MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

Planet Healers

One-line solution summary:

Ecological Restoration and Regenerative Agriculture to Recapture Carbon

Pitch your solution.

Using ecological restoration to restore high functioning biologically diverse ecosystems with high resilience and regenerative agricultural techniques to restore soils. There is a synergy with high diversity plantings that stores more carbon in living plants and in soils. Not only do they store more carbon but high diversity plantings also tackle the biodiversity crisis. Working with local indigenous communities to do research on improved techniques, grow the plants, incorporate biochar and other biological fertilizers into the plantings and provide a high degree of nutrition. Living wages will be created from forest products, ecotourism and carbon credits. Funds generated will go into microloans, education, plant propagation and further research.

Resilient communities

Restoring ecosystem biodiversity

Recapturing carbon

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

Working with the 6 million Mayan people in the Yucatan Peninsula to restore the 2nd largest tropical forest after the Amazon. The area is a biodiversity hot spot and home to many endemic species but has been highly impacted by cattle ranching and logging. We will work with the local communities to help them to restore the forest and increase the carbon holding capacity of their community forests and agriculture and increase biodiversity in the region. Working with the communities involves deep listening to what they need and want to do and then providing the assistance to get them there. We will be guiding them on ecological restoration techniques, plant propagation and regenerative agriculture with the aim of creating resilient communities and high biodiversity ecosystems. We will be doing research on new forest restoration, regenerative agriculture, local plant economic potential and ecotourism techniques. Significant amounts of carbon will be recaptured in the soils and forests. Most of the techniques we are developing will be useful in other dryland ecosystems in other parts of the world.

What is your solution?

The soils of the Yucatan are shallow and fast draining and during the long dry season, it is hard to grow crops and maintain plantings. Our tropical restoration project had a high dieoff in forest plantings.

Our system of regenerative agriculture, developed by an agronomist and ecologist, uses biochar to hold nutrients and moisture in the soil, mulch and our super-powerful brew to feed the microbiome and then feed the plants. It is inexpensive, using local materials and has worked very well in enhancing the productivity of the poor soils in the Yucatan, allowing us to organically grow vegetables twice the size of local produce (using the same seed as the local Mayans). We also use this system in our tropical forest restoration projects. We continue to refine our techniques and share our results with farmers and landowners. We have also started sharing our techniques on YouTube to get the word out there globally and have had great success using the techniques in Canada as well. Because the techniques are simple and inexpensive they are available to be used by poorer people.

We recapture carbon in three ways, by adding biochar directly to the soil, by enhancing and stimulating the microbiome to add carbon to the soil and by growing healthy plants and restoring forests quickly.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Many people live in poverty and the land has been degraded over time by exploitive practices and cattle ranching. We are working with local farmers to teach them about the techniques we have developed from working in the region. We ask simply "what do you need" and actively listen to them to be able to guide them.

We will be expanding our program out to local communities to offer them alternatives that will help to rebuild the soils and restore the tropical forests.

Our goal is to get local farmer champions that are using regenerative farming and restoring the forests to mentor other farmers and train other mentors. Demonstration areas are also being developed that showcase the techniques and their benefits.

We continue to do research in alternative crops, voluntary carbon credits and ecotourism to help the communities by offering more resilient ways to earn a living. There are hundreds of species in the local area that have the potential for scaling up.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Preserve and restore carbon-rich ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots, whether terrestrial, coastal, or marine.

Explain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.

In order to restore biologically diverse ecosystems, one needs to work with nature and the local people. Little value is placed on natural ecosystems by local people if they can't provide for themselves a living. Without a way to feed themselves and receive a living wage, they will continue to degrade the land and exploit the forests.

Our goal is to create a simple inexpensive system where they will be able to sustain themselves and restore biodiversity to local ecosystems. Using both regenerative agriculture and restoration ecology we believe that we are able to do that. Being able to get more food out of smaller areas will allow more of the jungle to be restored and allow the diversity to return to the forests. By offering regenerative agriculture techniques they will be able to switch away from cattle farming and be more financially sustainable. As they regrow the forests and they become highly biologically diverse, there will be more opportunities for ecotourism.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Molas, Yucatán, Mexico

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model.

