Project Background

This is a follow on to the work done in BioBind1 - part funded by the Manifund community. https://manifund.com/projects/impac

This project deployed a prototype agritextile to the Amazon and evaluated the financial, social and ecological impact. You can view some imagery from Biobind1 here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GyLuWHS78bcsipQU6

You can read our theory of change document here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a-O3y58BF8r2SypmPFkD3ZgtUp2bkeMY/view?usp=drive_link

With support from Manifund BioBind1 was one of the winning teams in the Conservation x Labs Amazon Challenge https://www.instagram.com/conservationxlabs/reel/DCphVYlKo5-/

What are the Goals of BioBind2? How will you achieve them?

The overall goal is to build a small production unit, squeeze it into a container, and ship it to a community Brazil nut processor. Once trained and approved, the association will then be able to convert their waste into a useful fibre. This will add resilience to the Brazil nut system - one of the weapons against deforestation in the Amazon.

BioBind2 is a stepping stone in this project. Itwill build on the previous project (BioBind1) by evaluating the technical and economic case for deployment of a microfactory to the Amazon region.

The Milestones are as follows:

M1: proto fibre production using Amazon sourced nutmeal in our UK lab

M2: Refinement of the machinery proposed for the containerised microfactory based on feedback gained in reaching M1

M3: Detailed economic and technical assessment using

M4: Final design for container modification, full costings and specification realised.

Following, M4, we will utilise our network to secure further impact funding to kick-off the build and deployment phase.

How will this funding be used?

Minimum Funding $1250 Enables M1 and M2

Tier 2 $3700 Supporting M3

Fully Funded $6200+ Deliver M4

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

The team for BioBind is largely the same as the team as delivered on BioBind1.

Dr. O'Haire is a fibre and material expert and will lead on the development and deployment of the manufacturing solution. we have conservation and agricultural leads in Sabina Huayara in Peru. They are experts in identifying and scaling regenerative practices to support and protect the Amazon ecology and indigenous communities whilst generating opportunities for those in the region. 

Helping with data quality and visualisation is our LA based Data Scientist Teodoro. He has delivered several data viz projects on sustainable impact. He will lead on mapping and qualifying sites of opportunity which have the right balance of users, supply inputs and infrastructure. 

In addition, we have made a new hire to the team. Thomas Wright joins us with an MSc. in Chemistry from Cambridge. He will work on the refinement of the Microfactory process prior to deployment.

We are supported through Conservation x Labs and Carbon 13 who can help us document and measure impact. When it comes to deployment they will also help secure the impact funding to run our test site.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

$8500 from Conservation X Labs for participating and winning the Amazon Challenge

$1100 from Manifund Community for BioBind1.