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Could VR content boost empathy for the environment?
CategoriesSustainable News

Could VR content boost empathy for the environment?

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: It’s vital that young people learn about global warming and the importance of living more sustainably. Without climate change literacy, many won’t be able to adapt to the economic and environmental impacts of climate change. This is especially the case in Africa, where countries are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change. Now, one startup is changing how young people learn about the dangers of climate change and plastic pollution through virtual reality (VR). 

Ukwenza VR is a startup based in Kenya that offers educational VR content for classrooms and extracurricular learning. The startup’s VR experience transports students to realistic digital simulations of environments affected by plastic pollution and climate change. Students witness virtual representations of polluted water bodies, littered streets, and devastated habitats in Kenya and beyond, showing them the impact of plastic waste on marine life, land animals, and human health through the VR headsets.  

The startup works with schools and educators to create and deliver content that meets learning standards that serve the community. Ukwenza mainly focuses on schools from low-income areas that cannot access such digital opportunities – where communities are most affected by plastic pollution and accumulated sewage and garbage. 

Leveraging corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes and other funders, Ukwenza can deliver VR experiences to public schools that would otherwise be unable to afford them. In private schools, by contrast, Ukwenza works with parents who pay a subscription for students to access the content.

As the world becomes increasingly environmentally conscious, it’s essential that young people grow up with an awareness of why and how they can also make a difference. Springwise has spotted many innovators finding ways to educate young people, including by using Minecraft and fairytales to better explain sustainability issues.

Written By: Anam Alam

Reference

Can this natural hormone boost plant growth?
CategoriesSustainable News

Can this natural hormone boost plant growth?

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: The world’s population is set to reach 10 billion by 2050, meaning the burden to maintain and increase food production will only become greater in the coming years. Modern farming methods, however, are often detrimental to the health of soil. This is where a discovery made by scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) may be crucial – helping to maintain soil quality and crop growth for years to come. 

Over the course of a five-year-long study, conducted in collaboration with the SCELSE (Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering), the researchers revealed a previously hidden tool used by plants that could be a secret weapon for regenerative farming that boosts food security – the hormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA). 

By producing this hormone, a plant essentially communicates into the soil for beneficial microbial biomes to form, and this translates into an increase in growth as the environment becomes more agreeable to the plant. 

Breaking down this process, the researchers first observed that MeJA, which is generally released by a plant above the soil as a protective compound during periods of stress, is actually created in the roots. When the volatile MeJa is produced, it signals to soil bacteria away from a plant’s roots to form biofilms. The bacteria in these biofilms then produce other volatile compounds, which can boost plant growth by up to 30 per cent. 

The team is now looking to delve deeper by pinpointing the exact chemical nature of the soil compounds that triggered the increased growth in the plant. 

Springwise has also spotted this platform that helps assess the risk posed by frost on crops as well as these findings that aim to increase crop yield by reducing stress. 

Written By: Archie Cox 

Reference

Can an additive boost photosynthesis in plants?
CategoriesSustainable News

Can an additive boost photosynthesis in plants?

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Plant photosynthesis is limited by the amount of CO2, light intensity, and temperature. Plants typically convert just two to four per cent of available energy in radiation into new plant growth. This low efficiency has led to attempts to genetically alter plants to make them more efficient, which has provoked concerns over the associated risks to food security.

However, Malaysia-based agritech startup Qarbotech claims that its new product, QarboGrow, can enhance photosynthesis without resorting to genetic modification. It does this through the use of organic compounds with properties similar to chlorophyll. The startup’s product, QarboGrow, is sprayed onto crops, where it penetrates the leaf’s surface and interacts with chloroplasts. This interaction promotes greater energy transfer, helping to boost the rate of photosynthesis within a plant.

Qarbotech claims its nanotechnology-based solution can be used in-soil or on-plant, and can enhance the photosynthesis rate of plants by 30 per cent. This translates to a 30 per cent increase in plant growth, a 25 per cent reduction in crop growth cycles, and a 20 per cent increase in the sweetness of fruits.

