EnviroGene

Climate change presents a formidable challenge globally, manifesting in increasingly severe weather phenomena such as intensified droughts, heatwaves, floods, and soil acidification. These changes pose a significant threat to food production systems, thereby jeopardizing global food security. With the world population projected to surge to 10 billion by 2050, the demand for food will escalate substantially, necessitating a considerable increase in agricultural output. Currently, over 820 million individuals endure chronic hunger worldwide, a figure poised to escalate without effective measures to confront the agricultural hurdles precipitated by climate change.

In Mexico, the impact of climate change on agriculture resonates profoundly, affecting a significant portion of the population. With more than one-third of the country's rapidly expanding populace employed in agriculture—a pivotal sector for the nation's economy—the stakes are high. Studies quantifying climate change's toll on yields in Mexico reveal that approximately 16% of aggregate losses transpire in regions characterized by high poverty levels and subsistence agriculture, such as Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero.

This exacerbates the broader challenge of ensuring food security for vulnerable populations both locally and globally. The scale of the problem is vast, affecting millions in Mexico alone, with broader implications for the global food supply chain and food security efforts. Addressing these challenges requires targeted interventions that not only mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture but also foster resilience and sustainable practices within affected communities.

Traditional breeding methods for developing stress-tolerant crops are time-consuming and often rely on luck in finding desirable traits within the plant's gene pool.

Our solution focuses on using genetic editing, employing CRISPR/Cas technology to develop varieties that are more resilient to adverse conditions linked to climate change, targeting the editing of the vacuolar H+-pyrophosphatase (AVP1) gene to enhance drought tolerance. 

By editing the plant's DNA, we can enhance its ability to survive and grow in adverse environments where traditional crops struggle. This technology works by targeting specific genes responsible for stress tolerance and making precise modifications to improve the plant's resilience.

We will focus on vulnerable agricultural communities, especially in regions like Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero in Mexico. These communities rely heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods and face additional challenges due to limited access to resources and modern technologies, as well as limited infrastructure.

By improving agricultural productivity and crop diversification, our solution will help ensure a stable food supply for these communities, enhancing their ability to meet their basic nutritional needs.

We will focus on vulnerable agricultural communities, especially in regions like Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero in Mexico. These communities rely heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods and face additional challenges due to limited access to resources and modern technologies, as well as limited infrastructure. 

I was born in the state of Hidalgo and still have relatives who reside there. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to volunteer in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. These states are characterized by arid and dry climates. However, in recent years, climate change and pollution have significantly contributed to water scarcity, leading to the death of plants that are essential for the basic nutritional needs of the communities.

My team and I are well positioned to offer this solution because we have a personal and close connection with these communities that the project will be focusing on and that represent a clear example of the sector we will be targeting. As a native of Hidalgo and a volunteer in Oaxaca and Guerrero, I understand firsthand the challenges that these communities face and how climate change is exacerbating their difficulties.

We are representative of these communities in terms of experience, local knowledge, and understanding of the daily realities they face. I have worked closely with the communities to design our solution, listening to their ideas and needs.

So far, we have conducted comprehensive research on the communities in the mentioned states, focusing on understanding their needs, challenges, and available resources. This included analyzing demographic data, local climate conditions, water availability, agricultural land, and existing farming practices. Additionally, we have established contacts with community leaders and experts in agriculture-related issues to gather additional information and support for our initiative.

This idea is being developed as a potential project for my degree thesis, and I believe Solve can provide me with the vital connections to partners who can offer the necessary support and resources. I am particularly seeking assistance in addressing barriers such as securing funding to initiate the prototype phase, establishing a network of contacts with relevant companies and researchers, and obtaining legal and regulatory support for guidance in this field. Solve's expertise in connecting innovators with resources and expertise makes it an ideal platform to help me overcome these challenges and bring this project to fruition.

This project aims to use science and technology to generate comprehensive and holistic development; we seek to harness "the natural" in our favor. We prioritize community engagement and co-creation, ensuring that solutions are tailored to the specific needs, preferences, and cultural contexts of the communities we serve. Our approach addresses multiple dimensions of agricultural sustainability, including soil health, water management, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic resilience.

It is well known that nowadays people seek to maintain natural elements, so this project not only contributes to this, but also utilizes a powerful technological tool, which is genetic engineering, to enhance plant capacity without compromising its nature. Our project is supported by evidence from research studies, evaluations, and data collected through interviews and engagement with our target population. By addressing the root causes of the problem through a combination of nature-based solutions, technology, and community engagement, we believe our solution has the potential to bring about meaningful and lasting change for the betterment of our planet and its inhabitants.

We aim to increase crop yields and improve agricultural practices to ensure livelihood opportunities for local communities.

 We seek to restore ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable land and water management practices.

Build resilience to climate change by implementing adaptive strategies and reducing vulnerability to extreme weather events.

The basic technology driving our project is genetic engineering, specifically focused on improving the ability of plants to increase their ability to hold water so that it can be used for drought events in agriculture. Genetic engineering involves the manipulation of an organism's genetic material to introduce desirable traits or eliminate undesirable ones. In the context of our solution, we use genetic engineering to develop crops that are better adapted to environmental stressors while maintaining their natural characteristics.

Nicole I. Castañeda Pérez- miembro fundador y líder del equipo

6 months