With the aim of promoting sustainable innovation and the Amazon bioeconomy, Profonanpe successfully developed the First Circular Economy Challenge, “Valorizing Aguaje Waste”. This initiative marks a milestone in the articulation between innovation, academia and territory, in alliance with the incubator of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.
The challenge invited entrepreneurs, researchers, students and professionals to propose innovative solutions for the valorization of aguaje husks and seeds, an emblematic resource of the Amazon traditionally considered waste. Through this process, the challenge sought to demonstrate that the circular economy can generate environmental, social and economic value, with Amazonian identity and a territorial approach.
The process was developed in several stages. After an open and highly competitive call for proposals, a technical evaluation was carried out to select 10 finalist proposals, which participated in a process of analysis and specialized support. This accompaniment was led by mentors in circular economy, selected and assigned by our strategic ally, the 1551 Innovative Business Incubator of the UNMSM.
Camu camu-based cookie, one of the initiatives participating in the Circular Economy Challenge
Finally, five winning proposals were selected for their viability, level of innovation and potential impact, which demonstrate the great potential of aguaje waste to be transformed into new products and opportunities -such as food inputs, innovative solutions and sustainable business models- contributing to the development of the Amazon from a circular economy approach.
Jurors deliberating to choose the winning initiative of the Circular Economy Challenge.
This initiative was developed within the framework of the Datem del Marañón Biobusiness Incubation Program, implemented by Profonanpe, Peru's environmental fund, in partnership with Conservation International (CI).
