Earth911 Podcast: Terviva’s Marc Diaz Introduces the Pongamia, a Tree for the Climate Crisis

As climate change accelerates and traditional crops face mounting pressures from drought, extreme weather, and soil depletion, innovative solutions are emerging from unexpected sources. Explore the soil-restoring potential of the pongamia tree with Marc Diaz, Chief Commercialization Officer at Terviva, an agtech company that has spent over a decade unlocking this hardy species’ dual capabilities as a nutritious food source and sustainable fuel feedstock. Through their Ponova platform, Terviva is demonstrating how pongamia can restore degraded agricultural land while building equitable supply chains that empower smallholder farmers, particularly women in India, with above-market wages and technical support. The tree’s versatility extends beyond environmental benefits. Pongamia beans are rich in both protein and oil, positioning them as valuable ingredients for food applications while simultaneously serving as feedstock for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

Marc explains how pongamia’s nitrogen-fixing properties improve soil health over time, making it ideal for regenerative agriculture practices, while its protein- and oil-rich beans serve as valuable ingredients for both food applications and biofuel production. With recent partnerships involving Chevron Renewable Energy Group and Japan’s Idemitsu scaling pongamia cultivation for sustainable aviation fuel, and expansion into citrus-depleted regions of Florida and California, this versatile tree exemplifies the kind of adaptive, multi-purpose approach needed for climate-resilient agriculture. He also shares insights into what farmers need most when transitioning to climate-resilient crops: technical support, financial backing, and education about new cultivation methods. By addressing these needs while placing equity at the center of their business model, Terviva is proving that commercial success doesn’t require compromising social impact.Tune in to discover how one species is helping reimagine food and fuel systems for a changing world, and learn more at terviva.com and ponovafoods.com.