1 00:00:11,429 --> 00:00:13,264 Strange red globs. 2 00:00:13,347 --> 00:00:15,975 Are you worried about a zombie apocalypse? 3 00:00:16,059 --> 00:00:17,977 Secret trap door. 4 00:00:18,061 --> 00:00:19,771 You got a pinhole in your… 5 00:00:19,854 --> 00:00:23,274 Petri dishes growing… whatever that is. 6 00:00:24,150 --> 00:00:27,695 This isn't science fiction. It's all science facts. 7 00:00:27,779 --> 00:00:28,738 Yes! 8 00:00:28,821 --> 00:00:30,740 -On this episode… -There he goes! 9 00:00:30,823 --> 00:00:33,451 …we'll meet some of the most outside-the-box, 10 00:00:34,035 --> 00:00:37,371 forward-thinking, unconventional people… 11 00:00:37,455 --> 00:00:38,581 I used to be a lawyer. 12 00:00:38,664 --> 00:00:40,958 …from all walks of life. 13 00:00:41,042 --> 00:00:44,712 They've come up with unique ways to address a problem, 14 00:00:44,796 --> 00:00:46,798 change an entire industry, 15 00:00:46,881 --> 00:00:49,550 or just reduce their own negative impact on the ecosystem. 16 00:00:49,634 --> 00:00:51,344 I'm going for as much as we can. 17 00:00:51,427 --> 00:00:54,222 New solutions to heal the planet in one way or another. 18 00:00:54,305 --> 00:00:55,598 Trying to address a problem. 19 00:00:56,265 --> 00:00:59,102 And whether it's big ideas or small ones… 20 00:00:59,185 --> 00:01:01,312 -These are wheat seeds. Come on. 21 00:01:01,395 --> 00:01:04,273 -…they're all eco-innovators. 22 00:01:18,329 --> 00:01:21,207 Our first stop brings us to the island of Tasmania… 23 00:01:23,209 --> 00:01:26,546 to meet some eco-innovators who are revolutionizing a business 24 00:01:26,629 --> 00:01:30,091 typically known for having a large impact on the environment, 25 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:32,552 the cattle industry. 26 00:01:33,636 --> 00:01:37,932 Livestock produce 16% of the world's global greenhouse emissions 27 00:01:38,015 --> 00:01:41,102 in the form of methane through their digestion process. 28 00:01:41,686 --> 00:01:44,355 While it's still a good idea to reduce red meat intake 29 00:01:44,438 --> 00:01:46,941 for a variety of health and ecological reasons… 30 00:01:48,401 --> 00:01:52,780 …this Tasmanian startup has come up with a new way to feed cattle, 31 00:01:52,864 --> 00:01:56,325 so if you wish, you can have your steak and eat it too. 32 00:01:57,118 --> 00:02:02,290 Sea Forest commercially grows a special red algae called Asparagopsis. 33 00:02:02,373 --> 00:02:05,293 A small portion of this algae added to a cow's diet 34 00:02:05,376 --> 00:02:09,797 can reduce the methane released by that cow as much as 80%. 35 00:02:10,381 --> 00:02:13,509 And here to explain it all is co-founder Sam Elsom. 36 00:02:14,927 --> 00:02:18,347 We're now going to the laboratory. We can't tell you too much about-- 37 00:02:18,431 --> 00:02:20,141 -"The lab'ratory"? -The lab'ratory. 38 00:02:20,224 --> 00:02:21,601 To-may-to, to-mah-to. 39 00:02:21,684 --> 00:02:24,770 Here in the laboratory is where they start the process. 40 00:02:24,854 --> 00:02:26,731 "Research Laboratory." 41 00:02:26,814 --> 00:02:28,274 It's not how you say it, Darin! 42 00:02:28,357 --> 00:02:29,442 -How are you? -I'm well. 43 00:02:29,525 --> 00:02:31,819 -Rocky, we got Darin and Zac. -Hi, Darin. 44 00:02:31,903 --> 00:02:33,779 -Hey, Rocky. How are you? -Well. 45 00:02:33,863 --> 00:02:35,198 -Rocky, pleasure. -Zac, you too. 46 00:02:35,281 --> 00:02:36,407 Nice to meet you. 47 00:02:36,490 --> 00:02:39,911 So you've got some incredible science going on here, don't you? 48 00:02:39,994 --> 00:02:43,206 We're really enjoying ourselves at the moment. It's looking good. 49 00:02:43,289 --> 00:02:47,793 So, this is the sanctuary where they all start. 50 00:02:47,877 --> 00:02:51,005 Much like germinating a seed to the point of sprouting it 51 00:02:51,088 --> 00:02:52,173 before it can be planted, 52 00:02:52,256 --> 00:02:55,301 here on these shelves and floating in these beakers 53 00:02:55,384 --> 00:02:57,345 is where the life of algae begins. 54 00:02:57,428 --> 00:03:01,515 And so we isolate them from very small cells, 55 00:03:01,599 --> 00:03:05,394 and they're in this tiny little phase that we hold together. 56 00:03:05,478 --> 00:03:09,357 And they form these lovely little pom-poms or floating balls, 57 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,026 and as they grow, they break up. 58 00:03:12,109 --> 00:03:14,820 And so we look after them really carefully, 59 00:03:14,904 --> 00:03:20,243 nurture them from this 500-mil stage up to this five-liter stage. 60 00:03:21,494 --> 00:03:24,497 You accidentally stumbled onto the coolest lava lamp ever. 61 00:03:24,580 --> 00:03:26,332 Yeah! Yeah, it is, isn't? 62 00:03:26,415 --> 00:03:29,627 A colored light behind it'd be pretty funky in the lab. 63 00:03:29,710 --> 00:03:30,878 Yeah. Absolutely. 64 00:03:30,962 --> 00:03:35,424 Add a little black light, I could sit back and stare at these forever. 65 00:03:35,925 --> 00:03:38,636 In 2016, Rocky was involved in the research 66 00:03:38,719 --> 00:03:43,349 that led to this seaweed's discovery as a methane-busting seaweed. 67 00:03:43,432 --> 00:03:46,143 -He's the guy behind all of this. -Oh, amazing. Unreal. 68 00:03:46,227 --> 00:03:48,479 You are the methane buster. 69 00:03:48,562 --> 00:03:49,689 I am one. 70 00:03:49,772 --> 00:03:53,693 We are meeting one of the methane busters for the planet. 71 00:03:53,776 --> 00:03:57,113 I mean, one of the methane busters. One of the methane busters. 72 00:03:57,196 --> 00:04:01,909 He's being modest, but Rocky really is a methane-busting rock star. 73 00:04:01,993 --> 00:04:05,413 And we need to shine a light on more people doing work like this. 74 00:04:05,496 --> 00:04:08,541 Once the algae is a little developed, it's taken out to sea 75 00:04:08,624 --> 00:04:11,168 and planted in a special area off the coast 76 00:04:11,252 --> 00:04:12,878 where it can become full-grown. 77 00:04:13,379 --> 00:04:15,923 Sam is taking us out to see their marine lease. 78 00:04:16,007 --> 00:04:18,009 Just a short boat ride from the lab, 79 00:04:18,092 --> 00:04:21,637 this is where they deposit, or plant, the special rope. 80 00:04:21,721 --> 00:04:24,974 There'd be, like, microscopic spores in the hatchery. 81 00:04:25,057 --> 00:04:27,059 They're seeded over this rope. You wouldn't see them. 82 00:04:27,143 --> 00:04:29,353 They go into the ocean, and then they mature. 83 00:04:29,437 --> 00:04:31,480 So they just glom onto this? 84 00:04:31,564 --> 00:04:33,190 Yeah. In eight weeks time, 85 00:04:33,274 --> 00:04:36,027 all of these tiny, little baby seaweed seedlings 86 00:04:36,110 --> 00:04:40,323 really will be 30-centimeter, big bushy crops. 87 00:04:40,406 --> 00:04:42,408 Once we've reached their marine lease, 88 00:04:43,659 --> 00:04:47,121 these large hooks are thrown from the boat into the water. 89 00:04:48,581 --> 00:04:53,669 These hooks are then used to grab and pull up what's called the backbone. 90 00:04:55,588 --> 00:04:58,758 The backbone is drawn between two floating anchors. 91 00:04:58,841 --> 00:05:02,178 This is where the Asparagopsis will be planted to grow and mature, 92 00:05:02,261 --> 00:05:05,222 allowing them to be harvested from the backbone later. 93 00:05:05,723 --> 00:05:07,767 We're gonna throw out the seaweed. 94 00:05:07,850 --> 00:05:11,645 So, the seaweed will grow vertically up and down off these ropes. 95 00:05:11,729 --> 00:05:13,314 Yep. Here we go. 96 00:05:13,397 --> 00:05:16,108 The rope is covered in Asparagopsis spores. 97 00:05:16,192 --> 00:05:17,443 It's seaweed sausage. 98 00:05:17,526 --> 00:05:20,154 This spore-covered rope is wrapped in a white cotton casing 99 00:05:20,237 --> 00:05:21,614 to protect the young algae. 