November 6, 2024 in Africa, Latin America, Asia
Learn about six companies fulfilling our need for system-level change with solutions that educate companies, producers, and consumers. They are just a few of the exceptional innovators supported by Village Capital’s Greentech programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The companies making the most significant systemic changes in the world are tackling our problems from a human standpoint and implementing change management theory – transitioning processes, resources, and people to achieve desired outcomes.
Sustainability only works when we move from knowledge to action. We can start with education, but reshaping traditional systems to contribute to broader environmental sustainability means providing solutions that are not just innovative but also practical.
Six companies deserve the spotlight for their efforts. They are fulfilling our need for system-level change with solutions that educate companies, producers, and consumers. They are just a few of the exceptional innovators supported by Village Capital’s Greentech programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Through our long-standing partnership with Moody’s Corporation, which began in 2019, this initiative empowers climate-focused startups that drive meaningful progress in sustainability.
The global food system faces a crisis of inefficiency, with food waste being a primary contributor to environmental degradation. According to the WWF, if food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane, which is even more potent than carbon dioxide. For Yen Ling Cheong, Co-Founder of QuinTerra, tackling food waste is not about one sole characteristic of environmentalism; it's about driving a systemic shift in the sustainability sector. By converting food waste into valuable resources, such as livestock feed, the Malaysia-based startup aims to create a ripple effect across industries.
QuinTerra’s unique approach centers around Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL), a natural solution for breaking down waste. Initially, the company aimed to introduce BSFL as an alternative feed to the market, but slow adoption led them to rethink their strategy. “Rather than trying to shift market mindsets, we asked ourselves, ‘Why not use BSFL within our own farming system?’” This pivot allowed QuinTerra’s team to integrate larvae into their closed-loop farm, transforming food waste into feed and fertilizer, contributing to a sustainable ecosystem, and making systemic change simpler than heading to the local landfill.
Yen Ling’s team is also creating measurable impacts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As Cheong explains, “In less than a year, we’ve successfully diverted over 1 tonne of food waste from landfills, with a target of diverting up to 12 tonnes annually.” This diversion significantly cuts methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.
QuinTerra’s work shows how addressing food waste can lead to broader changes in the sustainability sector. By transforming waste into valuable resources and promoting a circular economy, they contribute to the fight against climate change with simple-to-implement products.
Slow solar adoption stems from various complexities, including affordability and misinformation about its long-term savings and sustainability. Natasha Ibori, Co-Founder at Uwana Energy, addresses some common myths about solar energy adoption, “the belief that solar technology won't work effectively or last for many years is one of the biggest misconceptions Uwana is working to dispel.” Natasha continues, “a common misconception is that solar energy is only suitable for small-scale applications and cannot meet global energy demands.” Through large-scale projects and diverse packages, Uwana proves the scalability of solar solutions. The company’s packages and flexible payment plans are designed to overcome financial barriers, making solar energy more accessible. Natasha notes, “no other solution provider in the region takes into account various financial needs like long-term payment plans, Sharia banking, and volatile currency exchange rates.”
By simplifying the adoption process and addressing financial and logistical barriers, Uwana Energy is transforming sustainability from a theoretical concept into a practical reality. Natasha asserts, “Sustainability should be viewed not as a compromise but as an opportunity for a life of abundance.” Uwana’s efforts demonstrate that when sustainability is made simple and accessible, it moves from knowledge to action.
Pedaling uphill for system change in mobility and the city experience
While the importance of system change is clear, moving from knowledge to action takes uphill pedaling. In a city like Cairo, where over 21 million people rely heavily on traditional transport, introducing e-mobility comes with unique challenges.
Montaser Elattar, Co-Founder of EGIKE, an e-mobility startup dedicated to sustainable transport solutions through the use of e-bikes, shares, “many residents are used to cars or public transport, so encouraging a switch to e-bikes means addressing concerns about convenience, safety, and reliability in such a busy urban environment.” Elattar explains that achieving real impact requires more than just offering electric bikes – it involves making these sustainable solutions accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
With five trusted partners, EGIKE is making significant progress towards a greener future. Its users have covered over 50,000 kilometers, leading to “a reduction of over 1 million grams of CO2 emissions.” This impact highlights how simplified and accessible technology can lead to real, measurable change.
