Longlist Archives - Food Planet Prize

An alarming decrease in crop production from heat exposure is becoming a mounting threat to food security worldwide. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects that global wheat yields could decline by 6-10% for every 1°C temperature increase. Heat waves pose even graver threats, reducing harvests by 15–30% and farm incomes by a staggering 66%.

ThermoReLEAF claims that its innovative platform that combines gene editing technology and biomolecule discovery can offer a solution to bolster crop resilience to heat stress by enhancing plant tolerance. Using specific gene editing and biomolecules derived from plants, it says it can help to stabilize yields, safeguard farmer revenues, and help to secure food systems globally.

The problem it addresses is pressing. High temperatures during critical crop growth phases—such as flowering and grain filling—can cause irreversible damage. The repercussions of these losses are felt worldwide; in 2022, heatwaves in India and Pakistan reduced wheat yields by up to 30%, prompting export bans. Europe and North America have faced significant crop destruction due to soaring temperatures, which has decreased food supplies and driven up prices.

Heatwaves also jeopardize seed quality, shorten the growing season, and raise the risk of complete crop failures. As these heat events grow more frequent and severe, the challenge to crop productivity—and consequently food availability—is anticipated to escalate further.

After extensive research, ThermoReLEAF says that it has identified a novel solution to these challenges. According to the initiative, it has discovered the precise molecular mechanism that causes heat-induced cell death in plants. The team claims to have disrupted this process without hampering plant growth or development, creating heat-resistant crops ready to weather soaring temperatures. Its CRISPR-Cas9 technology executes precise genetic edits to knock out specific genes.

*_{The ThermoReLEAF founding team — Ayelén, Diego, and Gabriela — in one of the growth chambers.}*

Recognizing the existing regulatory hurdles around gene editing, especially in regions already grappling with heat-related losses, ThermoReLEAF has also unveiled an environmentally friendly biochemical solution composed of plant-derived biomolecules. When applied to seeds or leaves, the initiative explains that the product targets the same harmful molecular pathway as the gene editing approach, which enhances crop survival and productivity under heat stress in all tested varieties.

The initiative says that the technology’s versatility means that it can be applied across a broad spectrum of crop species, ranging from cereals to vegetables and legumes. This could ensure that a wide array of agricultural products is shielded from the perils of heat stress. ThermoReLEAF believes this universal applicability could help to secure the immediate food supply and sustain the livelihoods of farmers and communities in some of the most vulnerable countries in the world.

Learn more about ThermoReLEAF.

Written by Gilly Smith
Photos provided by ThermoReLEAF

What if a single bathroom break could help grow our next meal, reduce climate emissions, and clean up our waterways? Sanitation360, a Swedish startup launched in 2019, is turning this idea into reality with a circular sanitation system that transforms human urine into safe, climate-positive fertilizer. By capturing and recycling the nitrogen and phosphorus in urine, the initiative is tackling some of the most pressing challenges in modern agriculture—nutrient pollution, fertilizer dependence, and unsustainable wastewater treatment.

Globally, the production and use of synthetic fertilizers is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. It also depends on finite resources and contributes to the degradation of ecosystems through nutrient runoff. Sanitation360 captures nutrients before they become pollutants and returns them to the soil in a usable, hygienic form. Historically, civilizations from ancient China to 19th-century Paris recycled urine for farming. Sanitation360 revives this practice using modern science and design.

At the heart of their innovation is the Kissamaja^®, a unisex dry urinal designed for speed, hygiene, and inclusivity. Installed at major festivals, sports arenas, and public events across Sweden, these toilets collect urine at source, before it’s diluted or contaminated in wastewater systems. The urine is then stabilized, dried, and processed into Granurin, a granular fertilizer that can be used directly on farms with conventional equipment.

According to the initiative, this approach captures around 80% of the nitrogen and 50% of the phosphorus in domestic wastewater. In doing so, it prevents these nutrients from entering rivers and oceans, where they can cause eutrophication and dead zones. It also significantly reduces pressure on aging wastewater infrastructure. A 2025 life-cycle assessment showed that diverting urine can reduce wastewater-treatment-plant pollution, lowering contributions to marine eutrophication by over 50%, acidification by 45%, and global warming potential by 20%.

Sanitation360 has demonstrated its model at scale, collecting over 50,000 liters of urine from public events and working with farmers to grow barley fertilized with Granurin. In one EU-funded project, this barley was brewed into beer, a tangible example of circular economy in action. The company is also piloting permanent installations in buildings and exploring export opportunities in countries such as South Africa and Guatemala.