100 00:05:21,697 --> 00:05:24,325 In case you're wondering, the casing is biodegradable 101 00:05:24,408 --> 00:05:26,494 and will dissolve after about four weeks. 102 00:05:26,577 --> 00:05:29,705 The ropes are single lines placed 50 meters apart 103 00:05:29,789 --> 00:05:31,791 in this marine farm section of the sea. 104 00:05:31,874 --> 00:05:34,168 Strict precautions and protocols are in place 105 00:05:34,251 --> 00:05:38,339 to make sure these ropes pose no threat to whales, dolphins or any other sea life. 106 00:05:38,422 --> 00:05:40,800 -We're just trying to address a problem. -Absolutely. 107 00:05:40,883 --> 00:05:44,428 Trying to reduce emissions. This is all about climate change fundamentally. 108 00:05:44,512 --> 00:05:47,640 Once secured to the backbone, this line is ready to be lowered 109 00:05:47,723 --> 00:05:50,226 into the water to begin the next phase of growth. 110 00:05:50,309 --> 00:05:52,520 But we're not here to just see their process. 111 00:05:52,603 --> 00:05:55,314 It's time to see some of this miracle seaweed up close. 112 00:05:55,398 --> 00:05:56,273 Cool. 113 00:05:56,357 --> 00:05:57,858 So that's Asparagopsis. 114 00:05:58,359 --> 00:06:01,737 The seaweed's common name is harpoon weed. 115 00:06:01,821 --> 00:06:05,658 -It has all these little harpoons. -You can see little spikes on there. 116 00:06:05,741 --> 00:06:07,910 It's amazing that this little red sea plant 117 00:06:07,993 --> 00:06:11,580 has the ability to make so much change in the planet's atmosphere. 118 00:06:11,664 --> 00:06:15,292 It's a tiny little plant no one's ever paid any attention to, 119 00:06:15,376 --> 00:06:18,295 and it turns out to be able to save the world. 120 00:06:18,379 --> 00:06:21,924 I love how Darin always assumes it's cool to put it in his mouth. 121 00:06:22,007 --> 00:06:23,634 Luckily, it is. 122 00:06:24,176 --> 00:06:26,387 What's the… What's the verdict? 123 00:06:26,470 --> 00:06:27,638 Yeah, it's good. 124 00:06:27,721 --> 00:06:31,600 Good to eat? Maybe. But it's certainly good when cows eat it 125 00:06:31,684 --> 00:06:35,771 because it safely reduces the cows' methane release by as much as 80% 126 00:06:35,855 --> 00:06:36,939 or even higher. 127 00:06:37,022 --> 00:06:40,401 And it could be helpful in reducing global climate change. 128 00:06:40,484 --> 00:06:43,779 Imagine that, a little seaweed that has so much potential 129 00:06:43,863 --> 00:06:45,489 to help heal the planet. 130 00:06:46,907 --> 00:06:50,619 No boat ride would be complete without me getting a chance at the helm. 131 00:06:50,703 --> 00:06:53,164 Oh, this is fun. What a day. 132 00:06:53,247 --> 00:06:57,751 Hurry, Captain Zac. Hurry, laddie! 133 00:06:57,835 --> 00:07:00,796 You're without a doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of. 134 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,090 Captain Jack, argh! 135 00:07:04,425 --> 00:07:05,634 Horn works! 136 00:07:05,718 --> 00:07:07,887 -Uh-oh. Here we go. 137 00:07:09,221 --> 00:07:11,724 Is there another note on there? Can you go… 138 00:07:14,894 --> 00:07:18,481 This process starts in a lab and continues in the ocean, 139 00:07:18,564 --> 00:07:20,733 and while it may seem complicated, it's not. 140 00:07:21,775 --> 00:07:23,360 And it's cost-effective. 141 00:07:24,361 --> 00:07:28,115 All right, back to dry land so we can see the finished product. 142 00:07:29,366 --> 00:07:31,452 Wow, it's not really dense, is it? 143 00:07:31,535 --> 00:07:34,288 We're talking about that much per cow per day. 144 00:07:34,371 --> 00:07:35,247 -What? -That's it? 145 00:07:35,331 --> 00:07:36,832 Wow, that's unreal. 146 00:07:36,916 --> 00:07:41,629 So you feed that cow over there that much in one day, 147 00:07:41,712 --> 00:07:44,798 and his methane production virtually is gone? 148 00:07:44,882 --> 00:07:46,425 Knocked out. Pretty much. 149 00:07:46,509 --> 00:07:48,260 It doesn't take a lot. 150 00:07:48,344 --> 00:07:51,180 A little pinch of this stuff mixed in with their regular diet 151 00:07:51,263 --> 00:07:54,600 and the cows' methane production is reduced drastically. 152 00:07:56,018 --> 00:07:58,229 -They're not even looking. -Come on, guys. 153 00:07:58,312 --> 00:07:59,813 We're fighting the sun. 154 00:08:01,857 --> 00:08:03,067 Come on, cows. 155 00:08:03,150 --> 00:08:05,986 Fellas! You got an afternoon delight here. 156 00:08:07,029 --> 00:08:09,657 Okay, it's time to feed the cows. 157 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:13,911 Darin believes himself to be a bit of a cow whisperer, so let's see how he does. 158 00:08:14,578 --> 00:08:16,914 What's the number for 911 in Australia? 159 00:08:17,414 --> 00:08:20,042 Hi! Come here. Come here. 160 00:08:20,125 --> 00:08:23,128 The man who's never eaten meat, now rustling cows. 161 00:08:23,212 --> 00:08:25,422 Yeah! All right, well done! 162 00:08:27,591 --> 00:08:28,509 Look at him. 163 00:08:28,592 --> 00:08:30,094 He knows what he's doing. 164 00:08:31,387 --> 00:08:32,221 Come on! 165 00:08:32,304 --> 00:08:34,181 Look at him. Not bad, Darin. 166 00:08:34,265 --> 00:08:36,892 That played out much worse in my imagination. 167 00:08:40,604 --> 00:08:41,522 Hey, guys. 168 00:08:43,148 --> 00:08:46,318 Basically, what's happening is, when they eat the seaweed, 169 00:08:46,402 --> 00:08:50,864 there's an enzymatic disruption of the production of methane 170 00:08:50,948 --> 00:08:53,450 with the compounds inside the seaweed, 171 00:08:53,534 --> 00:08:54,535 converting that, 172 00:08:54,618 --> 00:08:58,872 which would have been expelled as a gaseous waste product, methane, 173 00:08:58,956 --> 00:09:02,501 and covert it into energy which the animal then uses to grow faster. 174 00:09:02,585 --> 00:09:05,254 The enzyme blockage just prevents them from farting? 175 00:09:05,337 --> 00:09:09,425 Actually, like 90% of the methane is produced by ruminance. 176 00:09:09,508 --> 00:09:11,719 -It comes through burps, not farts. -Wow. 177 00:09:11,802 --> 00:09:15,347 It's a misconception that it's all farts. It's actually burps. 178 00:09:15,431 --> 00:09:16,390 Really? 179 00:09:16,473 --> 00:09:17,683 Cow superfood. 180 00:09:18,601 --> 00:09:20,603 They look so happy. Look at 'em. 181 00:09:21,270 --> 00:09:23,939 So why doesn't every farmer use this? 182 00:09:24,773 --> 00:09:27,610 Well, you're just learning about it now, right? 183 00:09:28,110 --> 00:09:31,030 Give it some time, and let's hope it catches on. 184 00:09:31,113 --> 00:09:35,159 When it comes to climate change, time isn't something we have a lot of. 185 00:09:35,242 --> 00:09:37,369 We just saw how a little plant from the sea 186 00:09:37,453 --> 00:09:39,872 can have a big impact on climate change. 187 00:09:39,955 --> 00:09:42,833 Up next is a cutting-edge idea to the land 188 00:09:42,916 --> 00:09:44,501 that can have a similar effect. 189 00:09:45,002 --> 00:09:47,379 We're headed to Orange, New South Wales 190 00:09:48,005 --> 00:09:50,716 to learn how the world's smallest organisms 191 00:09:51,342 --> 00:09:54,178 can help solve one of the world's biggest problems. 192 00:09:55,429 --> 00:09:57,473 Loam Bio is a biotech startup 193 00:09:57,556 --> 00:10:00,934 composed of farmers, scientists, and entrepreneurs 194 00:10:01,435 --> 00:10:04,188 dedicated to solving two very related issues: 195 00:10:04,855 --> 00:10:06,815 CO2 levels in the atmosphere 196 00:10:06,899 --> 00:10:09,693 and the decreased quality of farming soil. 197 00:10:09,777 --> 00:10:12,071 And this is the co-founder, Tegan. 198 00:10:13,197 --> 00:10:16,492 Agriculture and climate change have a complex relationship, 199 00:10:16,992 --> 00:10:21,080 and sometimes complex problems require only simple solutions. 200 00:10:21,163 --> 00:10:21,997 Great. 