Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry talks to Scott Fry, co-founder of Loving Earth, a maker of vegan, organic, fair trade chocolate, about making amazing chocolate, climate and digital assets. From years spent in India and Mexico working with small Indigenous farming cooperatives, Scott talks about how witnessing the impact of urbanisation, industrial expansion, mining, and the destruction of the natural environment as small holder farmers were moved off their land. His passion and inspiration to create a company that could support small holder farmers in a way that would help them preserve their culture and natural ecosystems they are the custodians off. His time in Mexico resulted in him discovering cacao, working on a project to save the heirloom variety of cacao and feeding his interest in agroforestry and sustainable agriculture. We discuss the challenges of maintaining relationships and ethical supply chains from a distance as well as the realities of being an industry pioneer. For Scott it is ultimately about being as ethical and transparent as possible while staying true to your principals. Scott explains how taking Loving Earth to the US and Europe exposed him to the regenerative movement and the role agriculture can play in drawing carbon out of the atmosphere. We talk about the intersection between ecological services, regenerative agriculture, carbon markets, carbon credits, and digital assets. Just as Scott was at the forefront of ethical chocolate production, he is now keen to do the same with the latest technology and its potential to transform an industry. ------------------------------ The Food & Drink Business Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Food & Drink Business, owned and published by Yaffa Media. The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Food & Drink Business, Yaffa Media, or the guest's employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media. If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Food & Drink Business via their website www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au or send an email to [email protected] MC: Grant McHerron Host: Kim Berry Editor: Jayden Wennholz Producer: Steve Visscher Food & Drink Business - © 2021