Imagine a region where the fight against climate change isn't just about cutting emissions—it's about boldly reinventing entire industries to survive and thrive amid chaos. That's the electrifying story unfolding in Latin America's cleantech scene, and our 2025 LATAM Cleantech 25 report dives deep into it.
We're thrilled to unveil the latest installment of our annual LATAM Cleantech 25 showcase. Since our previous edition, the global stage has shifted dramatically, and Latin America is mirroring that evolution in its own vibrant ways. Across the continent, cleantech advancements are branching out in multiple directions: some syncing perfectly with worldwide priorities, while others carve out uniquely regional paths, building speed and depth independently.
If I had to pinpoint the standout theme from this year's lineup of innovators, it's clear: in Latin America, strategies for adapting to climate change and building resilience have skyrocketed to the forefront of everyone's agenda. This sharp focus feels especially pressing here, in contrast to many other parts of the world where opportunities in adaptation are just starting to gain traction. In LATAM, though, it's already fueling a wave of groundbreaking inventions.
Funding for cleantech ventures in the region has dipped a bit from previous periods—particularly when stacked against the peak we saw last year. Yet, on a brighter note, governmental policies are gaining real steam, paving the way for fresh ideas, especially those centered on resilience and adaptation. For a quick visual, picture a chart comparing venture and growth investments in cleantech innovators: Latin America's figures show a modest pullback, while global trends hold steadier, hinting at untapped potential waiting to be unleashed.
But here's where policy is making waves in Brazil and Argentina, bolstering the strength of food systems against environmental shocks.
In Brazil, the MAIS Program is a game-changer for small-scale family farmers grappling with climate shifts, particularly in the dry, semi-arid zones. Think of it as a comprehensive 'climate-smart' package that covers everything from better animal feed and smarter farm practices to reviving damaged pastures. Complementing this, the World Bank is pouring $1.6 billion into a massive project spanning 12 states, aimed at boosting farm output, improving access to markets, and fortifying climate defenses for these vital producers. All of this aligns seamlessly with Brazil's refreshed Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—essentially, the country's promises under the Paris Agreement to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 48% by 2025 and a further 53% by 2030, helping the nation meet international climate goals while supporting local livelihoods.
Over in Argentina, the National Plan for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change lays out practical steps to fortify sustainable practices in food production and forestry. It targets hardening factories and farms against escalating threats like flooding, prolonged dry spells, and rising heat, all while championing biofuels derived from everyday organic waste—turning trash into treasure for cleaner energy.
These policy pushes are a big deal for the broader innovation network: over half of the 2025 awardees hail from Brazil or Argentina (with Brazil contributing 4 and Argentina a robust 10). That said, the drive toward resilience extends far beyond these powerhouses, showing the strongest sparks in efforts to toughen up crops against changing conditions.
And this is the part most people miss: Latin America's edge in crop science isn't just regional—it's got serious global implications.
Last year, we spotlighted how the region's deep expertise in biotechnology and plant cultivation was solidifying into a lasting strength for crop innovation. Fast-forward to now, and that foundation feels even more unshakeable. Out of the 25 featured in this edition, eight are laser-focused on making crops more resilient.
Sure, elevated CO₂ levels in the air can sometimes give certain plants a growth boost, but the real headaches come from climate change's ripple effects: scorching heat waves, water shortages, sudden floods, and evolving pest invasions hitting all at once. To break it down for newcomers, imagine a farmer facing multiple storms in one season—it's overwhelming. A recent 2024 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) drives this home, revealing that 74% of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are extremely vulnerable to wild weather extremes (check it out here: https://www.fao.org/americas/news/news-detail/panorama-2024/en#:~:text=Changing%20patterns%20of%20climate%20variability,of%20Food%20Security%20and%20Nutrition.&text=Climate%20variability%20and%20extreme%20weather,27%2F01%2F2025%2C%20Santiago). With these challenges already hitting hard, it's no wonder LATAM's inventors are charging ahead with urgency.