201 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,668 -You look good and scientific. -Feeling scientific. 202 00:10:25,751 --> 00:10:29,713 What they do here is treat seeds with a microbial fungus 203 00:10:29,797 --> 00:10:33,008 that, once planted, creates a stable carbon in the soil. 204 00:10:33,092 --> 00:10:35,511 The process provides nutrients to the crops 205 00:10:35,594 --> 00:10:39,014 and prevents the carbon from being released into the atmosphere. 206 00:10:39,098 --> 00:10:43,018 And this reduction in the CO2 levels can help fight global climate change. 207 00:10:43,102 --> 00:10:45,312 -This is cool. -What are we getting into? 208 00:10:45,396 --> 00:10:48,107 Well, this is where all of the good science happens. 209 00:10:48,190 --> 00:10:52,695 These guys are specific fungi we've pulled out of the natural environment. 210 00:10:52,778 --> 00:10:55,948 What we've found is they're actually increasing not just yields, 211 00:10:56,031 --> 00:10:57,783 but also nutrient density, 212 00:10:57,866 --> 00:11:01,537 which is really interesting then from a food production perspective. 213 00:11:01,620 --> 00:11:03,580 When you're looking at being able to increase 214 00:11:03,664 --> 00:11:06,875 the health of that food system, it's really important. 215 00:11:06,959 --> 00:11:11,880 These are wheat seeds. You'd recognize it. It goes into a lot of our baked goods. 216 00:11:11,964 --> 00:11:15,551 When we go and plant these in the paddock to grow our next crop, 217 00:11:15,634 --> 00:11:18,345 we've turned these fungi into an actual product, 218 00:11:18,429 --> 00:11:21,724 and then we're able to get that increase in yield, 219 00:11:21,807 --> 00:11:26,228 but also we're enriching our soils while drawing down tons of carbon 220 00:11:26,311 --> 00:11:27,396 in that hectare. 221 00:11:27,479 --> 00:11:31,608 Soils across the globe have lost between 20% and up to 60%, 222 00:11:31,692 --> 00:11:33,068 depending on where you are, 223 00:11:33,152 --> 00:11:36,530 of the carbon within the soil from industrialized farming practices. 224 00:11:36,613 --> 00:11:38,866 When you look at the fungi on the table here, 225 00:11:38,949 --> 00:11:40,325 they look pretty unassuming, 226 00:11:40,409 --> 00:11:43,704 but when you understand exactly what they're doing, 227 00:11:43,787 --> 00:11:45,539 they're absolutely incredible. 228 00:11:45,622 --> 00:11:51,754 It's very, very interesting how they, being so tiny and so nondescript, 229 00:11:51,837 --> 00:11:54,173 can really start to be the basis 230 00:11:54,256 --> 00:11:56,759 to be able to help us with our climate problem. 231 00:11:56,842 --> 00:11:57,676 That's cool. 232 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,429 I know a few scary movies that start this way. 233 00:12:00,929 --> 00:12:03,474 Like, where some of the fungi gets out, 234 00:12:03,557 --> 00:12:07,311 and it starts going into our bodies and controlling our minds and stuff. 235 00:12:07,394 --> 00:12:09,688 Are you worried about a zombie apocalypse? 236 00:12:09,772 --> 00:12:12,900 Luckily, our scientists have screened out anything 237 00:12:12,983 --> 00:12:15,068 that could resemble a horror movie. 238 00:12:15,152 --> 00:12:17,571 -Really? You sure they got all of it? -Absolutely. 239 00:12:17,654 --> 00:12:20,073 I think you got a pinhole in your… 240 00:12:23,494 --> 00:12:27,539 Let's check out the soil. I'd love to see how it actually works. 241 00:12:27,623 --> 00:12:29,875 -Brilliant. Let's do it! -Awesome. Thank you. 242 00:12:29,958 --> 00:12:33,754 We saw the seeds treated in the lab and tested in the greenhouse, 243 00:12:33,837 --> 00:12:38,383 but the real proving grounds for Loam Bio is here on a real farm. 244 00:12:54,441 --> 00:12:56,610 The Ioniq off-roading, huh? 245 00:12:57,402 --> 00:13:00,697 Is it just me, or are these cows staring at us? 246 00:13:02,157 --> 00:13:03,200 Hey, fellas. 247 00:13:07,746 --> 00:13:09,456 Now they're just ignoring us. 248 00:13:10,624 --> 00:13:14,962 Yeah, you understand me. You understand me. 249 00:13:15,045 --> 00:13:16,713 Darin's in his happy place, 250 00:13:16,797 --> 00:13:19,633 having an imaginary conversation with a whole herd of cows. 251 00:13:19,716 --> 00:13:22,553 I could go on, but we've arrived, 252 00:13:22,636 --> 00:13:25,889 and we're about to meet the farmer and co-founder of Loam Bio, 253 00:13:25,973 --> 00:13:26,974 Mick Wettenhall. 254 00:13:27,057 --> 00:13:28,225 Hey, how are you? 255 00:13:28,308 --> 00:13:30,060 -Great. How you doing? -Good. 256 00:13:30,143 --> 00:13:31,854 -Hey. Darin. -Darin. Mick. 257 00:13:31,937 --> 00:13:34,106 -Nice to meet you, Mick. Zac. -Nice to meet you. 258 00:13:34,189 --> 00:13:38,026 Oh, man. Excited. Uh, who do you got here with us? 259 00:13:38,110 --> 00:13:40,362 Yeah, we got the workforce here. 260 00:13:40,445 --> 00:13:43,407 We got Frank, Oompah, Pepper, and Goober. 261 00:13:44,408 --> 00:13:46,368 -Goober! Nice. -Goober. 262 00:13:46,451 --> 00:13:47,703 They look exhausted. 263 00:13:47,786 --> 00:13:49,288 I'll give these dogs some love. 264 00:13:49,371 --> 00:13:54,585 So, yeah, we just met with Tegan and got all stoked about the inoculation 265 00:13:54,668 --> 00:13:56,879 and fungal activity, and… 266 00:13:56,962 --> 00:13:58,005 Pretty cool, huh? 267 00:13:58,088 --> 00:13:59,882 -Totally excited-- -Fascinating stuff. 268 00:13:59,965 --> 00:14:03,260 With many years experience in grain and cotton farming, 269 00:14:03,343 --> 00:14:06,889 Mick can show us firsthand how these treated seeds work in the soil. 270 00:14:06,972 --> 00:14:09,433 What are some problems we're seeing nowadays 271 00:14:09,516 --> 00:14:11,643 when there's not enough carbon in the soil? 272 00:14:12,144 --> 00:14:14,855 Carbon underpins every function in soil, 273 00:14:14,938 --> 00:14:19,151 from water-holding capacity to its nutrient availability, 274 00:14:19,234 --> 00:14:22,446 its watering filtration, it's all related to carbon. 275 00:14:22,529 --> 00:14:26,783 So, the more carbon we have, the less rain we need, 276 00:14:26,867 --> 00:14:30,913 the less fertilizer we need, all those things that go with it. 277 00:14:30,996 --> 00:14:36,418 You know, underneath our feet, the soil itself, what have you seen now, 278 00:14:36,501 --> 00:14:39,963 implementing some of these things with the soil? And how can you tell? 279 00:14:40,047 --> 00:14:42,633 Well, you can see. Here we go. 280 00:14:42,716 --> 00:14:43,675 Um… 281 00:14:43,759 --> 00:14:48,096 You'll generally see that soil is a lot darker in color. 282 00:14:48,764 --> 00:14:51,975 You'll see that, and it'll have a certain smell about it. 283 00:14:52,517 --> 00:14:54,436 -So… -Yeah, get that camera in closer. 284 00:14:54,519 --> 00:14:57,814 Let's see. Last time I done a soil test on this paddock, 285 00:14:57,898 --> 00:15:00,150 it was about 2.5% soil carbon. 286 00:15:01,026 --> 00:15:02,611 What are you going for? 287 00:15:02,694 --> 00:15:05,238 Oh, I'm going for as much as we can. 288 00:15:05,322 --> 00:15:10,577 US average soil carbon content is usually anywhere from 1% to 4%, 289 00:15:10,661 --> 00:15:13,664 but Loam Bio's effects as high as 6%. 290 00:15:13,747 --> 00:15:17,000 The more carbon you can lock into the soil, the healthier it is. 291 00:15:17,084 --> 00:15:19,670 The crops grow stronger and with more nutrients, 292 00:15:19,753 --> 00:15:23,340 but the other byproduct is what they call the drawdown. 293 00:15:23,423 --> 00:15:27,552 That means carbon is drawn from the air down into the soil, 294 00:15:27,636 --> 00:15:30,973 and that can actually have a healing effect on our CO2 levels 295 00:15:31,056 --> 00:15:33,350 and slow down climate change just a little. 