Exploring the Amazon

Dear Brainforest follower,

Another month has flown by, packed with remarkable events and milestones. In this newsletter, we have exciting updates to share, including a new collaboration and personal insights from our CEO, Leo Caprez, and Venture Builder, Nir Vaida, who recently went on an adventure to visit the Amazon.

Let us start with Quick Brainforest Updates:

🤝 New funder! We are pleased to announce that the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundations has joined us as a new funder. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for joining our mission to conserve and restore forests.

🔎 Looking for new experts! Are you an expert in AI for biodiversity, soil regeneration, Web3, or coastal ecosystems? Join Brainforest's network of experts and help shape the future of nature solutions. Apply here.

🤖 MassChallenge Accelerator: One of our past cohort winners has joined the MassChallenge accelerator, aligning with our values and mission. Interested to join yourself? Learn more here.

Excursion with Leo and Nir to the Amazon

Leo, CEO at Brainforest, and Nir, Venture Builder at Brainforest, set off on an incredible journey through the Amazon as part of the Pan-Amazon Impact Fellowship, exploring the rich landscapes of Colombia and Brazil. In this newsletter, Leo and Nir share their adventures with us, offering a glimpse into their learnings about sustainable practices, community collaboration, and the vibrant ecosystem of the Amazon.

🇨🇴 Colombia

Their journey began in Colombia, where they learned about the importance of understanding and respecting indigenous communities' unique traditions from the Amazon Conservation Team.

They visited the community in San Martin de Amacayacu and saw firsthand how the Ticuna community is innovating with sustainable agroforestry and açaí pulp production while actively reforesting their land. 

Due to their use of the forest and the effects of climate change, the Ticuna community noticed that the tree species they typically use are under threat of extinction. To mitigate this, they built a nursery, collected seeds from the deep forest and replanted them in their closer territory.

They travelled further to Puerto Nariño, they discovered the benefits of sustainable fishing and urban agriculture, gaining insights into promoting local economies and preserving wildlife.

To close their trip, they met Professor Camilo Torres Sanchez who specializes in promoting the Amazon region's bioeconomy through sustainable urban agriculture. With decades of research, he develops agroforestry options for family backyards to secure food supply, grow medicinal plants, and enhance well-being. 

🇧🇷 Brazil

Leo and Nir further explored sustainable development and innovation in the Amazon region. In Belém, they visited the Emilio Göldi Museum and attended a pitch event, engaging with the vibrant local startup ecosystem. There they met many different local initiatives promoting the forest bioeconomy and empowering traditional and indigenous communities. Finally, in Altamira, they participated in a training session for the Ora Project.

The Ora Project - In Altamira, they visited one of Brainforest's projects, named the Ora Project, which collaborates with Aldeias Project and Mazô Maná. This initiative aims to test new business models for urban reforestation that integrate reforestation, nutrition, and entrepreneurship. The pilot program involves over 10 riverine families from a neighborhood near the Xingu River, affected by deforestation.

The project started with acquiring a solar dehydrator, allowing families to create dehydrated products from sustainable materials. In the second phase, the families received training on how to process these products during a workshop attended by all three project partners (see picture). In the third phase, they will learn how to sell the products. The goal of the project is to develop a sustainable business model centered on dehydrated products, fostering community entrepreneurship.

Nir, represented Brainforest at the workshop, training the families on using the new dehydrator. He learned alongside them about the dehydration process, machine operation, and commercial applications. They tested various fruits, including pineapple, banana, açaí, guava, Brazil nuts, cupuaçu, rainforest mushrooms, and apples, completing the dehydration process the following day.

Muvuca Agroflorestal 

To conclude the trip, Nir visited Brainforest's portfolio company Muvuca in Florianopolis, for the first time in person, deepening his understanding of their impactful work and fostering stronger connections with the team. The visit aimed to facilitate in-person collaboration, brainstorming, and a firsthand look at Muvuca's efforts. Nir stated, "Muvuca's growth and dedication to scaling agroforestry systems are truly inspiring!" 

... Reflecting on the entire trip, Nir added as one of his biggest learnings ☝️:

"Working with local indigenous communities, we come with our perspective, ambition, and perception of success. We think we know how to solve their problems, but that is not the reality. We need to listen to how they see the problem and the solution. It cannot be done our way; it needs to be done together."

Closing

"One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. Nature opens our eyes to new perspectives." - Henry Miller

Thank you for being part of the Brainforest ecosystem. Your support is vital as we strive to regenerate and protect 20 million hectares of biodiverse forests by 2030. Together, we are paving the way for a sustainable and biodiverse future.

Your Brainforest Team