries but had yet to reach all small-scale farmers everywhere. He understood that to solve the issue holistically and create lasting profit for all farmers; one must support farmers in growing quality food while collaborating with the world's food companies and governments to provide relevant and actionable information in the languages farmers understand, bridge the $190 billion financing gap, and provide consistent market access. He and his co-founder launched Farmerline with this insight, starting with just $600. Their mission was to connect farmers to essential resources and information through digital technology. Small-scale farmers feed one-third of humanity and will need to produce 70% more food to feed the future. They are an integral part of the global food system. Farmerline Group, with its subscription-based tech platform Mergdata, has grown exponentially to support these crucial farmers. Today, Mergdata and its partners have supported 2.2 million farmers in 50 countries. Its platform monitors 3.2 million acres of farmland with 94% compliance with EUDR. Collaborating with 3,000 partners, Farmerline boosts productivity and profitability globally. The results speak for themselves: an 89% increase in crop yields and a 203% increase in profits per acre. Over the past ten years, Farmerline has tracked commodities worth over $160 million. For Alloysius, the mission extends beyond agricultural productivity. He envisions creating generational wealth for farmers, ensuring food security, and leveraging technology to transform lives. Recently, he was selected as a Fellow for the Unreasonable Food program, a collaboration between Unreasonable and Mars. This program is committed to empowering entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and network they need to scale their impact. Together, we're fostering a thriving ecosystem of food system innovators. You can learn more about Farmerline here - https://lnkd.in/etSznE5w And you can read more about Alloysius’ bio here - https://lnkd.in/egw_5Z2w 

CLUBZERØ, led by CEO Safia Qureshi, is driving change with their award-winning returnable packaging system for food and beverage brands, aiming to end the “take-make-dispose” culture. With an impressive 95% return rate, they partner with brands across various sectors to support this transition. This year, CLUBZERØ is making a notable impact at Wimbledon by deploying reusable, returnable food containers, with the goal of making the tournament zero-waste by 2025. Fans can easily return food and drink packaging to designated points, promoting sustainability on a large scale. Since 2018, CLUBZERØ has saved over 2.6 million items of single-use plastics from landfills and prevented 39 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Their efforts span across the UK and the US, partnering with universities, offices, sporting arenas, events, and restaurants to reduce waste and emissions. Learn more about their innovative approach and the Wimbledon initiative in the full news article: https://lnkd.in/e8G43YJz

It is with deep sadness that our team shares the news of the passing of Nick Imudia. We mourn Nick’s passing not because he is gone, but because we will forever miss him. Nick was the CEO of d.light, which has brought solar to over 100 million individuals across the developing world. He was an Unreasonable Fellow and he was a truly remarkable leader and entrepreneur. Most notably, Nick will be remembered for being a father, a husband, and a dear friend to so many. Our hearts go out to Nick, his family, his friends, his teammates, and all those who he gifted with his presence in this life. Nick, and his family, remain in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.