296 00:15:33,433 --> 00:15:36,770 The thing is, they don't have to move away from what they're doing. 297 00:15:36,853 --> 00:15:40,691 Keep doing what you're doing, and we'll just overlay the technology. 298 00:15:40,774 --> 00:15:42,985 Everyone says, "Ah, it's a tech fix." 299 00:15:43,527 --> 00:15:45,821 And it's not. It's just another tool. 300 00:15:45,904 --> 00:15:49,616 A tool that you're farming next door, and then you go, 301 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:52,536 "Oh, I got X amount of carbon when I use the technology." 302 00:15:52,619 --> 00:15:58,500 "Mick's next door, he did the system X, used the technology, and got more carbon." 303 00:15:58,583 --> 00:16:00,252 -"I want to do that as well." -Right. 304 00:16:00,335 --> 00:16:02,713 Farmers, through the fence is how they learn. 305 00:16:02,796 --> 00:16:05,215 -Yeah. -They always look over the fence. 306 00:16:05,298 --> 00:16:08,010 They won't listen to a sales rep or a scientist. 307 00:16:08,093 --> 00:16:10,846 They'll always listen to the farmer that's implementing, 308 00:16:10,929 --> 00:16:13,432 and we have to leverage that power. 309 00:16:13,932 --> 00:16:16,143 Achieving real change in global CO2 levels 310 00:16:16,226 --> 00:16:19,438 won't happen from one farm implementing these new methods. 311 00:16:19,521 --> 00:16:22,941 It's going to take this to become the new standard for all farms. 312 00:16:23,025 --> 00:16:28,447 But bigger yields, more nutritious crops, and healthier soil for future farming 313 00:16:28,530 --> 00:16:32,367 are the right kind of incentives that other farmers need to make the switch. 314 00:16:32,451 --> 00:16:36,621 Loam Bio's advanced methods of agriculture yield better crops 315 00:16:36,705 --> 00:16:39,082 while healing our planet at the same time. 316 00:16:39,166 --> 00:16:43,754 The process is part of a larger concept called regenerative agriculture. 317 00:16:44,254 --> 00:16:46,757 For a deeper explanation, I offer you this. 318 00:16:47,257 --> 00:16:48,842 When discussing global warming, 319 00:16:48,925 --> 00:16:52,304 we often talk about one of the main causes of it, carbon dioxide. 320 00:16:52,387 --> 00:16:56,767 Hey, man, you don't have to be so formal. You can call me CO2. 321 00:16:56,850 --> 00:17:00,228 A little bit of me in your water, you got a refreshing sparkling beverage, 322 00:17:00,312 --> 00:17:01,396 which is cool. 323 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,024 Yeah, but way too much in the Earth's atmosphere, 324 00:17:04,107 --> 00:17:05,984 and you raise the global temperature, 325 00:17:06,068 --> 00:17:09,654 causing all sorts of bad things to happen, which is not. 326 00:17:10,238 --> 00:17:12,157 Oh, I'm sorry about that, man. 327 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:13,450 But there is hope. 328 00:17:13,533 --> 00:17:14,826 There is? How? 329 00:17:14,910 --> 00:17:17,662 -With regenerative agriculture. -Rege-who? 330 00:17:17,746 --> 00:17:19,706 Regenerative agriculture is a system 331 00:17:19,790 --> 00:17:23,168 by which farmers work to sustainably and naturally heal the soil, 332 00:17:23,251 --> 00:17:25,670 yielding healthier, more nutritious crops, 333 00:17:25,754 --> 00:17:27,005 and at the same time, 334 00:17:27,089 --> 00:17:29,841 could effectively reverse the effects of CO2 on the planet. 335 00:17:29,925 --> 00:17:30,842 Cool, man. 336 00:17:30,926 --> 00:17:35,013 It is! Regenerative farming uses no chemicals or pesticides. 337 00:17:35,097 --> 00:17:37,641 The practices include no-till cultivation, 338 00:17:37,724 --> 00:17:40,352 diverse cover crops, and many other methods. 339 00:17:40,435 --> 00:17:42,896 This results not only in healthier foods for consumers, 340 00:17:42,979 --> 00:17:45,982 but also has the desired results of drawdown. 341 00:17:46,066 --> 00:17:47,567 Oh! Whee! 342 00:17:47,651 --> 00:17:49,319 Hey, are you gonna be okay? 343 00:17:49,402 --> 00:17:51,988 Oh, man! It's a party down here. 344 00:17:52,072 --> 00:17:54,032 Hey, what's your name? 345 00:17:54,116 --> 00:17:55,492 Yeah, he's gonna be good. 346 00:17:57,953 --> 00:17:59,830 Eco-innovations can sometimes happen 347 00:17:59,913 --> 00:18:03,625 by simply questioning systems that have been in place for decades. 348 00:18:03,708 --> 00:18:06,711 Often we hear, "That's the way it's always been done" 349 00:18:06,795 --> 00:18:09,714 as a reason to never change a time-honored system. 350 00:18:09,798 --> 00:18:11,174 But in the heart of Sydney, 351 00:18:11,258 --> 00:18:15,053 this unassuming two-story 19th-century home 352 00:18:15,137 --> 00:18:17,180 defiantly breaks all the rules, 353 00:18:17,264 --> 00:18:20,100 because thanks to the owner, Michael Mobbs, 354 00:18:20,183 --> 00:18:24,479 this inner-city house is living technically off the grid. 355 00:18:24,563 --> 00:18:28,066 And how does he pull that off? We're about to find out. 356 00:18:28,650 --> 00:18:30,986 -Hey, man. Zac. -Hey. 357 00:18:31,069 --> 00:18:33,238 -Zac, glad to meet you. -You as well. 358 00:18:33,321 --> 00:18:36,700 -Hey, Darin. A pleasure. -Welcome, guys. My little shack. 359 00:18:36,783 --> 00:18:39,619 -So, you're off-the-grid guy. -Yeah. 360 00:18:39,703 --> 00:18:41,371 Like, how did that happen? 361 00:18:41,454 --> 00:18:43,790 -It was-- -You're in the middle of the city. 362 00:18:43,874 --> 00:18:45,458 I need to be clear. 363 00:18:45,542 --> 00:18:48,628 It was a childish reaction to being told I couldn't do it. 364 00:18:49,212 --> 00:18:50,839 -So-- -Love that. 365 00:18:50,922 --> 00:18:53,550 -I used to be a lawyer. -Used to be a lawyer. 366 00:18:53,633 --> 00:18:57,762 I was involved in a parliamentary inquiry about how we manage Sydney's water, 367 00:18:57,846 --> 00:18:59,514 and I had two young kids, 368 00:18:59,598 --> 00:19:03,435 and my wife and I thought, "Let's have a bigger kitchen and bathroom." 369 00:19:03,518 --> 00:19:07,522 During that three-month renovation, I disconnected from town water, 370 00:19:08,023 --> 00:19:09,232 town sewer, 371 00:19:09,316 --> 00:19:11,151 and put in solar panels. 372 00:19:11,651 --> 00:19:15,405 For the last 24 years, no sewage has left this site. Look at it. 373 00:19:16,281 --> 00:19:19,326 Five meters wide. No storm water's left this site. 374 00:19:19,409 --> 00:19:21,828 I've kept two million liters of water here… 375 00:19:21,912 --> 00:19:24,623 -Two million liters? -Two million liters of sewage. 376 00:19:24,706 --> 00:19:27,334 And the sewage is treated. 377 00:19:27,417 --> 00:19:30,003 So I needed data, so every two weeks, 378 00:19:30,086 --> 00:19:31,588 we took samples here, 379 00:19:31,671 --> 00:19:35,926 and we compared it, in the laboratory to town water. 380 00:19:36,885 --> 00:19:40,222 Mine was cleaner, every time for 12 months. 381 00:19:40,305 --> 00:19:42,557 -Cleaner than the city water? -Yeah. 382 00:19:42,641 --> 00:19:44,476 And now it's liberated me. 383 00:19:44,559 --> 00:19:49,648 People worry about the planet, and I do too, but it lets me get on with my life. 384 00:19:49,731 --> 00:19:52,067 I can turn the tap on. I'm doing no harm. 385 00:19:52,651 --> 00:19:55,445 I too can have a long shower. I'm doing no harm. 386 00:19:55,528 --> 00:19:57,405 Okay, you've got us intrigued. 387 00:19:58,281 --> 00:20:01,076 There are three basics to living off the grid. 388 00:20:01,159 --> 00:20:03,328 You need your own source of power and water, 389 00:20:03,411 --> 00:20:06,456 and then a way to deal with waste. Let's see how Michael does it. 390 00:20:06,539 --> 00:20:08,291 -Let's look at your system. -Come in. 391 00:20:08,375 --> 00:20:10,794 -I want to see how this works. -I'm dying to know. 392 00:20:10,877 --> 00:20:11,962 Yeah, cool. 393 00:20:12,879 --> 00:20:17,634 I have to say, when you first walk in, it looks just like any other normal house… 394 00:20:18,677 --> 00:20:22,430 but it has a pretty unique, certain vibe to it. 395 00:20:24,015 --> 00:20:27,477 It's weird. It just feels chill. Just feels really relaxed. 