Climate Tech Highlights #19

Hello, there!

If you've been following along for a while, you know that my work goes beyond writing newsletters—I also serve as a Project Manager at Climate Ventures, a Brazilian NGO dedicated to promoting climate innovation.

Today, I’m excited to share some big news: we've just launched our latest mapping of the green ecosystem, and we’d love for you to be part of it! If your organization offers, seeks, or promotes green solutions, please take a moment to fill out this quick form. Your input will help generate valuable insights for advancing climate innovations across Latin America.

Now, let’s explore some inspiring examples from around the globe!

Around the globe 🌎

• Eyes On Geothermal Innovations: As the thirst for clean energy intensifies, especially from tech giants like Meta and Google, a new type of geothermal energy is emerging as a promising solution. Meta has announced a collaboration with Sage Geosystems to develop up to 150 megawatts of geothermal energy using advanced fracking techniques—enough to power 70,000 homes. This approach taps into the Earth's deep heat to generate electricity, offering a reliable and emissions-free energy source. Meanwhile, Google is advancing its geothermal efforts with Fervo Energy, working on a 400-megawatt plant in Utah that could revolutionize energy supply for data centers. With data centers expected to consume 9% of U.S. electricity by 2030, the race is on to secure sustainable energy sources that can operate around the clock. Read more

• BEVC Ventures into Climate Tech with a $25M Fund: Life sciences investor BEVC is making a strategic pivot into climate tech, raising a $25 million fund aimed at startups addressing planetary health. Traditionally focused on human health, BEVC's new fund marks a growing trend among life sciences investors to broaden their scope. The firm's founders, all with PhDs in life sciences, bring deep expertise to this dual focus. The move aligns with a broader industry trend where firms like RA Capital and Flagship Pioneering are investing heavily in sustainability and AI, recognizing the intrinsic link between environmental and human health. Read more

• Cameroon Launches Digital Platform to Boost Cocoa Traceability: Spearheaded by the Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council (CICC), this platform will georeference cocoa plantations across the country, ensuring that cocoa beans can be traced back to their origins. This initiative is particularly crucial as the EU's upcoming legislation will ban goods produced on deforested land, a critical market for Cameroon. The platform will not only help Cameroon maintain its market access but also improve supply chain efficiency and product quality. Read more

A glance at Brazil 🇧🇷

• Brazil's Low-Carbon Fertilizer - A Market Yet to Be Explored: Brazil has been sitting on a goldmine of low-cost, locally sourced fertilizers that could revolutionize its agriculture sector. Known as remineralizers, these rock powders enhance soil fertility by adding macro and micronutrients while improving the physical and biological properties of the soil. Despite its potential, only about 10% of Brazil's agricultural land currently uses these fertilizers. The market for remineralizers saw explosive growth during the 2022 global fertilizer shortage but has since cooled. Experts believe that this underutilized resource could play a key role in moving Brazilian agriculture toward more sustainable practices, provided there's greater awareness and access to credit. With the government’s National Fertilizer Plan aiming to reduce dependence on imported fertilizers, the future for remineralizers looks promising, especially as startups explore their potential for carbon sequestration. Read more

• New Bioeconomy Innovation Center in Pará: The Pará State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability (Semas) has unveiled plans for the Amazon Bioeconomy Innovation Center, located in Porto Futuro 2, Belém. The center will support new bio-businesses through product development, access to investment funds, and market entry, all within a framework that integrates research, development, and local business management. The center is a key part of the state's Bioeconomy Plan and aims to transform Belém into a hub of bioeconomy innovation, strengthening community businesses and attracting industries and investments to the region. Read more

Don't miss out! 👀

• 7 alternative food startups to watch, according to investors 

• 30 Biodiversity Startups to Watch, according to VCs

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See you next Tuesday!