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In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with David Farrell, Founder and CEO of Blue North Sustainability, to explore one of the most important conversations happening in global agriculture today: the shift toward sustainability, mindset change, carbon measurement, and the future of tools like Sherpa and Carbon Heroes.

David shares the remarkable journey that led from his early days as an extension officer in the subtrop industry, to building an export business, to becoming a pioneer in sustainability frameworks that now influence agriculture worldwide. His work helped lay the foundations for major industry initiatives like CSER and Confronting Climate Change, and today Blue North operates across South Africa, Europe, South America, and beyond.

This episode goes deep into what sustainability really means for farmers, exporters, buyers, and retail supply chains — beyond compliance, beyond auditing, and into the heart of business resilience and system thinking. David explains why mindsets must shift, how transparency creates opportunity, and why regenerative approaches are resonating with a new generation of agri-professionals.

We also unpack the origin and purpose of Carbon Heroes, the evolution of Blue North’s sustainability management platform Sherpa, the role of data and AI in future food systems, and what David would change globally if he had unlimited funding for planetary health.

Whether you're a grower, agribusiness leader, exporter, retailer, or simply someone who cares about the future of food — this is a powerful, perspective-shifting conversation.

Key Takeaways

•The real purpose of sustainability: understanding business within a social and environmental system.

•Why farmers initially resisted audits — and what helped shift mindsets.

•The origin stories behind CSER and Confronting Climate Change.

•How Carbon Heroes helps growers communicate positive sustainability actions credibly.

•What Sherpa does and why it’s becoming a global sustainability management tool.

•The challenges of carbon credits — and why Blue North takes a cautious stance.

•How AI will accelerate sustainability insights and decision-making.

•Why global agriculture needs a “paradigm shift” in worldview.

•What David would do with unlimited funding to improve planetary health.

More about Blue North: https://bluenorth.co.za/

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