396 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:28,478 Very. 397 00:20:28,561 --> 00:20:31,564 So, the house at night is powered by batteries, 398 00:20:31,648 --> 00:20:34,067 and batteries last longer or less long 399 00:20:34,150 --> 00:20:37,153 depending on the number of times they're discharged. 400 00:20:37,237 --> 00:20:40,573 What this little cookie does here during the day is, 401 00:20:40,657 --> 00:20:44,536 it bypasses the batteries, takes the solar power straight to the lights. 402 00:20:45,245 --> 00:20:46,746 -Oh, cool. -Isn't that cool? 403 00:20:46,830 --> 00:20:49,291 So you get 50% more out of your battery. 404 00:20:49,374 --> 00:20:51,167 -Absolutely. -Yeah, fantastic. 405 00:20:51,251 --> 00:20:53,962 -Let me show you the batteries. -Yeah, perfect. 406 00:20:54,546 --> 00:20:56,673 So, if you stand over here, guys… 407 00:20:57,507 --> 00:20:59,175 -Down there. -There you go. 408 00:20:59,259 --> 00:21:01,261 A cellar is a great place for batteries 409 00:21:01,344 --> 00:21:03,388 because it's a stable temperature. 410 00:21:04,431 --> 00:21:05,557 Keeps it cool. 411 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,393 It's out of the way, so they retain their efficiency. 412 00:21:08,476 --> 00:21:10,312 -Do you have an "It"? -Say again? 413 00:21:10,395 --> 00:21:13,356 -Do you have an "It"? No creature? -No. 414 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:14,899 Maybe not a Stephen King fan. 415 00:21:14,983 --> 00:21:17,736 -Nobody sleeps down there? -Not yet, but you can audition. 416 00:21:17,819 --> 00:21:18,653 Yeah! 417 00:21:20,030 --> 00:21:20,864 I'll pass. 418 00:21:21,364 --> 00:21:23,783 So, I gotta ask. The water. 419 00:21:23,867 --> 00:21:26,995 -Yeah. -Recycling, catchment. 420 00:21:27,078 --> 00:21:29,581 -It's my passion. Come and see the water. -Mine too. 421 00:21:29,664 --> 00:21:30,999 Look at that spider. 422 00:21:31,541 --> 00:21:32,834 Ah, g'day, mate! 423 00:21:32,917 --> 00:21:34,461 All right, Australia! 424 00:21:35,253 --> 00:21:36,713 This water here… 425 00:21:39,841 --> 00:21:41,384 Oh, here we go. 426 00:21:43,970 --> 00:21:45,180 …is off my roof. 427 00:21:46,431 --> 00:21:48,725 -100% rain-caught. -100% rain. 428 00:21:49,642 --> 00:21:53,980 Measured every two weeks for 18 months, and it's cleaner than town water. 429 00:21:54,064 --> 00:21:54,939 Oh, that's nice. 430 00:21:55,023 --> 00:21:56,858 -Isn't it delicious? -It tastes great. 431 00:21:56,941 --> 00:21:59,235 -Here's to-- -Here's to good water. 432 00:21:59,319 --> 00:22:01,905 …off-the-grid, clean water from the sky. 433 00:22:01,988 --> 00:22:05,867 It's so great to have people who appreciate water in the world. 434 00:22:05,950 --> 00:22:10,080 We need to do this sort of stuff. Use what falls for free on the roof. 435 00:22:10,163 --> 00:22:11,164 100%. 436 00:22:11,664 --> 00:22:13,666 Have you ever run out in a-- 437 00:22:13,750 --> 00:22:15,835 I'm starting to run out. 438 00:22:16,586 --> 00:22:17,420 -Really? -Yeah. 439 00:22:17,504 --> 00:22:19,214 -Because it's raining less? -Yeah. 440 00:22:19,297 --> 00:22:21,174 And also it's spread out. 441 00:22:21,674 --> 00:22:28,598 So, probably… two or three times a year, sometimes four times a year now, 442 00:22:29,307 --> 00:22:34,354 I take some eggs and go next door. 443 00:22:36,731 --> 00:22:39,526 And I say, "Can I borrow your hose?" 444 00:22:40,026 --> 00:22:41,945 -I don't want to, but… -Right. 445 00:22:42,028 --> 00:22:44,823 Generally, when I do that, it rains. 446 00:22:45,865 --> 00:22:49,285 -It's a rain dance. -It's like… He's playing with my head. 447 00:22:49,369 --> 00:22:54,833 So, basically half the water we use, in Australian houses at least, 448 00:22:54,916 --> 00:22:57,252 is used to flush the toilet and wash clothes. 449 00:22:57,335 --> 00:22:59,087 Why would I use this… 450 00:22:59,170 --> 00:23:01,339 It's pristine, beautiful water. 451 00:23:01,423 --> 00:23:02,757 …to flush the toilet? 452 00:23:02,841 --> 00:23:06,052 I've never thought about it that way, but it's true. 453 00:23:07,387 --> 00:23:10,807 The EPA says that toilets account for about 30% 454 00:23:10,890 --> 00:23:13,393 of household indoor water use in America. 455 00:23:13,476 --> 00:23:16,688 Currently, most homes in America don't have a gray water system in place 456 00:23:16,771 --> 00:23:20,024 to collect runoff from showers, dishwashers, or sinks 457 00:23:20,108 --> 00:23:23,111 that then could be recycled by diverting it into the toilets… 458 00:23:23,194 --> 00:23:25,738 yet it would be a lot cooler if they did. 459 00:23:25,822 --> 00:23:30,618 It's so incredible. I feel like everybody, in theory, 460 00:23:30,702 --> 00:23:33,997 wants to contribute in some of these ways. 461 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:39,335 They want to use less energy, to have our water be clean and natural. 462 00:23:39,419 --> 00:23:43,423 We don't want to live off the systems, but the ways to integrate it 463 00:23:43,506 --> 00:23:44,799 seem complicated. 464 00:23:44,883 --> 00:23:46,092 I'm not sure why, 465 00:23:46,176 --> 00:23:48,803 everything you're describing seems relatively simple. 466 00:23:48,887 --> 00:23:50,221 -It is. -Yeah. 467 00:23:50,305 --> 00:23:53,433 And that's a really important thing for me to hear 468 00:23:53,516 --> 00:23:57,145 because people disempower them by saying, "I can't do this." And look. 469 00:23:57,228 --> 00:23:59,272 I'm just an ordinary Aussie, 470 00:23:59,814 --> 00:24:02,233 doing in the city what farmers do in the country. 471 00:24:02,317 --> 00:24:04,903 Keep in mind, Michael is living off the grid, 472 00:24:04,986 --> 00:24:07,280 so to speak, but not in the middle of nowhere. 473 00:24:07,363 --> 00:24:11,493 He's in the middle of a city and completely surrounded by the grid. 474 00:24:11,576 --> 00:24:13,661 This is relevant out on a farm somewhere, 475 00:24:13,745 --> 00:24:17,081 but seeing you do it successfully right in the middle of the city 476 00:24:17,165 --> 00:24:19,959 just jumps out. It's fantastic. 477 00:24:20,543 --> 00:24:23,046 -Cheers. Great to talk to you. -Yeah, likewise, mate. 478 00:24:23,129 --> 00:24:24,714 Thank you so much. This is unreal. 479 00:24:24,797 --> 00:24:28,218 I can't believe what you've accomplished. Thanks for showing us. 480 00:24:28,301 --> 00:24:31,888 This is so… the through-line of what we want to accomplish, 481 00:24:31,971 --> 00:24:35,391 what we're heading towards. It's the narrative of our whole show. 482 00:24:35,475 --> 00:24:36,601 -Respect. -Likewise. 483 00:24:36,684 --> 00:24:39,854 I don't have a TV, but I made an exception for your show on Iceland. 484 00:24:39,938 --> 00:24:42,315 -Fantastic show. More, please. -Beautiful. 485 00:24:42,398 --> 00:24:44,359 -Thanks for contributing. -Yeah. 486 00:24:44,442 --> 00:24:46,277 Thanks for being a part of it. 487 00:24:46,361 --> 00:24:48,530 Michael's sustainable house paints a picture 488 00:24:48,613 --> 00:24:50,240 of what the future could look like, 489 00:24:50,323 --> 00:24:53,034 and the changes he made to his own home are a great example 490 00:24:53,117 --> 00:24:56,746 of the impact just one person can have on the environment. 491 00:24:56,829 --> 00:25:00,291 But something as simple as staying on the grid and switching a home to solar 492 00:25:00,375 --> 00:25:04,128 can have a significant effect in the right direction for the planet as well. 493 00:25:06,839 --> 00:25:09,926 Cities and municipalities will probably always need 494 00:25:10,009 --> 00:25:12,303 some sort of larger collective infrastructure 495 00:25:12,387 --> 00:25:14,514 in order to work properly and efficiently. 