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.

We have been growing food and restoring a 40-ha property of tropical dry forest in Yucatan for 6 years and worked on developing these techniques. The 40 ha is our demonstration site. We have been working with local farmers, interns, university students and neighbours to share our techniques and have started to develop videos on YouTube to share our techniques with a larger audience.

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Paul Morris

More About Your Solution

If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:

https://www.earthconnection.center/

If you have additional video content that explains your solution, provide a YouTube or Vimeo link here:

—

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new business model or process that relies on technology to be successful

What makes your solution innovative?

Our solution is unique in its approach in that we are working with nature and the ecosystem, using its processes and enhancing those processes to make nature-based solutions. Our solutions are low tech, simple, inexpensive and easy to use and incorporate. Thus they are more available to all people to be able to use the techniques to enhance their productivity in a regenerative agriculture model and in ecological restoration of any ecosystem.

We have shown in the thin, dry, alkaline soils of the Yucatan and in the fertile soils of Canada that our techniques enhance production without the use of chemicals. We have restored ecosystems in Canada and in Mexico. The techniques are usable, simple and flexible enough to be used anywhere in the world to enhance food production and the initial growth of newly planted ecosystems. Giving them the advantage needed to establish quickly, quickly provide ecological function and enhance their return to high functioning biologically diverse ecosystems.

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

Ancestral Technology & Practices
Biomimicry
Biotechnology / Bioengineering

Select the key characteristics of your target population.

Women & Girls
Rural
Poor
Low-Income
Minorities & Previously Excluded Populations

In which countries do you currently operate?

Canada
Mexico

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
10. Reduced Inequality
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
13. Climate Action
15. Life on Land

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

Canada
Mexico

How many people does your solution currently serve? How many will it serve in one year? In five years?

Currently - 45,000 views of our biochar solution on YouTube

One Year - 100,000

Five Years - 1,000,000

How are you measuring your progress toward your impact goals?

YouTube and other social media metrics (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit)

Ha of land restored

Biodiversity indicators

https://preview.restor.eco/map...

About Your Team

Your Business Model & Partnerships

Partnership & Prize Funding Opportunities

Why are you applying to Solve?

We are looking for funding for our project and this is a good opportunity aligned with what we are doing.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

Human Capital (e.g. sourcing talent, board development, etc.)
Business model (e.g. product-market fit, strategy & development)
Financial (e.g. improving accounting practices, pitching to investors)
Legal or Regulatory Matters
Public Relations (e.g. branding/marketing strategy, social and global media)
Monitoring & Evaluation (e.g. collecting/using data, measuring impact)
Product / Service Distribution (e.g. expanding client base)
Technology (e.g. software or hardware, web development/design, data analysis, etc.)

Please explain in more detail here.

We have been doing ecological restoration and organic farming for over 27 years and the main thing we need to take to the next level is funding.

We have run successful businesses and done project management so that aspect is not a problem but help is always appreciated!

What organizations would you like to partner with, and how would you like to partner with them?

We are open to partnering win anyone that moves biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration forward. It is the great work of our time!

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The GM Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The GM Prize to advance your solution?

We work for the equality of all people and all creatures great and small. Biodiversity is our main focus and carbon recapture happens along the way.

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Innovation for Women Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use the Innovation for Women Prize to advance your solution?

We value the women that we work with and look forward to working with more to take this to a new level of accomplishment.

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Minderoo Prize to End Global Overfishing? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The ServiceNow Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The ServiceNow Prize to advance your solution?

Restoring biologically diverse ecosystems stores more carbon than plantations. We are focused on biological diversity.

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The AI for Humanity Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution

Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The GSR Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.

Yes, I wish to apply for this prize

Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The GSR Prize Prize to advance your solution?

Sustainable communities value biodiversity so we aim to help them reach this goal and heal the planet.