The 2025 LATAM Cleantech 25 spotlights diverse tactics to enhance crop toughness—and frequently, to ramp up harvests too. Here's a closer look at some standouts:
- Tierra de Monte (https://i3connect.com/company/tierra-de-monte) from Mexico crafts biological goodies like biofertilizers and biopesticides tailored for farming that heals the land over time.
Why it matters: For beginners, regenerative agriculture means rebuilding soil naturally instead of stripping it bare. Their microbe-based products revive tired earth and shield plants without the nasty side effects of chemical-heavy alternatives, leading to better yields and a healthier planet.
- Genica (https://i3connect.com/company/genica) in Brazil creates bioinputs such as bioinsecticides and seed inoculants to supercharge farm efficiency.
Why it matters: These natural helpers nurture soil vitality, ease off synthetic chemicals, and soften agriculture's toll on rivers, wildlife, and ecosystems—think cleaner water and buzzing biodiversity as bonuses.
- BeCaps (https://i3connect.com/company/b-kapz) out of Argentina has engineered a clever microencapsulation system that transforms runny bioinputs into sturdy, long-lasting solids.
Why it matters: One big hurdle for these eco-friendly inputs is spoilage; turning them solid means longer storage without fridges, easier shipping worldwide, and hassle-free mixing with standard fertilizers—making green farming way more practical for everyday users.
- Bioheuris (https://i3connect.com/company/bioheuris) from Argentina employs smart breeding techniques to craft non-GMO features, like resistance to weeds without heavy spraying.
Why it matters: By allowing tiny, targeted doses of herbicides across wide areas, it slashes overall chemical use and delays the buildup of super-weeds, promoting sustainable pest control that's kinder to the environment.
- Caligenia (https://i3connect.com/company/caligenia) in Argentina specializes in biotech-driven soil revival, churning out Bacterchar—a blend of organic boosters and tiny organisms.
Why it matters: Degraded land is like a barren desert for farmers; this innovation flips it back to fertile ground, generates clean energy as a byproduct, and locks away carbon for hundreds of years, tackling climate change from the ground up.
- Microbes for Life (https://i3connect.com/company/m4life) based in Argentina hunts and upgrades microbes from tough, extreme habitats for applications in crops, wellness, and land recovery.
Why it matters: These specially tuned 'super microbes' guard plants right from planting, fostering stronger growth and restoring the web of life in the soil—imagine nature's own bodyguards for your fields.
Latin America's crop tech is also riding the AI wave for even bigger leaps. Take Calice (https://i3connect.com/company/calice) in Argentina: their NODES platform runs virtual field tests on computers, letting food companies tweak experiments digitally to cut costs and guesswork from physical trials. It's like having a crystal ball for farming innovations.
Food security doesn't stop at the farm gate—true resilience means safeguarding the whole supply chain.
While hardy crops are crucial, protecting the entire food network involves spreading out suppliers and resources along the journey from field to table. Globally, after the hype around indoor vertical farms fizzled out mid-decade, innovations in food toughness seemed to quiet down. But this year's LATAM Cleantech 25 bucks that trend, signaling a fresh surge—particularly where ideas tackle pressing local challenges head-on.
- Cellva Ingredients (https://i3connect.com/company/cellva-ingredients) from Brazil harnesses biotech for encapsulating flavors and fabricating materials to produce eco-friendly food components.
Why it matters: In simple terms, this tech creates natural taste enhancers, low-fat swaps, and health-boosting additives, empowering brands to craft nutritious eats without relying on scarce or unsustainable sources—diversifying options in a volatile world.
- Kran Nanobubble (https://i3connect.com/company/kran-nanobubble) in Chile deploys tiny nanobubbles to enhance water-heavy processes in farming, fish farming, and beyond.
Why it matters: Seafood farming is booming in LATAM, yet per-person fish intake lags behind; the FAO predicts a 13% supply jump needed by 2050 to keep up. Nanobubbles super-oxygenate water, slashing energy use and boosting output in aquaculture—a lifeline for coastal communities.
But here's where it gets controversial: Can carbon farming in LATAM truly deliver on its promises without falling into the same traps that have plagued global efforts?
