Markus Knigge - Blue Action Fund from global pledges to local actions
🌊🐠🌍In this new episode of the Blue Builders Podcast, I sit down with Markus Knigge, who shares his insights from years of working in conservation funding and project implementation across multiple continents.This conversation explores the delicate balance between challenges and hope in environmental conservation work - from witnessing climate change impacts firsthand to seeing the transformative power of well-directed funding and strong partnerships.We notably discussed:✅ How global ocean commitments translate to real action on the ground✅ Why funding only works with the right local partners to drive change✅ What actually makes Marine Protected Areas effective, not just lines on a map✅ Key expectations for the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in France✅ Honest assessment of which local conservation successes can truly scaleMarkus's perspective on viewing conservation like a chess board - where every organization is just one piece in a larger strategy - offers a compelling framework for Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Alex de Caters - insect proteins in 2025: an effective tool for marine conservation?
🌊 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 #𝟮 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘄! 🐛🐟“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺”In this new episode of the Blue Builders by Nature Builders Podcasts, I sit down with Alex de Caters, co-founder of Entobel, alongside Gaetan Crielaard. Based in Vietnam, Entobel is developing insect protein as a sustainable alternative for aquaculture feed.𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, with several major players facing financial difficulties and some questioning the viability of insect protein altogether. Against that backdrop, we took a step back to explore the bigger picture, the challenges of the aquaculture industry and Entobel’s long game.𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹y 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱: ✅ The link between aquaculture, fishmeal, and marine biodiversity loss✅ How insects like the black soldier fly can reduce pressure on wild fish stocks✅ The complexity of scaling a bioconversion company from lab to industry✅ The ups and downs of building Entobel from scratch in Vietnam✅ Why cost efficiency is now make-or-break for the insect protein sectorAlex’s journey is one of resilience, iteration, and long-term vision, a great example of what it means to be a Blue Builder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Tom Hickey - Advancing Coastal Wetlands Conservation
In this first episode of Blue Builders, we sit down with Tom Hickey, Project Director at The Pew Charitable Trusts, to explore the vital role of coastal wetlands in ocean conservation and climate action.Tom shares his personal journey — from summers spent fishing off the coast of Cornwall to leading global efforts to integrate mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes into national climate strategies. We dive into how these ecosystems serve as powerful tools for both carbon mitigation and community resilience, and how countries can include them in their climate pledges through the Paris Agreement framework.Throughout the conversation, we explore:Why blue carbon is a useful policy tool, but not the whole storyHow local partnerships, community engagement, and language shape effective conservationWhat it takes to map, manage, and restore ecosystems across very different national contextsThe challenge of scaling conservation solutions without losing local nuanceThis episode is a deep dive into the complexity — and promise — of coastal conservation. It’s for anyone interested in how nature-based solutions are designed, funded, and implemented at scale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Blue Builders is a podcast sharing the stories of people working to conserve and restore our ocean ecosystems.As a new series from the Nature Builders Podcasts, Blue Builders explores the journeys of individuals who have committed their lives and careers to marine conservation: from grassroots activists and scientists to entrepreneurs, policymakers, and funders. Through in-depth, unscripted conversations, we dive into what drives lasting commitment to nature, what actually works in the field, and how diverse strategies can come together to address the climate and biodiversity crises.Blue Builders strips away idealism to reveal the practical mechanics of marine restoration. For listeners seeking authentic, boots-in-the-sand perspectives on ocean conservation, these conversations offer insight into how diverse approaches collectively build resilience in our threatened blue world.I hope that their stories inspire you as much as they inspired me! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
France