Meet the 13 Finalists for the $1 Million Challenge to reduce impacts from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in the Amazon
In total, 121 applicants from 22 countries around the world applied, with more than 50% from countries in the Amazon region.
The selected solutions were from Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
WASHINGTON, D.C May 16, 2022. – 13 finalist solutions were selected to advance in “The Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: The Amazon,” a global call for solutions to transform artisanal and small-scale gold mining into a more environmentally responsible and socially equitable practice.
The finalists were evaluated by panels of reviewers with expertise in mining, conservation science, and entrepreneurship and were selected based on criteria including value proposition, sustainability, impact, and feasibility.
Today, peruvian scientist Marino Morikawa, a specialist in sciences of natural resources, industries, water treatment, decontamination and environmental recovery, joined this group of experts to officially announce the 13 finalists of the Challenge, developing promising innovations that include tools for cleaner mining, restoration and remediation innovations, monitoring and actionable data tools, and supply chain solutions.
The finalists are:
ASM Progress App, from the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), in partnership with Betterchain (Colombia).
Community-led monitoring, from Timby Productions (Canada).
Copper Plates, from Pure Earth (United States).
Helical Concentrator, from Artisanal Gold Enterprises (Canada).
High-efficiency ecological leaching for the extraction of alluvial gold without mercury, from the National University of Engineering of Peru in collaboration with CITE Minero (Peru).
Metal Extraction and Remediation, from Ion Solutions (United States).
Micromax, from WIPA - Socio-environmental Codevelopment (Madre de Dios, Peru).
Mining Impact Calculator, from the Conservation Strategy Fund (United States).
Native Bamboos, from EcoDecision (Ecuador).
RECPO Online, from the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP in alliance with the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Peru).
DRAM Technology, from SEM Energy (United Kingdom).
Sissai Jewelry with RAMAZ and United Nations Development Programme (Peru).
TSW Trace, from Source Certain International (Australia).
There were 121 total applicants, from 22 countries around the world, with more than 50% from countries in the Amazon region.
“The goal was to find effective solutions for artisanal and small-scale mining in the Amazon – home to the largest tropical forest in the world, with some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet, and where many indigenous communities live,” noted Alex Dehgan, CEO and Co-Founder of Conservation X Labs. “We are excited to support innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs in developing and implementing their innovations and technology for conservation.”
Finalists will receive seed funding to field test and develop their innovations alongside local partners and organizations working in the Amazon region through the Amazon CoLab, a 6-month acceleration program. The Challenge administrators will announce the winners and award additional cash prizes to the highest performing solutions in late 2022.
To learn more about the Challenge and the Challenge finalists, visit: artisanalminingchallenge.com/amazon/finalists
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About the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: The Amazon
The first round of the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge took place between 2019 and 2020, and awarded solutions that could be applied to any metal or mineral, anywhere in the world. Prize winners received a total of $750,000 USD in funding, and six teams were selected to develop and test their innovations with partners in the Amazon region through the Amazon CoLab.
Open to a global community of innovators, “The Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: The Amazon” launched in 2021 and solicited solutions to safeguard ecosystems, protect human health, optimize responsible supply chains, and promote the formalization of miners to achieve social and environmental safeguards. “The Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: The Amazon” is implemented by Conservation X Labs in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Microsoft, and Esri.
For more information, contact:
Maria Fernanda Larrea
Communications & Outreach Specialist
Conservation X Labs
mariaf@conservationxlabs.org
www.conservationxlabs.com