The company recently announced that it has raised $700,000 (around €640,000) in seed funding, grants, and awards. Qarbotech will use the funding to strengthen research and development and expand its manufacturing facility to produce up to 50 times its current capacity.

Climate change and the growing global population are spurring a host of innovations aimed at improving agriculture. Recent developments that Springwise has spotted include a plan to make regenerative farming easier and cheaper to adopt and using bespoke bio-inoculants to improve soil health and reduce fertiliser use.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Drones boost biodiversity at scale
CategoriesSustainable News

Drones boost biodiversity at scale

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Today’s scientists are considering whether current levels of species loss constitute a sixth mass extinction event. But what we do know for sure is that we are facing a significant biodiversity crisis. As biodiversity declines, so too does the effectiveness of entire ecosystems. And this can cause significant harm to humans in the long run, damaging our food systems and increasing the chances of infectious diseases, among other issues.  

Hoping to assist in the protection and rejuvenation of biodiversity around the world, Switzerland-based startup Inverto has developed an innovative drone-based system. The startup combines hardware and software technologies to create innovative and custom solutions to support climate restoration and agriculture. Using the drones, Inverto can sample soils, select and monitor sites, and release seeds for reforestation. 

So far, Inverto has mainly focused its efforts on mangroves, as these are efficient carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots. In December 2022, the company partnered with Delta Blue Carbon to plant 350,000 hectares of mangrove forest along the Indus River in Pakistan. And, as well as replanting mangroves, Inverto can also use its drone technologies to release beneficial insects.

Video source Inverto

Inverto is still a relatively new venture, having only been founded in 2022, but has received attention from various investors and accelerators. For example, in May this year, it received a €200,000 grant from the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre in Switzerland to help it make use of space technologies. 

The natural biodiversity that exists on our planet is precious and fortunately, innovators are working hard to protect it. In the archive, Springwise has also spotted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor biodiversity on farmland and a startup that puts a financial value on biodiversity to incentivise more companies to protect it.

Written By: Amanda Simms

Reference

Computer vision, automation, and machine learning boost insect farming
CategoriesSustainable News

Computer vision, automation, and machine learning boost insect farming

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Experts are becoming increasingly concerned about how the world’s growing population will be fed in an equitable and sustainable way. One solution is edible insects – both for human consumption, and as pet food in order to help free up land and resources. Insects require far less space and fewer resources to farm than other proteins like beef or chicken, but producing them en masse has proved challenging so far. Tech company Entocycle is using innovative technology to help. 

The London-based startup uses smart technology to help insect farms work efficiently and sustainably (and manage billions of insects at any one time). Its technology aims to help farms improve accuracy, efficiency, and enable less need for manual involvement, such as by measuring populations in a farm to automate food requirements and controlling the temperature to optimise insect health.

The company focuses on black soldier fly farms, an insect that grows very rapidly – and can survive on food waste. They contain all the nutrients humans need for good health, including more zinc and iron than lean meat, and more calcium than milk.  

Entocycle recently raised $5 million (around €4.7 million) in a recent Series A funding round, which the startup will use to expand the commercial roll-out of its products and services. 

Entocycle is not alone in developing technology to help make insect-growing a viable and sustainable operation. Springwise has also spotted vertical mealworm farms that produce plant and animal feed, and AI-powered insect microfarms.

Written By: Jessica Bradley

Reference

New scalable quantum computing hardware used to boost cybersecurity
CategoriesSustainable News

New scalable quantum computing hardware used to boost cybersecurity

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: All the complexities of the digital world we see today are ultimately based on a system of ‘bits’ – switches that can be either on or off, 1 or 0. And to date, the equation for increasing computing power has been simple: fitting more and more switches (in the form of transistors) onto smaller and smaller microprocessors. But this will not be the case for much longer.

According to the counter-intuitive laws of quantum physics, on the subatomic scale, particles like electrons, photons, and ions can exist in more than one state at any time, and it’s this strange fact that forms the basis of quantum computing. The foundation of a quantum computer is no longer a bit but a ‘qubit’ (quantum bit). A qubit is not bound to being 1 or 0 – instead, it can be 1, 0, or both 1 and 0. This means that a quantum computer can perform multiple processes at once, massively increasing the speed and accuracy with which it can solve complex calculations. Today’s quantum computers remain embryonic but the technology is rapidly improving.