The initiative’s ambitions are equally bold. By 2035, it aims to equip over 200 arenas across Europe with its urine collection systems, establish Kissamaja^® as a standard in mobile sanitation, and secure EU regulations that support nutrient recycling in new buildings. It is also developing a new food label, LEIF (Low Environmental Impact Fertilizer), to certify products grown with circular fertilizers and encourage market adoption.

Sanitation360 sees its work as essential to staying within planetary boundaries. Each person produces enough nutrients daily to grow the grain for a loaf of bread, yet most of the nutrients in urine get flushed away and end up polluting waterways instead of growing food. By turning that waste into a local, renewable fertilizer, Sanitation360 is not just closing the nutrient loop. It’s building a more resilient, climate-smart food system from the ground—and the bathroom—up.

Learn more about Sanitation360.

Written by Sarah Souli
Photos provided by Sanitation360

Dryland farmers in West and Central Africa are learning to build climate resilience and restore soil fertility with peanut, sorghum, millet, sesame, fonio, and legumes in cutting-edge innovation labs across the region. The results could play a pivotal role in enhancing food security and sustainable agricultural practices in regions particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The Regional Center of Excellence (RCoE) for Drylands Cropping Systems, operated by CORAF, claims its innovative agricultural technologies encourage the adoption of drought-resistant crop varieties and sustainable farming techniques. Increased yields and diversified crop production are integral to ensuring that local communities have consistent access to nutritious food.

*_{Harvesting peanut plants in a production field in Senegal.}*

The RCoE’s objectives are supported by the teamwork of the École Nationale Supérieure d’Agriculture (ENSA), the Institut de Technologies Alimentaiores (ITA) and the Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agrcioles (ISRA) research centers, the Centre d’Étude Régional pour l’Amélioration de l’Adaptation à la Sécheresse (CERAAS), the Bureau d’analyse Macro-Économique (BAME), and the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique de Bambey (CNRA).

The RCoE coordinates research across essential crop value chains which include climate-smart, micro-nutrient rich, high-yield, and early-maturing varieties such as millet, sorghum groundnut, and cowpea. The initiative points out that these crops are widely cultivated by women and youth that represent near 50% of the labor force in the sector; empowering these groups, therefore, could boost productivity, income generation, and employability.

The RCoE’s ISO certified labs generate and scale up best practices in a collaborative environment. Here students, professionals, and farmers can experiment and refine practices to maximize productivity while minimizing environmental impact.

Over the past decade, the RCoE reports having successfully developed over 50 agricultural innovation technologies shared across and beyond the region. These include high-yielding, drought-resistant, and multipurpose crop varieties, along with integrated soil and pest management practices specifically tailored for dryland farming conditions.

*_{Testing new peanut varieties in farmer fields.}*

Minimizing environmental impact remains a priority. The RCoE encourages farmers to recognize the urgent need to integrate environmentally friendly practices within agricultural systems. Reducing chemical fertilizer use and implementing sustainable pest and soil management strategies promotes environmental health alongside agricultural productivity.

The initiative believes that this model of collaboration between CORAF and the constituent institutions of the RCoE on dryland cropping systems is critical for advancing climate-smart agriculture, enhancing food sovereignty, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. According to the initiative, over 1.5 million farmers across West Africa are now using improved technologies, contributing to both increased production and a more sustainable approach to agriculture. Their collective efforts are helping to create resilient farming systems that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change and ensure a more secure and self-reliant future for communities in the region.

Learn more about CORAF.

Written by Gilly Smith
Photos provided by CORAF

In a world grappling with the urgent crises of climate change, food insecurity, and health challenges, a storytelling initiative is offering a powerful way to change the conversation.

Food Tank is a U. S.-based advocacy, convening, and storytelling organization which brings activism, art, food, business, science, politics, and journalism together to change the food system. Its «big tent» approach has created a space within the food movement where diverse voices can share their unique perspectives.

Farmers work alongside scientists, while chefs collaborate with business leaders, and policymakers engage with activists, artists, and journalists to build innovative strategies and scale solutions.

