Global Coalition Launches Innovation Challenge to Conserve the Amazon
‘The Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: The Amazon’ aims to accelerate solutions to transform artisanal and small-scale gold mining practices.
The Challenge will award more than $1,000,000 in prizes for solutions to make artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) more environmentally responsible and socially equitable in the Amazon rainforest.
The call is open to organizations and teams of innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs from around the world, with a special focus on Latin American countries. No specific experience in mining is required to apply.
Applications can be submitted until November 10, 2021. Shortlisted applications will be announced in January, 2022.
Washington, D.C. — Conservation X Labs (CXL), in partnership with USAID, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Microsoft and ESRI, officially launched the ‘Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: The Amazon’ on July 14th, 2021, in a virtual event streamed on Conservation X Labs’ Facebook Page. The event was hosted by famous Peruvian scientist Marino Morikawa and featured Dr. Alex Dehgan, CEO and Co-Founder of Conservation X Labs; Jene Thomas, USAID/Peru Mission Director; and Luis E. Fernández, Executive Director of the Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation (CINCIA). Organizations and teams of innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs can now submit applications until November 10, 2021. Shortlisted applications will be announced in January, 2022.
The Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: The Amazon is a global call to accelerate solutions to conserve the Amazon, protect communities, and transform artisanal and small-scale gold mining practices. It offers more than $1,000,000 in prizes as well as networking and testing opportunities for innovators from around the world, especially from Latin American countries. No specific experience in mining is required to participate.
The Grand Challenge is seeking solutions for the following categories: (1) Safeguard ecosystems and human health from potential harmful effects; (2) Optimize responsible supply chains to increase transparency and accountability; (3) Promote and sustain formalization and good governance of the gold mining sector.
This is the second round of the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge. The first round of the Grand Challenge ran between 2019 and 2020 and searched for solutions that could be applied to mining of any metal or mineral, anywhere in the world. 90 applications from 42 countries were submitted, 11 were chosen as finalists, and 5 of them received prizes summing up to $750,000.
The 2021-2022 edition of the Grand Challenge focuses on finding and developing solutions for the Amazon – a region that is home to many indigenous communities, contains the world’s largest tropical rainforest, and is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.
“By holding a Grand Challenge, we are looking for aspiring innovators to bring their talent and ingenuity to the problem at hand.”
The Grand Challenge will provide opportunities for innovators to develop and test their solutions in the Amazon region.
“It’s not only about generating innovations, it’s making sure they work for people on the ground. And that’s what I’m really excited about.”
For more information visit:
Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge official website: www.artisanalminingchallenge.com
Conservation X Labs website: www.conservationxlabs.com
About the Global Development Alliance:
Conservation X Labs is a technology and innovation company that builds ventures and empowers innovators to revolutionize conservation and prevent the sixth mass extinction.
This project was made possible through a Global Development Alliance with the generous support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Microsoft, ESRI, and people of the United States of America through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Contact:
Maria Fernanda Larrea
Communications & Outreach Specialist
Conservation X Labs - Peru Field Office
+511 940 298 411
mariaf@conservationxlabs.org
www.conservationxlabs.com
