Listen to today’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silk-logic-sustainability-daily/id1842028080
Sustainability Daily Podcast — 01/03/2026
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
AI for accurate insect pest monitoring: A path toward resilient agriculture
Researchers highlight how AI—from computer vision to predictive analytics—can transform pest control from reactive spraying to targeted, timely, and lower-impact interventions. The piece underscores data challenges and ethics, advocating FAIR and CARE-aligned datasets and farmer–scientist co-design to improve accuracy and equity. The payoff: fewer chemicals, stronger IPM, and better resilience for farms of all sizes.
Design of a low-cost smart irrigation system based on NB-IoT for agriculture
A new NB‑IoT irrigation system delivers industrial-grade accuracy with an average irrigation error of ~1.74 in field tests, reliable communications up to 1.6 km, and hardware costs 17.5–29.3% lower than comparable systems. Built on a three-layer architecture and cloud analytics, it’s engineered for low power, stability, and adaptability across soils and crops. The approach offers a practical, scalable path to conserve water and cut operating costs in resource-constrained regions.
Dutch students create modular electric car “you can repair yourself”
TU/ecomotive’s ARIA concept is a modular city EV with quick-release panels and six detachable 12 kg batteries, designed so owners can perform basic repairs using a built-in toolbox and a diagnostics app. The 650 kg prototype targets Right to Repair gaps and shows a pathway to more serviceable EVs with a theoretical range up to 220 km. It’s a timely nudge to automakers and policymakers to make repairability standard, not a rarity.
Naveo takes in-campus electric mobility global, expanding across the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia
NAVEO is rolling out purpose-built electric vehicles for campuses and off-public-road environments across the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. Built for reliability, comfort, and low maintenance, the lineup targets airports, universities, hospitals, and resorts where quiet, zero-emission transport can make immediate impact. The expansion underscores how short-distance EVs are accelerating sustainability in controlled environments—without waiting on highway infrastructure.
Flint’s paper batteries are here: now in production, now available
Singapore-based Flint has moved its cellulose-based, PFAS-free paper batteries from lab to production using water-based manufacturing, aiming for safer, lower-carbon cells. Early pilots include programs with Logitech and collaboration via MIT-linked initiatives, with product reveals slated for CES 2026. The strategy points to decentralized, more sustainable battery supply chains and safer energy storage for consumer devices.
Vibe Retail POS gains momentum as retailers seek modern alternatives to legacy POS systems
Retailers are adopting Vibe’s cloud-based POS to unify in-store sales, inventory, and insights as they retire hardware-heavy, fragmented systems. The platform emphasizes speed, reliability, and data-driven decisions to reduce friction and improve visibility across locations. Modernizing retail ops can translate to fewer stockouts, less waste, and leaner in-store footprints—subtle but meaningful sustainability wins.
Arya.ag raises ₹725 crore from GEF Capital Partners
Grain commerce platform Arya.ag secured ₹725 crore (about $80.6M) to scale climate-smart, market-led services for smallholder farmers, including storage, finance, and transparent market linkages. Operating across 60% of Indian districts with 12,000 warehouses, the firm focuses on reducing post-harvest losses and boosting incomes. The raise signals growing investor confidence in resilient, data-enabled agri value chains.
Bulog partners with BRIN to use technology to protect rice stocks
Indonesia’s state logistics agency Bulog is working with the national research body BRIN on domestically developed tech to keep 3.25 million tons of rice reserves pest-free and high quality. The initiative complements Bulog’s layered inspections and rapid interventions—aiming to cut spoilage and strengthen food security. It’s a targeted application of innovation to protect staple supplies at scale.
Bindloss Dawes converts former tractor shed into light-filled rural home
In Dorset, an agricultural shed becomes a low-carbon, “zero-carbon-in-use” home through adaptive reuse, high-performance insulation, triple glazing, rooftop solar, and an air-source heat pump. The design preserves structure to cut embodied carbon while delivering bright, generous interiors that connect to the landscape. It’s a compelling case for rural retrofit as a core strategy in sustainable housing.