*^{Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg and Chef Jose Andres at Food Tank´s Food and Ag Policy Summit with George Washington University, October 2025.}*

With a strong focus on community-rooted solutions, the organization hosts summits and convenings that tackle critical and multi-layered issues of climate-driven food poverty. From hunger to regenerative agriculture and food justice, the initiative says that it can inspire and support communities to lead their own transformational journeys.

Much of Food Tank’s success is in the power and influence found within its global working groups. The Chief Sustainability Officers Group boasts over 350 leaders from major food brands, while the Academic Working Group represents voices from all 50 U. S. states. A Non-Profit Leaders Group launched in 2025 promises to recruit 1,500 changemakers across sectors including climate, food, and health.

Central to Food Tank’s strategy is its storytelling platform. Its weekly newsletter, daily news website, podcast with hundreds of thousands of downloads, and social media presence with over 1.5 million followers spotlight hopeful solutions and create a global reach and a dynamic forum for engagement and education.

*^{Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg with a round table of regenerative farmers at London Climate Week, June 2025.}*

Innovative programming is at the core of Food Tank’s mission to shift the cultural narrative around food. Through theatre productions and multimedia projects highlighting farmer stories and indigenous growers and producers, voices often marginalized in mainstream dialogues can provoke new lines of thinking among an audience with the potential to really affect change.

With programming and partnerships in over 50 countries across continents, yet a full-time staff of four and an annual budget under $1.3 million, the initiative claims to accomplish what many institutions ten times their size cannot.

The initiative says that its work is not only about informing the public but actively mobilizing it, creating new coalitions, and encouraging commitments from both public and private sectors. It is this global community of stakeholders, Food Tank believes, that can reimagine and reshape our food systems — shifting the public narrative toward equity, sustainability, and joy.

Learn more about Food Tank.

Written by Gilly Smith
Photos provided by Food Tank

In Ghana, where climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity threaten smallholder farmers’ livelihoods, Green Tech EnviroGroup Ltd is pioneering a regenerative, circular solution. Their initiative, Charcops Wetlands, launched in 2024, transforms greywater and agricultural waste into clean irrigation water and nutrient-rich biochar-based soil inputs.

Charcops Wetlands is a decentralized, nature-based water treatment system inspired by constructed wetlands and enhanced with locally produced biochar. It purifies household greywater (think wastewater from sinks, laundry, and bathing), making it safe for reuse in agriculture. Layers of gravel, sand, and biochar derived from coconut husks and palm kernel shells filter the water, while wetland plants assist with nutrient removal. The system mimics natural ecosystems while providing a reliable, low-cost source of irrigation water for farmers, especially during dry seasons.

*_{Charcops Wetlands routinely tests the quality of the treated water to make sure every drop is safe and reliable for vegetable irrigation.}*

But the system doesn’t stop at water. Once the biochar is saturated with nutrients, it is harvested and reused as a powerful soil conditioner, returning nutrients to the land and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. This dual-function approach of cleaning water and enriching soil makes Charcops Wetlands a unique innovation at the intersection of water management, waste recycling, and sustainable agriculture.

In addition to the wetland system, Green Tech also produces biochar-based fertilizers from local organic waste. These products improve soil structure, boost water retention, support microbial activity, and increase crop productivity, all while lowering input costs for farmers. By turning waste into a resource, the initiative is helping farmers reduce dependence on imported agrochemicals and build long-term resilience.

According to the initiative, Charcops Wetlands is especially effective in addressing heavy metal contamination, a lesser-known threat in wastewater reuse. Biochar’s porous structure and high adsorption capacity allow it to bind harmful metals like lead and cadmium, preventing them from entering soil, crops, and the food chain. This adds a critical layer of food safety and environmental protection.

*_{Using a Charcops Wetlands system to water cabbage and lettuce in Kumasi.}*

Designed for scalability, Charcops Wetlands uses affordable, locally available materials and is modular enough to serve both smallholder plots and commercial farms. Its nature-based design makes it especially relevant for water-stressed regions like sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Levant. By combining climate mitigation through carbon sequestration, pollution control, and agricultural resilience, Charcops Wetlands could reshape how rural communities manage waste, water, and land. It’s a holistic, community-driven model that turns local challenges into sustainable agricultural solutions, demonstrating the power of circular thinking to nourish both people and the planet.

Learn more about Charcops Wetlands.

Written by Sarah Souli
Photos provided by Charcops Wetlands

In a world plagued by the dual challenges of food waste and hunger, a trailblazing startup named EatCloud is making waves by offering an innovative solution that claims to address both issues simultaneously.