“Our mission is to be a driving force in Egypt’s and Africa’s shift toward sustainable urban mobility,” Elattar concludes. By making sustainability easy, EGIKE is turning knowledge into action, one ride at a time.
From circular economy to circulate technology: Adoption, thanks to personal guidance
Tech startups and consulting services are also guiding companies to adopt circular economy principles, thereby influencing industry-wide practices. An example of technology expanding our reach into every industry is EnFarm Agritech, which improves farmers’ livelihoods and enables sustainable agricultural growth in Vietnam.
EnFarm is driving systemic change in the agricultural industry by providing critical insights such as soil nutritional levels, weather conditions, and product market prices. The company’s founder Dzung Nguyen’s journey with EnFarm Agritech began with a mission to provide farmers in the Mekong Delta with the tools they desperately needed to optimize their farming practices and reduce environmental harm. “Farmers were often blamed for environmental damage, yet lacked tools to make informed decisions about fertilizer use,” Nguyen says.
Nguyen’s realization led to the development of EnFarm’s soil sensing technology, an innovation that now empowers farmers with real-time data on their soil’s pH, moisture, and nutrient levels. With this tool, “farmers can optimize fertilizer use, increasing yields by 20% while using 20% less fertilizer – a win for both profitability and the environment.”
“We're wasting 50 to 70% of fertilizer worldwide,” Nguyen states, and nitrogen, a key fertilizer, is a major greenhouse gas contributor. The EnFarm system drastically reduces this waste. “If every farmer in Vietnam used our tech, we could save 3 million tonnes of CO2 annually.”
EnFarm Agritech isn’t just about improving individual farm yields but also catalyzing system change in Vietnam’s agriculture sector. This vision is reflected in its innovations, like the smart nutrition measurement device, which was named one of the Top 5 Outstanding AI Application Products of 2024 at Vietnam AI Day. Their technology is sustainable practices within our grasp.
The land of the living: Preserving our existence by digitizing agricultural space
We can preserve our own race’s existence by preserving the health and integrity of agricultural lands, which is why international standards exist. Plataforma Puma is how agricultural companies meet these standards with technology.
Focusing on sustainable agriculture and environmental impact reduction, Tobias de Marcos, Co-Founder & COO of Plataforma Puma, explains that the company’s mission revolves around helping agricultural companies better understand and manage their environmental footprint. “Companies are interested in understanding and reporting their environmental impact, to reduce it and show stakeholders how they are working, yet digitalization is undoubtedly a challenge; agriculture is one of the least digital industries in the world.” Tobias affirms.
By leveraging advanced technology, Plataforma Puma provides tools that allow companies to monitor and improve their environmental impact, a vital step as the sector moves toward sustainability.
The company’s partnerships have grown as a result of its ability to scale up to hundreds of hectares. This year, Viterra wanted to expand, so they formed an alliance with Bayer. “Together, Viterra, Bayer, and Puma will monitor 1.5 million hectares this year,” says Tobias.
Plataforma Puma has also reduced carbon footprints across different crops. “In various programs, we are reporting carbon footprint reductions: 24% in barley, 32% in corn, and 15% in soybeans,” says Tobias. These results show the company’s commitment to sustainability and systemic change, making green practices easy to implement.
Providing consulting to companies most involved in consumer packaging can be more effective than creating one more company offering an alternative. Lisseth Cordero Luna, Co-Founder of Ecolana, explains, “one of the biggest barriers is resistance from marketing departments, which can be hesitant to adopt sustainable packaging solutions.”
This reluctance often stems from packaging being an essential communication tool between brands and consumers, making environmental concerns secondary. “This marketing priority delays recycling-friendly design changes,” Lisseth adds.
To counter these challenges, Ecolana helps companies assess whether their packaging is recyclable and fits the current recycling system.
The shift towards greener packaging is also driven by consumer behavior. “Consumers are increasingly comparing their favorite brands’ sustainability efforts with competitors, pushing brands to adopt greener practices faster,” Lisseth points out. Ecolana’s app helps consumers find recycling facilities, driving consumer engagement – by 2020, Ecolana had recycled 2,490 metric tons and, in 2022, had contributed to the recycling of over 4,000 metric tons of materials.
The above six startups are addressing global sustainability challenges for the benefit of all, supported by Moody’s. The opportunities ahead, however, are vast. It will take everyone to generate the habit changes and product adoption that will feed the sustainability our world needs.
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