Quantum computing has long been dominated by Chinese and American giants such as Huawei, Baidu, Google, and IBM. But now, UK-based Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has become the latest startup to receive funding to enter the market. The company has developed hardware that addresses one of the key challenges when it comes to scaling quantum computers up to a level of processing that is commercially useful. As you add qubits onto a 2D silicon chip, increasingly complex control wiring is required to support those qubits. In a ‘traditional’ quantum system, complicated engineering is required to fit all that wiring onto the chip alongside the qubits. This added complexity reduces the quality of each qubit while increasing the probability of engineering mistakes, creating a trade-off between scale and quality.

OQC’s solution is to use a 3D rather than a flat structure. Using a 3D structure means that a lot of the control wiring can be taken off the chip, increasing simplicity and flexibility. The company claims this removes the need to compromise on quality to achieve scale.

OQC’s technology is far from an academic exercise. It has potential applications in financial services, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, and, since February, the company’s latest machine—called ‘Lucy’—has been publicly accessible via the cloud using Amazon Bracket, the quantum branch of Amazon Web Services. The company also offers what it calls ‘Quantum-Computing-as-a-Service’ via a private, tailor-made platform. The startup’s first client is Cambridge Quantum, which is using the platform to generate superior cryptographic keys for use in advanced cybersecurity.

Quantum computing, is a sometimes esoteric but increasingly important issue. Springwise has previously produced a Tech Explained article on the topic, and has spotted several other quantum computing innovations such as quantum algorithms for startups aiming to harness quantum computing power.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

18th August 2022

Email: hello@oxfordquantumcircuits.com

Website: oxfordquantumcircuits.com

Reference

A startup uses microbes to boost carbon sequestration
CategoriesSustainable News

A startup uses microbes to boost carbon sequestration

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: The climate crisis has seen record-breaking levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Potential solutions range from renewable fuels to reforestation. But a growing band of researchers and biotech firms believe that one of the best solutions may be waiting right underfoot – microbes. Companies like Loam Bio (founded in 2019 as Soil Carbon Co.) believe that they can use tailored microbes to turn the world’s soil into a massive carbon sink, while also improving crops.

The company has developed a microbial seed coating that ‘supercharges a plant’s natural ability to store carbon in soil’. Farmers coat the seeds in the solutions before sowing. As the plants grow, they exude sugars into the soil. These are then converted into stable soil carbon by the microbes. This soil carbon is stored in tiny structures called micro-aggregates, which prevents the carbon from being released back into the atmosphere.

The added carbon also benefits plants by increasing soil health and leading to higher yields, boosting farmers’ revenue. Studies conducted by Loam show an increase in soil carbon of up to 17 per cent in a single season – which, if used on a global scale, would equate to drawing down 8 gigatonnes of CO2 each year. Loam CEO and co-founder Guy Hudson believes that, if applied to America’s entire soybean crop, the coating could offset the emissions from the country’s aviation industry.

“Using our naturally-derived products on crops across the globe will give the world the time it needs to adjust to a low carbon economy,” Hudson explains, adding, “Our modelling includes the fact that large proportions of the soil organic carbon we are building will be decomposed and respired back into the atmosphere. The stable remainder still leads to an environmentally significant amount of CO2 removal. Our aim is to increase the storage of carbon to levels higher than what our current agricultural systems are achieving.”

Carbon sequestration is increasingly being seen as a valuable tool in the arsenal of those seeking to slow climate change. And there is no shortage of idea. Innovations seen recently here at Springwise include an artificial leaf that captures carbon dioxide and a technology that makes sequestration cheaper and more efficient. 