Unlike other waste apps, in the EatCloud vision, surplus food is not seen as waste or charity, but as a strategic asset within food companies’ sustainability agendas. EatCloud claims that its triple impact reduces waste, fights hunger, and benefits the environment. Its tech platform redistributes surplus food to vulnerable communities, preventing it from ending up in landfills and generating positive environmental, social, and economic impact.

EatCloud says its strength lies in the valuable data its AI generates for clients to make climate-smart business decisions that conform to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards.

Central to EatCloud’s strategy is the use of artificial intelligence. By automating the surplus food management process, the platform claims to streamline logistics and provide financial incentives for participating companies.

In just five years, EatCloud has grown from a pilot project to operating in Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador, onboarding in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Morocco, and Zambia, and accelerating in the USA, Spain, and Italy—proving its ability to provide value and its adaptability across markets.

_{The Foundation “Colombia Social Vida”, based in Medellín, redistributes the food it obtains through EatCloud to children in different areas of the city. For many children, the food they receive through the Foundation is their only source of nourishment. Food Banks and Foundations form the ecosystem that redistributes surplus food among their beneficiaries through the EatCloud platform.}

The initiative states it has prevented the waste of over 47,000 tons of food to date, equivalent to more than 113 million meals, partnering with 1,123 nonprofit organizations in the process. According to EatCloud, this has prevented the emission of over 1100 tons of CO₂ and saved over 28 billion liters of water, while generating over USD 40 million in savings across the food ecosystem. Creating tailored data insights for users across the food industry, EatCloud claims its versatility encourages adoption, maximizes impact across the supply chain, and shows how data-driven solutions can reshape our relationship with food.

The initiative also has strategic partnerships with organizations such as WWF, the Global Foodbanking Network, Deloitte, and SAP, which support EatCloud’s endeavors.

Learn more about EatCloud.

Written by Gilly Smith
Photos provided by EatCloud

Modern agriculture feeds the world, but at a cost the planet can no longer bear. In India, more than 120 million smallholder farmers face the daily realities of soil degradation, rising input costs, and climate volatility. What if the solution isn’t more chemicals, but smarter biology?

Founded in 2016, the Indian initiative BioPrime AgriSolutions reimagines how we grow food, using nature’s own chemistry to improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability. Rather than fighting biology with synthetic inputs, BioPrime works with it, offering farmers advanced biologicals made from plant-derived molecules and beneficial microbes.

*_{The founders of BioPrime AgriSolutions – scientists turned entrepreneurs}*

At the core of its innovation are two discovery platforms: SNIPR, for identifying signaling molecules that activate specific plant responses, and BioNexus, the country’s largest collection of plant-associated microbes. These tools allow BioPrime to create targeted, high-performance agri-inputs that solve persistent challenges. For example, Phosphonexus helps unlock phosphorus bound in Indian soils, Trichonexus protects against soil-borne diseases, and Nutrimax boosts nutrient efficiency while improving soil organic carbon.

Unlike conventional biostimulants, which often rely on generic ingredients like seaweed or amino acids, BioPrime says their products are science-led and problem-specific. According to the initiative, their products have resulted in up to 25% reduction in fertilizer use, 40% fewer fungicide sprays, and 20–40% yield gains. In Uttar Pradesh, BioPrime’s solutions helped over 2,000 potato farmers achieve strong harvests despite high disease pressure.

But BioPrime is not just about lab breakthroughs, it’s about impact on the ground. Through farmer cohorts, on-field demos, and peer-led adoption models, it ensures that innovations reach those who need them most. In 2023, during a historic El Niño heatwave, farmers in Maharashtra who had previously lost entire crops reported record profits, crediting BioPrime’s biologicals for their resilience.

The company’s solutions are designed to scale. They work across a wide range of soils, climates, and crops, from turmeric and ginger to rice and vegetables. Products are shelf-stable, compatible with conventional inputs, and easy to localize for different geographies. With pilot programs in Brazil, the US, and Southeast Asia, BioPrime is positioning itself as a global player in climate-resilient agriculture.

According to the initiative, they aim to reduce synthetic fertilizer use by up to 2 million tons, cut pesticide use by over 10 million liters, and increase soil organic carbon by at least 18% across millions of hectares by 2035. In addition to lowering emissions, these changes will build healthier soils, cleaner water, and more nutritious food.