Carbon farming has buzzed with excitement lately, promising that simple soil additives could trap CO₂ and earn farmers credits to sell. The idea's allure is undeniable: nature-based solutions generating income. However, carbon markets swing wildly, and voluntary schemes have been rocked by scandals involving overstated claims—raising eyebrows about reliability. For beginners, carbon credits are like vouchers for emission offsets, but fakes erode trust. The winners? Approaches that pack in extras, like yield boosts, to make them irresistible beyond just climate perks.
- InPlanet (https://i3connect.com/company/inplanet) in Brazil spreads basalt rock dust over fields, locking in CO₂ while acting as a powerhouse fertilizer.
Why it matters: Beyond carbon capture, it enriches nutrient-poor soils for immediate crop gains—giving farmers quick cash flow that outweighs market ups and downs. Is this the co-benefit magic that could make carbon farming stick, or just another hype cycle? It's a debate worth watching.
Soil health is no afterthought here; it's the bedrock of food stability in LATAM. The FAO warns that 75% of regional soils teeter on the edge of ruin, with many tropical ones already too acidic and starved of nutrients, exacerbated by logging and over-farming. Fixing this could unlock massive gains.
Meanwhile, Latin America is quietly building the backbone for a booming AI landscape.
As AI explodes globally, LATAM is investing in the green tech to power it sustainably. Data centers are emerging as a hot cleantech focus, with creators finding clever ways to tap underused energy for AI's massive demands. Unblock Computing (https://i3connect.com/company/unblock-computing.) exemplifies this by fueling spread-out data hubs with wasted natural gas flares and excess renewable power—turning environmental headaches into efficient assets.
AI is even tackling its own growing pains, like overloaded power grids. Sentrisense (https://i3connect.com/company/sentrisense) in Argentina uses AI to watch and fine-tune high-voltage lines, spotting issues quick and adjusting capacity on the fly. This fits into a worldwide boom in AI for grid oversight, with fresh players popping up everywhere. Shoutout to 2024 honoree Splight (https://i3connect.com/company/splight), who snagged $12.4 million in August 2025 to push into the U.S., proving LATAM tech's borderless appeal.
AI's reach extends to shop floors too, transforming how industries operate. Allie AI (https://i3connect.com/company/allie) from Mexico zeroes in on food and drink production, deploying AI to track and tweak factors like heat and blending in real time, minimizing mistakes and scraps. Their FactoryGPT tool lets non-tech folks query plant info in plain English, democratizing data smarts for everyday decisions.
AI isn't just optimizing—it's sharpening risk awareness and paving proactive paths to adaptation.
Last year marked a pivotal moment for tech tracking our planet from space, from advanced sensors and orbits to analytics delivering swift hazard intel. The 2025 LATAM Cleantech 25 echoes this energy across various fronts.
- Satellites on Fire (https://i3connect.com/company/satellites-on-fire) in Argentina delivers rapid wildfire alerts via satellite views, on-ground cams, and custom AI—beating traditional alerts to the punch.
It's telling that this is the second such firm on our list, after Brazil's Umgrauemeio (https://i3connect.com/company/umgrauemeio) from 2024, which uses AI on security footage to flag fires in about three minutes. In fire-prone areas, every second counts.
- Raincoat (https://i3connect.com/company/raincoat) from Puerto Rico is shaking up insurance with climate-smart policies for catastrophes, powered by parametric triggers.
Why it matters: Parametric insurance is beginner-friendly—it's like an automatic payout if, say, winds hit a set speed during a hurricane, skipping the drawn-out paperwork. This speeds relief for governments, banks, and carriers hit by disasters.
Embracing adaptation and resilience calls for the boldest, most visionary innovations. The pioneers diving in now will adapt best as climate threats morph. LATAM's creators are set to shine on the world stage, offering battle-tested lessons for everywhere under siege.
To wrap up, just like in the full report: a huge congrats to the 2025 LATAM Cleantech 25 winners, and heartfelt thanks to our expert judges who curated this inspiring group.
What do you think—will LATAM's focus on adaptation outpace global efforts, or is it overhyped amid funding dips? Does carbon farming's volatility scare you off, or do co-benefits like yield boosts make it a winner? Share your takes in the comments; let's spark some debate!
