Key points:
To stem the tide of deforestation, which accounts for up to 15% of global carbon emissions, communities living and working in the region need technology to better monitor and report unsustainable activities.
In 2021, NESsT launched a search for early-stage technology enterprises that provide sustainable livelihoods to underserved communities and regenerate the environment.
With support from the Cisco Foundation, NESsT welcomed two technology enterprises into the NESsT Amazonia portfolio – ManejeBem and Elysios.
By providing financing and business assistance to enterprises with proven technological solutions, NESsT seeks to harness technology to conserve 800,000 hectares in the Amazon and improve the livelihoods of more than 15,000 individuals from local communities.
The Amazon rainforest is the planet’s greatest life reserve. It is home to three million species and over a third of the world’s tropical trees. More than 40 million people reside within its borders, and its biodiverse ecosystems produce crucial food, medicine, and natural resources that sustain life for the rest of the world.
Though the rainforest is one of the earth’s best natural defenses against climate change, around 17% of its biome has already been destroyed, devastating ecosystems worldwide.
Technology can be a powerful tool to rescue the Amazon from destruction
To stem the tide of deforestation, which accounts for up to 15% of global carbon emissions, communities living and working in the region need technology to better monitor and report unsustainable activities.
Existing technological solutions have demonstrated progress in improving the monitoring and detection of environmental issues and facilitating the implementation of effective, targeted measures.
For example, satellite imagery technology is being used to detect deforestation in real time, which allows local law enforcement to intervene to contain the damage before it escalates.
This technology also enables conservationists to monitor land changes over time, the analysis of which can inform the development of preventative policies and drive sustainable business decisions.
Currently, technology adoption is low among local communities in the Amazon. Many promising and sustainable value chains – such as superfoods, forest products, as well as deforestation-free cacao and coffee – need the support of digital monitoring and communication tools with mass computing power to improve yields, monitor forest conservation, boost agroforestry, or address transport and storage barriers.
With support from the Cisco Foundation, NESsT launched an open call in 2021 for early-stage tech enterprises that provide sustainable livelihoods to underserved communities and regenerate the environment.
“Recognizing the need for seed-level funding to support high-potential, impact-focused climate solutions, and the role of technology to deliver and scale these solutions, Cisco is proud to support NESsT’s Amazon Incubator. Our partnership with NESsT and investment in this Incubator aligns with Cisco’s vision to power an inclusive future for all.”
The call for applications targeted social enterprises with technology that has already been piloted and tested. Applicants were reviewed by NESsT’s “Technology Advisory Committee”, which consists of leading, senior-level experts who specialize in bringing technologies to market.
By providing financing and business assistance to enterprises with proven digital solutions, the initiative seeks to harness technology to conserve 800,000 hectares in the Amazon and improve the livelihoods of more than 15,000 individuals from local communities.
“Our work in the Amazon is about providing livelihoods for small producers in the Amazon so that they can grow in a sustainable way and will not have to resort to other practices that can be detrimental to the environment.” – Nicole Etchart, NESsT co-CEO and co-founder
ManejeBem and Elysios are the first two technology enterprises to join the NESsT Amazonia incubator
Elysios and ManejeBem are two Brazilian technology enterprises that are committed to improving the digital inclusion of family farmers – those who are responsible for producing the majority of the nation’s food.
Elysios provides more than 2,000 farmers with web and mobile apps that help them to improve the planning and documentation of agricultural activities. By offering tailored technological training focusing on agricultural management, traceability, and regulation compliance, Elysios helps these farmers to increase crop yield and obtain proper certifications for their products to access higher prices. In addition to the supply chain management and field management software Elysios also provides sensing and automation hardware solutions. To date, many farmers that have used Elysios digital solutions have been able to reduce their water usage by 50%, reduce the use of fertilizers by 30%, and, in some cases, eliminate the need for pesticide use.
ManejeBem equips rural farming families with digital tools and technical assistance to enhance their agricultural processes and improve their incomes. The Brazilian enterprise also analyzes the social, economic, environmental, and agronomic data collected by farmers and generates insights that enhance production processes for small-scale farmers, improving their output quality while promoting sustainable environmental practices. Today, Manejebem is present in ten Brazilian states, reaching more than 900,000 farmers through its website, and over 4,500 farmers via its mobile app.
Driving industry-wide change in the agricultural sector
To foster greater accountability in the sustainable supply chain, both Elysios and ManejeBem have partnered with key agriculture business stakeholders, offering them tools and data-backed strategic guidance that respect the livelihoods of rural producers and protect the local habitat.
For agroindustry cooperatives, Elysios offers digital solutions that enable them to access field information directly from their suppliers. It also simplifies the registration of protected and legal reserves and incentivizes sustainable soil management.
Through its corporate consulting services, ManejeBem connects small farmers to agricultural industry companies via its platform. The enterprise leverages its cloud computing tools to derive actionable sustainability insights from raw, complex data for its corporate partners, helping them to learn about their impact on local environments and communities and develop roadmaps that conserve the environment.