In the face of climate disruption and ecological strain, BioPrime is proving that the future of farming can be intelligent, inclusive, and rooted in the living systems beneath our feet.

Learn more about BioPrime AgriSolutions.

Written by Sarah Souli
Photos provided by BioPrime

Thriving Foodscapes takes a neighborhood-scale approach to food systems change—shaping everyday places to bridge the gap between individual behavior change and systems change.

Spearheaded by Danish urban strategy and design consultancy Gehl, in partnership with the Steno Diabetes Center and supported by Novo Nordisk’s Cities for Better Health program, the initiative aims to challenge the status quo of city development to promote better public health and environmental sustainability.

According to the initiative, urban design can limit access to healthy food in many cities all over the world. Thriving Foodscapes shows how a neighborhood’s public life and public spaces, including food outlets, can deter healthy eating habits and aims to locate and dismantle the barriers.

While most food interventions focus on what people eat, Thriving Foodscapes focuses on where and how they encounter food, and what social and spatial conditions shape their food choices. Its comprehensive open-access toolkit consists of 14 modular methods aimed at helping city leaders, practitioners, and communities to effectively map and enhance the physical, social, and cultural dimensions of access to healthy and sustainable food.

_{Gehl – Foodscapes – South London: Youth citizen scientists observe and document their everyday foodscape in South London. By engaging communities and key stakeholders, Thriving Foodscapes uncovers opportunities for the built environment to better support healthy routines.}

A key focus of the initiative is on disinvested and marginalized communities, which often face significant challenges in accessing healthy food. The initiative says it can empower residents to actively engage in shaping their food environments. The mission is to improve the quality of the built environment to better connect people to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food. It might mean redesigning a streetscape to improve visibility and hygiene conditions for market vendors, adding public seating near food hubs to encourage healthy food habits, or investing in higher-quality transportation infrastructure to strengthen food access. Access to quality food, particularly for those managing lifestyle-related conditions like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, not only promotes health equity but also strengthens community cohesion and resilience.

_{Gehl - Spor10 - Grand Opening - Copenhagen, Denmark: In 2023, alongside the World Congress of Architecture in Copenhagen, a Thriving Foodscapes exhibition was launched along with a three-day masterclass with urban planning and public health leaders from six cities. Spreading awareness, sharing knowledge, and building capacity are key to advancing community-centered food systems.}

Urban environments often promote diets high in ultra-processed, high-emissions foods, especially in low-income, underserved neighborhoods. The initiative aims to make good food more visible, accessible, and desirable in schools, markets, and local communities. Thriving Foodscapes uses data to transform complex, systemic challenges into human stories which reveal limited access to healthy food options, highlight the social value of food places, and inspire locally owned strategies which can make a real difference. Reimagining underused public spaces as community gardens, neighborhood free-food fridges, spaces for communal dining, and healthy street vending zones, the aim is to normalize access to good food for everyone in their everyday environments.

_{Gehl – Bogota Foodscape Pilot – Bogota, Colombia: In partnership with Bogotá’s Health Secretariat, Gehl piloted a school food environment intervention to improve access to healthy food for children. Building on a 2020 Foodscape Assessment, the project explored how public realm improvements can support healthier habits, reinforcing Bogotá’s commitment to tackling childhood obesity and promoting health equity.}

Thriving Foodscapes demonstrates that its approach is scalable; pilot projects in Bogotá, Colombia, Philadelphia, USA and Copenhagen, Denmark already showcase how open-source tools, cross-sector collaboration, and a place-based approach can be effectively translated into real-life changes. Addressing these intricate interconnections between human health and planetary boundaries, the initiative claims, can bring about the transformation of food systems across the world.

Learn more about Thriving Foodscapes.

Written by Gilly Smith
Photos provided by Thriving Foodscapes

Europe’s first certified carbon payment program for farmers could help to accelerate the transition towards regenerative farming across the world.

Soil Capital is on a mission to become the first independent agronomy firm dedicated to transforming farmland at scale. It reflects an urgent need to revitalize soil health and restore the natural fertility of agroecosystems. Over its decade-long journey, its agronomists and farming experts have steered farmers toward more profitable and sustainable agricultural practices.

