Ayan Dutta

Head of Business Development APAC

Earth First Food Ventures

Mr Dutta has over 15 years of experience in leadership roles around the world across the largest commodity firms where he has been instrumental in developing and financing complex food and energy supply chains promoting sustainable practices.

Prior to joining Earth First Food Ventures, he was the Managing Director for Cargill’s Trade and Capital markets business with over $30 billion of AUM leading offices in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. He has advised and channelized capital to farmers, cooperatives, banks, governments and leading corporates in the food and agriculture industry focusing on trade, ESG and MADJV financing. In addition to chairing credit committees he was the head of Banco Cargill and the  Global Assistant and Americas Treasurer. Prior to Cargill, Ayan was extensively involved in the metals and energy space and recently consulted on a green steel project in the Middle East to harness hydrogen as an alternative source of energy.

Ayan has been passionate about nourishing the world in a sustainable manner and that has culminated in him joining EFFV as he looks to channelize capital to smart proteins to further enable the sector. Having seen supply chains closely and designed incentives to promote sustainable  practices starting with the farmer to the fork he not only is acutely aware of the challenges but more importantly believes in a collective solution based approach to facilitate the transition to a better future.

He holds a Masters in Financial Economics from the University of Oxford. A CFA charterholder, he speaks English, Hindi, Bengali, and gets by with Portuguese and Bahasa. As a global citizen (having lived in over 10 countries) and an avid learner Ayan shuttles between Dubai and Mumbai.