#80 Chirrup: Measuring nature with a microphone
Biodiversity loss is one of the biggest, least understood risks facing our food system – and businesses are waking up to it. But measuring nature has never been easy. This time, we meet Conrad Young, founder of Chirrup, a startup using birdsong and bioacoustics to track biodiversity across farmland.
Conrad shares how a quiet moment during the COVID lockdown inspired him to build a technology that helps retailers and suppliers, like Tesco and Diageo, get a clearer picture of ecological health in their supply chains. We explore why biodiversity matters to business, what birds can tell us about ecosystem resilience, and how smart tech is helping brands move from good intentions to real impact.
In this episode:
Why biodiversity loss is a major business risk
The science behind bioacoustics and birds as indicators of ecosystem health
How Chirrup’s tech works – and who’s using it
What farmers really think about biodiversity monitoring
Why nature is finally becoming part of the brand story
Whether you’re in sustainability, sourcing, or just care about the future of food, this one’s for you.
“What we’re doing is putting a robotic ecologist in the field – one that listens quietly and doesn’t disturb nature.”
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