496 00:25:16,099 --> 00:25:19,060 And our next stop will show us there's great power 497 00:25:19,143 --> 00:25:22,397 in the collective distribution of wholesale energy. 498 00:25:25,358 --> 00:25:28,861 On this stretch of land in Victoria sits a small farm. 499 00:25:30,321 --> 00:25:32,490 The crop is wind, 500 00:25:33,116 --> 00:25:35,910 and it's being harvested by 39 turbines 501 00:25:35,994 --> 00:25:39,163 and generating 80 megawatts of power. 502 00:25:39,247 --> 00:25:42,750 That's enough to power 50,000 homes with clean energy. 503 00:25:42,834 --> 00:25:44,877 This is the Crowlands Wind Farm. 504 00:25:46,004 --> 00:25:51,634 Since 1887, mankind has been harnessing the wind to create energy. 505 00:25:51,718 --> 00:25:56,389 As efficiencies become greater, wind power continues to be a key component 506 00:25:56,472 --> 00:25:59,267 to clean, renewable energy all over the world. 507 00:25:59,350 --> 00:26:01,477 Although windmills aren't a new innovation, 508 00:26:01,561 --> 00:26:05,315 the way the power from this wind farm is set up and distributed is, 509 00:26:05,398 --> 00:26:09,110 and we're about to find out how from the Lord Mayor of Melbourne. 510 00:26:09,193 --> 00:26:12,322 By the way, let's just take a moment to recognize how cool that title is, 511 00:26:12,405 --> 00:26:13,865 "Lord Mayor." 512 00:26:13,948 --> 00:26:15,074 How's it going? 513 00:26:15,158 --> 00:26:15,992 Hi. I'm Rachel. 514 00:26:16,075 --> 00:26:19,120 And the CEO of Pacific Hydro of Australia. 515 00:26:19,203 --> 00:26:20,496 Yes, exactly. 516 00:26:20,580 --> 00:26:24,500 Yeah, this is a lot bigger than I thought. 517 00:26:25,043 --> 00:26:28,338 It's hard to believe it's 100 meters up to the hub, 518 00:26:28,421 --> 00:26:31,966 and then another 42, blade length, on top of that. 519 00:26:32,050 --> 00:26:33,635 To build a big project like this… 520 00:26:33,718 --> 00:26:36,554 We've got 30 of these machines that we're standing under. 521 00:26:36,638 --> 00:26:37,722 It's a big wind farm. 522 00:26:37,805 --> 00:26:40,600 It's called the Melbourne Renewable Energy Program. 523 00:26:40,683 --> 00:26:43,061 It's absolutely paved the way 524 00:26:43,144 --> 00:26:45,938 because it's shown that for large energy users, 525 00:26:46,022 --> 00:26:50,109 we can actually work together to take action on climate change. 526 00:26:50,693 --> 00:26:53,821 We realized that we couldn't do it on our own, we needed to bring 527 00:26:53,905 --> 00:26:57,742 a group of large energy users together to make it worthwhile. 528 00:26:57,825 --> 00:27:01,579 We needed scale to be able to enter a power purchasing agreement 529 00:27:01,663 --> 00:27:02,872 with Pacific Hydro. 530 00:27:02,955 --> 00:27:06,959 Large energy users form a co-op and back this supply of energy 531 00:27:07,043 --> 00:27:08,294 at a much lower rate, 532 00:27:08,378 --> 00:27:11,422 all while using wind instead of fossil fuels. 533 00:27:11,506 --> 00:27:14,676 This is quite a feat for a city to take on. 534 00:27:14,759 --> 00:27:19,138 Every single bit of electricity that we use as an organization 535 00:27:19,222 --> 00:27:22,183 at the city of Melbourne, every streetlight, 536 00:27:22,266 --> 00:27:25,520 every elliptical machine in our community gyms, 537 00:27:25,603 --> 00:27:29,691 every podcast that's done out of one of our libraries 538 00:27:29,774 --> 00:27:34,487 is powered by 100% renewable energy from this wind farm. 539 00:27:34,570 --> 00:27:37,448 By working with Pacific Hydro, we've actually shown 540 00:27:37,532 --> 00:27:41,369 that there is a way that we can band together to do this. 541 00:27:41,452 --> 00:27:42,829 So now, across Australia, 542 00:27:42,912 --> 00:27:46,874 there are 39 different local cities working on similar projects. 543 00:27:47,542 --> 00:27:50,670 Five percent of our emissions are now gone. 544 00:27:50,753 --> 00:27:51,629 Cool. 545 00:27:51,713 --> 00:27:53,589 That is big, 546 00:27:53,673 --> 00:27:58,177 and, uh, there's mechanics and electricity. 547 00:27:58,261 --> 00:28:00,596 Do you know what kind of music these turbines like? 548 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:02,223 They're big metal fans. 549 00:28:05,017 --> 00:28:06,978 -Yeah, exactly. -I'll be here if you need me. 550 00:28:07,061 --> 00:28:10,398 Just in Australia, wind is becoming much more competitive. 551 00:28:10,481 --> 00:28:14,694 We're now seeing announcements of the large coal-fired power stations 552 00:28:14,777 --> 00:28:17,363 closing because they simply can't compete anymore. 553 00:28:17,447 --> 00:28:20,241 Should we get out of the wind and look in the turbines? 554 00:28:20,324 --> 00:28:22,160 -Yes. -Yeah? Let's go inside. 555 00:28:22,243 --> 00:28:23,369 I can't wait. 556 00:28:23,453 --> 00:28:26,330 How can the everyday person at home right now 557 00:28:26,414 --> 00:28:29,375 help push their government to make moves like you guys have? 558 00:28:29,459 --> 00:28:33,004 Try and find your energy retailer who can sell you renewable energy, 559 00:28:33,087 --> 00:28:34,464 is a really good start, 560 00:28:34,547 --> 00:28:37,550 but also lobby your local member 561 00:28:37,633 --> 00:28:40,720 about, "We want renewables. We want to move forward." 562 00:28:40,803 --> 00:28:44,474 This is the energy of the future, so we should be moving there now, 563 00:28:44,557 --> 00:28:46,267 for our children and the next generation. 564 00:28:46,350 --> 00:28:49,020 -You hear that moving? -I don't know how you couldn't. 565 00:28:49,103 --> 00:28:52,982 It's like a whole house in here. It's massive! 566 00:28:53,065 --> 00:28:55,485 Look at this, the inside of a windmill. 567 00:28:55,568 --> 00:28:56,569 Whoo-hoo! 568 00:28:56,652 --> 00:28:57,528 Wow. 569 00:29:00,907 --> 00:29:04,452 The power comes down here through an aluminum bus bar, 570 00:29:04,535 --> 00:29:08,414 into these cables, and into this box here where Sally's standing. 571 00:29:08,498 --> 00:29:11,375 -It's a good thing we switched it off. -Big inverter here? 572 00:29:11,459 --> 00:29:15,755 Yeah, correct, and then it goes out through the box that you saw outside, 573 00:29:15,838 --> 00:29:18,174 then through underground cables to the grid. 574 00:29:18,257 --> 00:29:19,884 Then straight to town hall, 575 00:29:19,967 --> 00:29:22,720 and when I turn my lights on in my office, 576 00:29:22,804 --> 00:29:24,931 I know this is where it's come from. 577 00:29:25,014 --> 00:29:27,850 There are universities, art installations, 578 00:29:27,934 --> 00:29:29,644 and businesses all over the area 579 00:29:29,727 --> 00:29:32,063 that get their power from this windmill co-op. 580 00:29:39,946 --> 00:29:42,281 I can see why these work so well here! 581 00:29:42,365 --> 00:29:44,450 -There he goes! Whoa! 582 00:29:44,534 --> 00:29:45,535 Wow. 583 00:29:45,618 --> 00:29:47,245 Oh, it's powerful, that wind. 584 00:29:47,328 --> 00:29:49,539 -Yeah. Imagine up there. Yeah. 585 00:29:49,622 --> 00:29:50,623 Oh, my hat! 586 00:29:53,626 --> 00:29:56,087 -That's the wind for you! -That's right. 587 00:29:57,171 --> 00:29:59,131 Well, this was fantastic. 588 00:29:59,215 --> 00:30:02,760 What we've learned here, we can keep doing over and over again 589 00:30:02,844 --> 00:30:05,137 right across Australia, and I think right across the world. 590 00:30:05,221 --> 00:30:06,681 -Yeah. -It's amazing. 591 00:30:06,764 --> 00:30:10,852 -Thank you for joining us. -Thanks for coming. Great to meet you. 592 00:30:10,935 --> 00:30:12,603 -Good on you. -My pleasure. 