Written By: Lisa Magloff

17th March 2022

Website: loambio.com

Contact: loambio.com/contact-us/minneapolis

Reference

CategoriesConstruction News

SBP takes another step to boost investment in real estate

By Zarkon Group,

 

SBP takes another step to boost investment in real estate

LAHORE/KARACHI: In what is being seen as a positive development for the real estate sector and capital markets, the State Bank of Pakistan on Wednesday reduced the risk weight of banks/DFIs from 200 per cent to 100pc on their investment in units of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) for five years to facilitate development of housing finance and capital markets.

“In order to provide further support to the development of real estate sector, State Bank has amended its capital adequacy regulations by significantly lowering the applicable risk weight from 200 per cent to 100 per cent on banks and DFIs’ investments in the units of REITs,” said a SBP circular.

Besides the revision in the capital adequacy treatment for banks’ investments in REITs, the circular said, the banks’ investment (in REITs) will now be categorised in the “Banking Book” instead of “Trading Book”. However the central bank added that it “may review this revised treatment after a period of five years based on the banks’ exposure and performance of the REITs sector”.

Halving of risk weight of banks, DFIs to help REITs

According to the SBP, “With the changes in capital adequacy regulations, banks and DFIs will now be able to increase their investments in REITs without the need to allocate relatively large amount of capital.

“This will, in turn help banks to promote development of real estate sector in the country. The enhanced participation of financial institutions, backed by regulatory initiatives, would also encourage REIT Management Companies to launch new REITs, providing further boost to the Government’s agenda for development of housing and construction sectors,” it said.

‘A good move’

“This is a good move since the risk weight for banks’ investment in the real estate sector was very high. Banks will now be able to increase their investments in REITs without allocating relatively large amounts of capital. This move would facilitate investment in REITs and potential launch of new REITs,” Samir Ahmed, Knightsbridge Capital Group CEO, told Dawn.

“This change in capital adequacy treatment for banks’ investments in REITs has opened up new avenues of financing for REITs. This means REITs can now arrange financing from the banks; earlier they had to rely on their own equity. The market participation in REITs is likely to increase,” he said.

REITs are companies like closed-end mutual funds that own, operate or finance income-producing real estate. They raise funds from the general public and institutions and deploy these funds through investment in real estate properties. REITs provide an investment opportunity that makes it possible for everybody to own and benefit from real estate by allowing them to invest in portfolios of real estate assets the same way they invest in equities.

“The stockholders of a REIT earn a share of the income produced without actually having to go out and buy, manage or finance a property,” Mr Ahmed said.

REITs invest in a wide range of real estate property types, including offices, apartment buildings, warehouses, retail centres, hospitals, data centres, infrastructure and hotels. Most REITs focus on a particular property type but some hold multiple types of properties in their portfolios.

The SBP had earlier amended provisions of its existing prudential regulations to encourage enhanced participation of banks in REITs that enabled them to make higher investments in REITs to the tune of 15pc of their equity as against the previous limit of 10pc.

Moreover, the SBP has also allowed the banks to count their investments in shares, units, bonds, TFCs and Sukuks issued by the REIT management companies toward achievement of their mandatory targets for housing and construction finance.

“The amendments in SBP’s capital adequacy regulations will further incentivise banks to contribute towards a well-functioning capital market for real estate sector,” said the SBP.

Taxation challenges remain

Welcoming the development, Arif Habib Dolmen Real Estate, which owns the country’s only listed REIT, stated that REITs were a quintessential instrument for the government to document real estate and bring transparency in this sector.

Speaking from Karachi, Mohammad Ejaz, an analyst at Arif Habib Securities, said both SBP and SECP had done their part to encourage establishment of REITs in the country. “Now it is FBR’s turn to provide an enabling environment and facilitate the REIT investments by resolving the taxation challenges,” he said. Elaborating, he said some taxation anomalies such as 25pc tax on dividend income still exist.

“This should be cut to 15pc since REITs distribute 90pc of their profits and have to compete with the large, obscure and informal investors operating in the country’s real estate sector. With the government focused on encouraging construction and housing to boost the economy, REIT is one formal, documented way to promote the real estate sector that largely operates in the grey. Taxation is a major reason we don’t see much development in REITs.”

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