The turning point for Soil Capital came in 2019 with the launch of Europe’s first certified carbon payment program for farmers, a major step towards incentivizing sustainable farming practices. Unlike the better-known offsetting model, Soil Capital advocates for insetting, where emissions reductions are achieved within the agri-food value chain itself. The initiative explains that this strategy drives greater systemic change by building more future-fit supply chains. At the core of Soil Capital’s approach is its data model, Beyond Carbon, which uses more than 30 indicators to guide farmers on how to manage land in harmony with nature, creating ecosystemic and economic value. It reflects farm performance across five critical areas: soil health, biodiversity, water management, climate, and socioeconomics.

Its farmer-facing application, mySoilCapital, enables farmers to input their data with minimal administrative burden. In return, they gain insights into how to reduce the cost of synthetic inputs, such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, and fuels, and how to build greater climate resilience.

_{Pictures taken on the same day on two different farms in the same region in France. These two fields show totally different soil responses to rainfall, one being able to absorb heavy rainfall and will keep producing food (right, photo from a Soil Capital farmer), the other becoming a field of mud (left).}

According to the initiative, the Soil Capital Regenerative program has engaged more than 1,800 farmers over 500,000 ha across France, Belgium, and the UK to date. More than €15 million has been distributed in payments to farmers, a result of support from food system stakeholders, primarily within the agri-food sector. These payments recognize the critical ecosystem services farmers provide and strengthen their role in safeguarding food security.

In a significant milestone, Soil Capital became a certified B Corp in 2022, further solidifying its commitment to social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. The company is also a founding member of the Climate Agriculture Alliance, a coalition which is working to build robust, science-based frameworks for agricultural carbon finance in Europe.

Learn more about Soil Capital.

Written by Gilly Smith
Photos provided by Soil Capital

Across Latin America’s sprawling grasslands, forests, and savannas, a new approach to livestock is gaining momentum—one that reimagines cattle not as a cause of environmental degradation, but as a tool for restoring ecosystems, storing carbon, and revitalizing rural livelihoods. Operating across Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and beyond, Ruuts is rapidly building Latin America’s largest network of regenerative livestock producers. The initiative’s vision is bold: to regenerate at least 5 million hectares of grazing land by 2035, restore critical ecosystems, sequester millions of tons of CO₂, and ensure that rural communities not only survive but thrive amid mounting climate and market pressures.

At the heart of Ruuts’ model is a multi-lever, systems-based approach that goes beyond training or certification. It integrates five interconnected components: hands-on technical support through regional «territorial nodes,» robust data and monitoring systems, direct ecosystem service finance, practical capacity building via the Regeneration School, and market development that links producers to premium supply chains and impact-driven investors. This structure enables the initiative to operate simultaneously at the grassroots and systems levels, thus scaling local solutions while aligning with global sustainability goals.

*_{Ruuts fields professionals working with farmers in the field, planning grazing rotations and regenerative management strategies based on Holistic Management.}*

Ruuts builds on over two decades of field-proven experience from Ovis 21, a B-Corp company founded in Patagonia, with a unique strength in working directly with producers. Their model centers farmers’ agency (programs are co-designed), ensuring practices are ecologically effective and economically viable. According to the initiative, to date, over 400 producers managing more than 1.3 million hectares have adopted regenerative practices through Ruuts programs. The results are tangible: increased soil organic carbon, improved water infiltration, reduced erosion, and measurable biodiversity gains—all while enhancing productivity and reducing input costs.

Crucially, Ruuts connects these on-the-ground outcomes to climate and biodiversity finance. Through verified carbon programs using VERRA methodologies, the initiative states that over 400,000 hectares are under signed contracts that generate real, traceable income for producers through carbon credits and ecosystem service payments. This financial model offers long-term incentives that align livelihoods with land stewardship.

Ruuts also invests heavily in knowledge transfer. It claims that its Regeneration School has trained over 1,500 producers, technicians, and rural youth in holistic management, equipping the next generation with the tools to lead this transformation. The initiative is now expanding into dryland and forest-edge ecosystems with plans to launch new regional nodes and deploy digital tools that enable real-time monitoring, adaptive grazing plans, and financial analysis.

In a sector often framed as a problem, Ruuts offers a compelling counter-narrative: that livestock, when managed regeneratively, can heal land, store carbon, and build resilient food systems. By restoring just 10% of Latin America’s grazing lands, Ruuts estimates the potential to sequester hundreds of millions of tons of CO₂, create biodiversity corridors at a continental scale, and enhance food sovereignty for millions.

Learn more about Ruuts.

Written by Sarah Souli
Photos provided by Ruuts

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