593 00:30:12,687 --> 00:30:14,772 -Thank you very much. -Thank you. 594 00:30:14,856 --> 00:30:17,358 -Amazing. -Good. Hold on to your hat. 595 00:30:17,441 --> 00:30:21,320 -Yeah! I'll try and keep an eye on it. -Yeah, I got him! 596 00:30:21,404 --> 00:30:23,823 Thanks, buddy. You… I can't… 597 00:30:25,825 --> 00:30:29,537 Most food and beverage packaging is designed for single use. 598 00:30:29,620 --> 00:30:31,080 It's rarely recycled, 599 00:30:31,163 --> 00:30:35,042 and it makes up almost half of the municipal solid waste in the US. 600 00:30:35,126 --> 00:30:36,752 On our way to the next destination, 601 00:30:36,836 --> 00:30:39,463 Darin told me about very eco-innovative companies 602 00:30:39,547 --> 00:30:40,882 doing something about it. 603 00:30:40,965 --> 00:30:44,635 That's where I get excited. When you realize there's companies 604 00:30:44,719 --> 00:30:48,222 that are changing the game using plant-based fibers 605 00:30:48,306 --> 00:30:50,349 to combat the single-use plastic. 606 00:30:50,433 --> 00:30:54,687 They're working with the biggest companies in the world, and no one knows about it! 607 00:30:54,770 --> 00:30:58,107 By helping the largest companies in the food and beverage business 608 00:30:58,190 --> 00:31:01,694 replace their plastic packaging with these revolutionary plant-based solutions, 609 00:31:01,777 --> 00:31:06,032 that's an eco-innovation that can make a big difference for the world. 610 00:31:06,741 --> 00:31:08,659 -This is awesome. Yeah. Yeah. 611 00:31:10,453 --> 00:31:12,622 Our last visit is outside Melbourne, 612 00:31:12,705 --> 00:31:16,500 to meet a husband and wife team determined to change the world of wrap. 613 00:31:21,297 --> 00:31:22,757 Stretch wrap, that is. 614 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:25,092 A product typically used to protect food, 615 00:31:25,176 --> 00:31:28,804 which reduces waste in theory, but is usually made of plastic, 616 00:31:28,888 --> 00:31:31,098 which in addition to being petroleum-based, 617 00:31:31,182 --> 00:31:32,642 is also non-biodegradable. 618 00:31:32,725 --> 00:31:33,893 -G'day! -Hey, guys. 619 00:31:33,976 --> 00:31:35,853 -Hey! Come on in. -Welcome! 620 00:31:35,937 --> 00:31:37,188 -How's it going? -I'm Jordy. 621 00:31:37,271 --> 00:31:39,690 Meet Julia and Jordy, owners of Great Wrap. 622 00:31:39,774 --> 00:31:40,608 How's it going? 623 00:31:40,691 --> 00:31:43,527 This is our factory. It's a small pilot factory. 624 00:31:43,611 --> 00:31:45,154 We have a huge vision. 625 00:31:45,237 --> 00:31:49,033 We're actually buying machines that'll fill this whole thing twice over. 626 00:31:49,116 --> 00:31:52,411 But at the moment, we've just got this baby, our little toy, 627 00:31:52,495 --> 00:31:55,456 so we can make a small amount of cling wrap and pallet wrap. 628 00:31:55,539 --> 00:31:58,834 -Alternative plastic wrap. -Yeah. Correct. 629 00:31:58,918 --> 00:32:03,047 So, we use biopolymers, so it's a "bioplastic," 630 00:32:03,130 --> 00:32:05,633 so it's a compostable and biodegradable cling wrap. 631 00:32:05,716 --> 00:32:08,886 What is ordinary wrap made of? It's just heavy plastics? 632 00:32:08,970 --> 00:32:12,014 -Petroleum-based plastic. -All plastic. 633 00:32:12,098 --> 00:32:15,142 It's horrific. It can take up to 1,000 years to break down, 634 00:32:15,226 --> 00:32:18,938 or it'll break down into microplastics, end up in our oceans. 635 00:32:19,021 --> 00:32:21,983 Ten percent of the world's petroleum goes towards making plastic. 636 00:32:22,525 --> 00:32:23,776 It's a disgusting amount. 637 00:32:23,859 --> 00:32:26,988 Obviously, we just saw the huge problem in packaging, 638 00:32:27,071 --> 00:32:32,326 and it was these two awesome ideas that just hadn't overlapped. 639 00:32:32,410 --> 00:32:35,079 The process is technical, but the simple version 640 00:32:35,162 --> 00:32:38,040 is rather than use petroleum to create their cling wrap, 641 00:32:38,124 --> 00:32:41,711 Julia and Jordy use vegetable-based waste. That's right. 642 00:32:41,794 --> 00:32:45,089 Vegetation that would normally go to waste is actually being put to use. 643 00:32:45,172 --> 00:32:48,676 We found this company from Idaho using potato waste, 644 00:32:48,759 --> 00:32:52,304 and so essentially all this crap from on their skins 645 00:32:52,388 --> 00:32:55,641 and everything from making French fries or potato chips, 646 00:32:55,725 --> 00:32:58,853 they were turning all of that into a biopolymer. 647 00:32:58,936 --> 00:33:00,646 I was like, "Wow, this is insane." 648 00:33:00,730 --> 00:33:04,483 "It's marine biodegradable, so it can break down even in the ocean." 649 00:33:04,567 --> 00:33:06,736 "How are we not using this?" 650 00:33:06,819 --> 00:33:10,906 We researched that 150,000 tons of plastic wrap 651 00:33:10,990 --> 00:33:13,993 ends up in landfill in Australia alone each year. 652 00:33:14,076 --> 00:33:17,413 So, impact-wise, it just made sense 653 00:33:17,496 --> 00:33:20,791 that that was a huge portion that we could attack. 654 00:33:20,875 --> 00:33:22,168 We saw that we could have 655 00:33:22,251 --> 00:33:25,588 the largest potential impact if we made pallet wrap and cling wrap. 656 00:33:25,671 --> 00:33:27,882 We kept on tinkering with the formula 657 00:33:27,965 --> 00:33:31,677 and finally got it to a point where it will be the same price as plastic. 658 00:33:31,761 --> 00:33:34,805 -Same price? -Yes, so you really have no excuse now. 659 00:33:34,889 --> 00:33:37,558 Nope. No cost difference, so there's no excuse. 660 00:33:37,641 --> 00:33:39,727 It just needs to catch on, and it is. 661 00:33:39,810 --> 00:33:43,481 We get approached by the biggest supermarkets in America, Australia, 662 00:33:43,564 --> 00:33:46,025 some of the biggest mining companies in the world, 663 00:33:46,108 --> 00:33:50,071 wanting to use this pallet wrap because everyone understands the problem. 664 00:33:50,154 --> 00:33:54,325 We have it in our shareholders' agreement that we put the planet before profit. 665 00:33:54,408 --> 00:33:58,871 So if an investor signs on, they have to sign on with that ideology. 666 00:33:58,954 --> 00:34:03,542 Once again proving that being kinder to the Earth can still be profitable. 667 00:34:03,626 --> 00:34:08,672 -Did you see the pellets in the bin? -Would you like to see the biopolymer? 668 00:34:08,756 --> 00:34:10,800 Yeah, please. Let's look at it. 669 00:34:11,801 --> 00:34:13,594 -There it is. -Wow. Can I put my-- 670 00:34:13,677 --> 00:34:15,429 -Touch it. -Get in there. 671 00:34:15,513 --> 00:34:19,767 You create the pellets first, then you melt this down and transform it? 672 00:34:19,850 --> 00:34:21,060 -Exactly. -Yeah. 673 00:34:21,143 --> 00:34:23,687 That's very, very similar to the plastic industry. 674 00:34:23,771 --> 00:34:26,190 Yeah, yeah, yeah. We use all the same equipment. 675 00:34:26,273 --> 00:34:29,443 Essentially, there's a fermentation process early on 676 00:34:29,527 --> 00:34:32,196 so that we can get the starch that we want. 677 00:34:32,279 --> 00:34:34,865 We still use a small portion of oil-derived, 678 00:34:34,949 --> 00:34:38,744 and we compound them together to create our secret formula. 679 00:34:38,828 --> 00:34:41,247 You put that through here, melt it down, 680 00:34:41,330 --> 00:34:43,582 and you have a film come out the other end. 681 00:34:45,042 --> 00:34:48,087 What does it break down to when it's thrown into the ocean? 682 00:34:48,170 --> 00:34:51,590 What happens is, this fruit waste and potato waste 683 00:34:51,674 --> 00:34:54,760 would have rotted, become methane, and go into the atmosphere, 684 00:34:54,844 --> 00:34:57,972 which is 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide. 685 00:34:58,055 --> 00:35:01,350 By breaking down into carbon, even if it is in the ocean, 686 00:35:01,433 --> 00:35:03,978 it's 30 times better than the potential outcome. 