At an event in the SebraeX space, at South Summit in Porto Alegre, ICLEI South America and the Porto Alegre City Hall, through the Innovation Cabinet, revealed this Thursday, the 30th, the five startups selected for the ICLEI Innovation Programme. Bioplix PD&I – Soluções em transformação, Igapó, Olive+, Nutrindo Soluções LTDA, and Fazendas Bioma will undergo virtual acceleration between April and July.

The round will conclude on 3 and 4 August with a Demo Day during the 2nd ICLEI South Regional Meeting, which will also take place in Porto Alegre. Also during the event, the Sponsorship Notice for the 2nd ICLEI South Regional Meeting. Interested parties have until June 30th to join the opportunity.

The second round of ICLEI Innovation Accelerator Programme, which has as its theme “Sustainable Innovation for the Promotion of Resilient and Circular Food Systems in Porto Alegre and other cities of the Foodtech Alliance RS”, It has the support of MRV, Foodtech Alliance RS, Pacto Alegre, Tecnopuc, Unisinos, Inovatec UFSM, Pulsar – Incubadora da UFSM, Rede Gaúcha de Ambientes de Inovação (Reginp), FAO, and Instituto Comida do Amanhã.

The announcement was attended by the Secretary of Innovation of Porto Alegre, Luiz Carlos Pinto da Silva Filho, the Secretary of Environment, Urbanism and Sustainability, Germano Bremm, the Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America, Rodrigo Perpétuo, the Deputy Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America, Rodrigo Corradi, the Coordinator of the ICLEI Brazil Office in the South, Cibele Carneiro, Roger Klafke, Sebrae Specialist in the food chain, Artur Roberto de Oliveira Gibbon, President of the Gaúcho Network of Innovation Environments (REGINP), and other representatives of the Foodtech Alliance RS, Christian Lemos, president of EMATER.

Meet the selected startups:

• Bioplix PD&I – Transforming Solutions: A technology-based startup, founded in 2020, which develops technologies based on formulations with natural, biodegradable, and renewable-source polymers. Its main product is a biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic coating that protects foodstuffs post-harvest against fungi, bacteria, viruses, and insects, thus extending their shelf life. Furthermore, it has a technological portfolio comprising new formulations for seed treatment, controlled-release nutrient fertilisers, cosmetics, biomaterials, antiviral solutions for fabrics and surfaces, and water and wastewater treatment. Find out more: Linkedin, Instagram e YouTube.

• Igapó: It offers innovative technological solutions for the valorisation of organic waste, promoting the recovery of nutrients and the production of bio-inputs in an agile and decentralised manner, contributing to the circular economy and food security. The company provides solutions for businesses to generate positive impact through the treatment of organic waste. Find out more: Linkedin, Instagram e YouTube.

• Olive+: An AgFoodTech waste management startup established in 2021 with the aim of sustainably reusing waste generated from olive farming, transforming it into food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products in a sustainable manner, while valorising nutrients and bioactive compounds. Find out more: Instagram.

• Nutrindo Solutions Ltd: seeks to simplify food producer regulation through a data system that compiles key legal requirements, identifies producer compliance status, and provides a swift and accurate outcome of the solutions they require. Find out more: Instagram.

• Biome Farm: Cloud-connected vertical farm network for microgreen production anywhere. Fazenda Bioma is a smart vertical urban farm startup for producing vegetables in a controlled environment at the point of sale. Learn more: Instagram.

Cibele Carneiro