Joshua Thaisen Joins Degas as Head of Carbon Markets, Spearheading Advanced Carbon Development Initiatives

Embodying its vision of ‘Changing people’s lives, dramatically’, Degas has revolutionized financing for 46,000 previously underserved smallholder farmers in Africa. Through a unique blend of mobile technology, ground-level data collection, and AI-driven credit assessments, Degas bridges the gap left by traditional financial institutions.

Background

‍In 2023, Degas financed 27,000 farmers, and established one of the world’s most extensive smallholder operations networks utilising an in-house AgriFin-Tech data product.

Over the past 12 months, the company has expanded its global business ecosystem, leveraging agri-carbon opportunities and digital assets. Notable developments include :

• Launching the Japan Alliance for High Quality Carbon Credit (JAHQCC) alongside prominent Japanese companies : Ajinomoto, JT, and Mitsubishi UFJ Bank;
• Delivered multi-phased Regenerative Agriculture (RA) pilot program in Northern Ghana with Nestlé;
• Successfully leading shea kernel aggregation for Fuji Oil Holdings, accompanied by a traceability app;
• Developing a Large Language Model-based chatbot for promoting RA, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and,
• Using high-resolution satellite imagery to validate the performance of Degas’ RA program in West Africa, in partnership with Planet Labs.

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For more details : https://degasafrica.com/press/

The establishment of the Carbon Markets division marks a significant strategic development for Degas. Amidst the global push for a net-zero transition, Africa, with its extensive land and natural resources, presents a unique opportunity to promote carbon farming opportunities that can boost and diversify revenues for its 600 million smallholder farmers. Degas’s innovative platform not only facilitates farmer and project financing, but also integrates robust measurement, reporting and verification systems for carbon assets, agri-inputs and raw commodities. This will create greater inclusion and market access for smallholders, and generate high-integrity carbon credits and sustainable development outcomes. Under Joshua’s leadership, the Carbon Markets division will enhance farmer financing, advocate for regenerative agriculture, and create carbon finance opportunities that can enhance the economic resilience of rural communities for generations to come. The establishment of the Carbon Markets division marks a significant strategic development for Degas. Amidst the global push for a net-zero transition, Africa, with its extensive land and natural resources, presents a unique opportunity to promote carbon farming opportunities that can boost and diversify revenues for its 600 million smallholder farmers. Degas’s innovative platform not only facilitates farmer and project financing, but also integrates robust measurement, reporting and verification systems for carbon assets, agri-inputs and raw commodities. This will create greater inclusion and market access for smallholders, and generate high-integrity carbon credits and sustainable development outcomes. Under Joshua’s leadership, the Carbon Markets division will enhance farmer financing, advocate for regenerative agriculture, and create carbon finance opportunities that can enhance the economic resilience of rural communities for generations to come.

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Joshua Thaisen’s Profile

Joshua is an expert in Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) project development, carbon asset management, environmental economics and land-use policy. Joshua brings deep commercial and technical experience in carbon market development, having worked with a diverse range of industry stakeholders to drive hundreds of millions in new finance into nature-based climate solutions projects.

He joins Degas from Verra, the world’s leading certification standard for AFOLU carbon credits. At Verra, Joshua managed a portfolio of 500+ projects across 10+ methodologies and regularly represented the organization in a range of public and private sector engagements (most recently including UN-REDD and the Singapore FinTech Festival in 2023). Notably, Joshua was the AFOLU sectoral lead in Verra’s D-MRV pilot program, working with over 90 climate-tech companies looking to validate and integrate digital technologies into the carbon market. Joshua has been an expert consultant on the successful development of hundreds of carbon projects across compliance and voluntary markets, and is also an award-winning low-emissions technology grant writer (c.$20m in prizes), having received multiple endorsements from the Australian and Singapore Governments for private sector climate-tech initiatives.

Prior to his focus on carbon, Joshua gained valuable experience in agricultural development, working with Fairtrade and leading Ag-tech companies at the forefront of sustainable food production. His insights into the supply chain and production vulnerabilities in various agricultural sectors profoundly shaped his belief in the role of climate finance in sustainable land management.

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Message from Joshua Thaisen

“I’m honoured and humbled to be joining the amazingly gifted and dedicated team at Degas. The decarbonization of agricultural supply chains is critical to mitigating the worst effects of climate change and delivering sustainable development outcomes for smallholder farmers and their communities. Degas’ in-house solutions for carbon asset management, alongside a suite of high-grade D-MRV products, will provide turnkey solutions for institutions to invest in the decarbonization and resilience of agricultural value chains. I’m excited to collaborate with the communities, governments and corporations that share our vision, and develop a blueprint for sustainable economic development that is profitable for people and the planet”.

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Comment from Doga Makiura, CEO of Degas Ltd.

“I am delighted to welcome Joshua Thaisen as the Head of our newly established Carbon Markets division. This pivotal move aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. Joshua’s profound expertise in carbon credits, sustainable land management practices and D-MRV platform development is exactly what we need to drive our vision forward at Degas. With this initiative, we aim to harness Africa’s expansive land and natural resources for carbon sequestration, creating a novel revenue source for our 600 million smallholder farmers.
I am confident that Joshua’s leadership will propel us to new heights in innovation and empowerment, leading the charge in sustainable agriculture and carbon management.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to each member of our team for your unwavering dedication and hard work. Together, with visionary leaders like Joshua and groundbreaking innovations, we’re not just changing lives — we’re sculpting a sustainable future for our planet. Let’s go!”

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