687 00:35:04,061 --> 00:35:07,356 And obviously, it still breaks down, it's not gonna harm anything. 688 00:35:07,439 --> 00:35:10,901 -How much of this is potato starch then? -It's about 65%. 689 00:35:10,985 --> 00:35:12,945 Sixty-five. Then the rest is… 690 00:35:13,028 --> 00:35:15,614 -It's an oil-derived biopolymer. -Huh. 691 00:35:15,698 --> 00:35:19,785 So it's still made from a portion of oil, and the next step, 692 00:35:19,869 --> 00:35:23,664 which will be in a few months' time, is 100% fruit waste. 693 00:35:23,747 --> 00:35:24,707 Wow. 694 00:35:24,790 --> 00:35:26,750 And this is the finished product. 695 00:35:26,834 --> 00:35:29,545 It looks and feels just like the stuff we're used to, 696 00:35:29,628 --> 00:35:32,047 but how well does it work? We better test it out. 697 00:35:32,131 --> 00:35:36,260 That's amazing! That feels exactly like what my mom used 698 00:35:36,343 --> 00:35:38,387 to wrap all my food in when I was a kid. 699 00:35:38,470 --> 00:35:39,555 It's the same. 700 00:35:39,638 --> 00:35:42,308 On average, how quickly does this break down? 701 00:35:42,391 --> 00:35:46,478 In your compost pile at home, it can break down in about two weeks. 702 00:35:46,562 --> 00:35:50,524 In an industrial composting facility, it could break down in a week. 703 00:35:50,608 --> 00:35:53,360 If it goes to landfill, it can break down in six months. 704 00:35:53,444 --> 00:35:54,403 -Spin around! 705 00:35:54,486 --> 00:35:58,699 I knew you were gonna do… I saw his little eyes. 706 00:35:58,782 --> 00:36:01,202 -I don't want to be wasting plastic. -No. 707 00:36:01,285 --> 00:36:03,746 -It's not plastic. Yes. -It's not plastic. 708 00:36:03,829 --> 00:36:05,372 -It's-- -No, go for it. 709 00:36:05,456 --> 00:36:08,042 -It's so cool. Congratulations. -Thank you. 710 00:36:08,125 --> 00:36:10,252 It'll be a big couple of years ahead. 711 00:36:10,336 --> 00:36:13,047 The potential CO2 that we can take out of the atmosphere, 712 00:36:13,130 --> 00:36:14,548 plastic out of the ocean. 713 00:36:14,632 --> 00:36:15,883 What's your ultimate goal? 714 00:36:15,966 --> 00:36:20,387 We would both love to see a world where no plastic was ever made again 715 00:36:20,471 --> 00:36:23,474 from a petroleum-based product. I think that's the dream. 716 00:36:23,557 --> 00:36:27,728 We'd love to keep on developing products with the formula that we have, 717 00:36:27,811 --> 00:36:32,107 and just continue to hit those really heavy impact areas 718 00:36:32,191 --> 00:36:35,611 until there's no more plastic in the world. 719 00:36:35,694 --> 00:36:38,280 And please note, they're calibrating the machines today, 720 00:36:38,364 --> 00:36:42,201 so all the product you see coming off the line is destined for the compost pile. 721 00:36:42,284 --> 00:36:43,869 Oh, man. This is so cool, guys. 722 00:36:43,953 --> 00:36:47,081 You've made the choice very easy. There is no choice. 723 00:36:47,164 --> 00:36:48,457 No. Yeah, that's it. 724 00:36:48,540 --> 00:36:50,960 You have solved a massive, massive problem. 725 00:36:51,043 --> 00:36:52,127 Is it strong enough? 726 00:36:52,211 --> 00:36:54,213 Whoa, I didn't say test it on me! 727 00:36:54,296 --> 00:36:55,839 Cool position, though. 728 00:36:55,923 --> 00:36:58,509 Why did I put my arms like this? 729 00:37:02,763 --> 00:37:04,765 I'm gonna flex and bust out of this. 730 00:37:10,729 --> 00:37:11,647 Yeah! 731 00:37:11,730 --> 00:37:14,942 -I didn't think that would work! -You need more tensile strength. 732 00:37:15,025 --> 00:37:16,360 Well, that's a wrap. 733 00:37:18,487 --> 00:37:20,990 From climate change and depleted resources 734 00:37:21,073 --> 00:37:25,828 to air and water pollution, the Earth is getting pretty exhausted. 735 00:37:26,537 --> 00:37:30,082 But there's always hope. The subject for this episode, 736 00:37:30,165 --> 00:37:31,583 eco-innovators… 737 00:37:32,835 --> 00:37:36,213 …can be applied to all aspects of our ever-evolving lives. 738 00:37:38,424 --> 00:37:41,969 As we enter a new phase of technological revolution, 739 00:37:42,052 --> 00:37:45,973 eco-innovation is becoming a new and ever-present goal. 740 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:51,729 It's encouraging to see so many businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors 741 00:37:51,812 --> 00:37:53,105 rising to the challenge 742 00:37:53,188 --> 00:37:56,066 and looking for ways to fulfill the needs of the consumers 743 00:37:56,150 --> 00:37:58,193 while doing less harm to our ecosystem, 744 00:37:58,277 --> 00:38:01,447 or better yet, while actually healing the Earth. 745 00:38:02,197 --> 00:38:04,158 These ideas don't have to be perfect, 746 00:38:04,241 --> 00:38:07,745 but the willingness to make little changes and to take small steps, 747 00:38:07,828 --> 00:38:09,747 always in better directions, 748 00:38:09,830 --> 00:38:12,624 that's what can eventually make a big difference. 749 00:38:12,708 --> 00:38:18,756 And the old ways of doing things? Well, hopefully, they become extinct 750 00:38:18,839 --> 00:38:19,965 before we do. 751 00:38:20,049 --> 00:38:21,717 -Look at that. -Right? 752 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:26,221 And as this episode comes to an end, so does our time together in Australia. 753 00:38:26,305 --> 00:38:30,309 We celebrate with one last meal and reflect on this great journey. 754 00:38:30,392 --> 00:38:31,643 How good is Australia? 755 00:38:32,394 --> 00:38:33,562 Love this place. 756 00:38:34,063 --> 00:38:37,649 I think you'll probably gonna get somewhat of a neighbor at some point-- 757 00:38:37,733 --> 00:38:40,819 And we have our main meal. I'll have Chef explain. 758 00:38:40,903 --> 00:38:41,820 Wow. 759 00:38:41,904 --> 00:38:45,532 What we have here is Wagyu sirloin 760 00:38:45,616 --> 00:38:50,996 with potato dumplings, cauliflower purée, pumpkin and macadamia nuts. 761 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:52,873 -Wow. -Enjoy. 762 00:38:52,956 --> 00:38:55,667 -Man. Smells unbelievable. Thank you. -Thank you, Chef. 763 00:38:55,751 --> 00:39:00,464 There are so many little takeaways from this entire journey. 764 00:39:01,173 --> 00:39:04,134 One of the biggest ones is finding your connection with nature 765 00:39:04,218 --> 00:39:05,177 no matter where you are. 766 00:39:05,260 --> 00:39:08,931 Like we've seen with Joost, in your house, around your home. 767 00:39:09,014 --> 00:39:11,683 That's always been the point for all of this. 768 00:39:11,767 --> 00:39:14,812 -It's not about saving the planet. I don't know where to begin. 769 00:39:14,895 --> 00:39:17,398 The planet will continue with or without us. 770 00:39:18,482 --> 00:39:20,984 It's about people inspiring other people 771 00:39:21,068 --> 00:39:23,612 to make the best, most-informed choices they can. 772 00:39:25,406 --> 00:39:28,200 To live the healthiest, happiest lives possible… 773 00:39:28,283 --> 00:39:31,620 You yourself are an ingredient, an integral part of the process. 774 00:39:34,581 --> 00:39:36,959 We need to have this conversation and say, 775 00:39:37,042 --> 00:39:40,337 "Are we gonna be there in another 20,000 years, 776 00:39:40,421 --> 00:39:41,880 or are we going to kill ourselves?" 777 00:39:41,964 --> 00:39:45,426 …to enjoy our beautiful Earth and everything it has to offer… 778 00:39:48,679 --> 00:39:51,265 all while leaving it better than how we found it 779 00:39:51,348 --> 00:39:53,517 for the next generations to come. 780 00:39:57,187 --> 00:40:00,149 -Here's to doing better. -Cheers, buddy. 781 00:40:00,232 --> 00:40:02,276 -Love you, bro. Yoo! -Love you, man. 782 00:40:02,359 --> 00:40:04,403 Thanks, guys. See you next time.