Isaac Romero’s transformation, from a high-pressure role at Inditex to becoming a passionate advocate for regenerative agriculture, is a tale of rediscovery, purpose and hope for a more sustainable future.

“I used to work at Inditex, in their footwear division in Alicante.”

Inditex, the Spanish multinational known for brands like Zara and Bershka, is one of the largest fashion retailers in the world. The company — now worth over $170 billion (USD) — epitomises fast fashion, a business model that encourages rapid turnover of styles to meet high consumer demand.

“It was an ultra-consumerist world, and it was draining me. My job was to boost sales, to constantly push for more and more, but in my personal life, I had stopped buying almost anything; I no longer believed in the system I was a part of.”

For years, Isaac was deeply embedded in this world, driven by overproduction and relentless sales targets. However, fast-paced consumerist culture slowly diminished his sense of purpose: he began questioning whether a system that thrived on constant consumption could truly bring fulfilment.

Isaac’s youth was spent in Los Guájares, a village in Granada, in southern Spain — with a population of just over 1000 people — where his parents were lifelong farmers. In the past, inhabitants adapted to the steep, rocky landscape by growing crops like grapes, olives and almonds on terraced land. These traditional farming methods shaped the area’s identity.

Growing up in Los Guájares, Isaac learned the value of hard work, the patience of waiting for a harvest, and the deep connection between people and the land. As a young man, he left home in search of broader horizons, studying abroad in Finland, working in Taiwan, and eventually settling in Barcelona. Yet, despite his global adventures, the rural rhythms of his childhood continued to resonate within him.

“I never imagined going back to the land, much less making a living from it. I saw myself as a city man, but then I got laid off, and I was relieved.”

The layoff marked a turning point in Isaac’s life. Instead of plunging him into despair, it ignited a period of reflection and transformation.

“I moved to Barcelona and immersed myself in sustainability studies, doing a course on climate change, permaculture in Girona, and a Masters in Circular Economy.”

In Barcelona, his new studies stood in stark contrast to his former corporate life, introducing him to a world focused on long-term environmental health rather than short-term profits. Then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. A global crisis that forced many of us to reassess our lives and priorities. For Isaac, the slowdown was both a challenge and an opportunity. While many of his peers in the sustainability sector dreamed of acquiring farmland, he realised he already had a hidden treasure: ancestral land in Granada.

“I thought, ‘Isaac, what are you doing? You have land in Granada, more than you can manage. Why are you here in the city?’ The city no longer made sense to me. The constant push for consumption, the endless stimuli… I was done with it.”

Isaac found himself back in Los Guájares, where the familiar cadence of rural life, the scent of tilled earth, and the rhythm of the seasons welcomed him like an old friend. Yet, his return was far from a simple homecoming; it was a call to reimagine his destiny.

“I started working alongside my father, but you can’t just tell a 66 year old who has been doing things the same way his whole life that he needs to change. So I made gradual changes, little by little. It took three years just to transition our farm to organic methods.”

The project that emerged from this transformation, Arraigo, is not just a farm, it is a living laboratory that blends the traditional wisdom of his family’s farming practices with modern sustainability techniques to create a new vision of agriculture.

“People think it’s idyllic, but the reality is tough. Arraigo isn’t just about farming; it involves marketing, selling, packing and shipping. Some days, I question everything, but I remind myself why I chose this path.”

One of the foremost challenges Isaac confronts is water scarcity, an issue that is growing more severe as Spain’s climate shifts. Avocado trees, now the flagship crop of Arraigo, are notoriously thirsty, and declining rainfall in the region is becoming a big problem.

“Avocado trees need a lot of water, and rainfall is decreasing every year, that’s why I’m studying regenerative agriculture and working with specialists in Girona to make our farm more resilient. We’re implementing techniques to retain soil moisture and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers.”

Regenerative agriculture, as practiced at Arraigo, is a radical departure from conventional methods. Rather than relying on intensive irrigation and synthetic fertilisers, Isaac has adopted practices that work with nature. Techniques such as cover cropping, mulching and composting are now integral parts of Isaac’s farm’s routine. These practices not only improve soil health but also boost its ability to retain water, a critical advantage in an increasingly arid climate. Isaac is also exploring agroforestry, growing multiple types of plants together in a symbiotic relationship, creating an ecosystem that mimics the natural diversity of a forest.

“Avocados have become one of the most profitable crops in Spain, but the way they are grown today is not sustainable in the long-term. We need to rethink how we farm if we want to continue feeding people without depleting resources.”

Regenerative agriculture is more than a set of practices, it’s a philosophy, and Isaac’s background plays a huge role in his commitment to this new way of farming. The values of hard work, respect for nature and the cyclical rhythm of the seasons were instilled in him from a young age, and have reemerged as the guiding principles of his new life.

“Returning to the land isn’t just a career change for me; it’s a way of reconnecting with my heritage and honouring the legacy of my family. I want to show that sustainable, regenerative farming is not only possible but can also be a viable path for future generations.”

The modern food system, driven by industrial agriculture, has led to the erosion of small farms and rural communities. Many small farmers have been forced out of business in Andalucía, and the resulting urban migration has left a huge void in rural areas all around Spain. Isaac believes that by making regenerative agriculture economically viable, it is possible to revitalise these communities and restore the balance between urban and rural life.

“This is not just about growing food, it’s about restoring our connection to the Earth, to the seasons, and to each other. If we change the way we farm, we can change the future.”

To achieve this vision, Isaac has actively engaged with his local community, collaborating with schools, universities, and local cooperatives to educate people about the benefits of sustainable farming. These efforts are part of a broader movement focused on reconnecting urban consumers with the origins of their food, a movement that has the potential to transform the entire food system.

Across the world, farmers and researchers are increasingly turning to regenerative agriculture as a solution to the challenges of the climate crisis, food security and environmental degradation. Industrial agriculture, with its heavy reliance on fossil fuels, synthetic fertilisers and monocultural practices has led to widespread ecological damage.

“I see Arraigo as part of something much bigger. The way we farm and consume needs to change, and I hope my project can be an example of what’s possible.”

Isaac is also passionate about the role of technology in farming. He’s exploring precision agriculture tools that track soil moisture, nutrient levels and crop health in real-time. These innovations boost productivity while reducing waste and environmental impact. By blending modern technology with traditional farming knowledge, Isaac wants to prove that sustainable farming isn’t just a thing of the past, it’s a forward-thinking practice that can tackle today’s challenges.

“Every tree I plant, every method I implement, is a step toward a future where our food systems are not only sustainable but regenerative, where nature and humanity work together in harmony. The land has always been here. We just need to learn how to respect and work with it again. Our ancestors knew how to live in harmony with nature, and there’s so much we can learn from them.”

Isaac’s transformation from a corporate executive to a regenerative farmer has required him to confront not only external challenges, like water scarcity and deep-rooted agricultural practices, but also internal struggles like self-doubt. During long days spent working on the fields, Isaac often reflects on his past life in the city and the hollow victories of corporate success.

“Returning to my roots has taught me that true wealth is not measured in sales figures or profit margins, but in the health of the land and the well-being of the people who depend on it. I want to build a legacy that honours the past and sustains the future.”

As the sun sets over the rolling hills of southern Spain, Isaac’s avocado trees stand as living proof that a sustainable future is within reach. Looking ahead, Isaac dreams of expanding Arraigo into a cooperative network that connects like-minded farmers across Spain and beyond. He envisions a future where regenerative practices become the norm rather than the exception, where consumers actively choose products that support ethical, sustainable agriculture, and every purchase contributes to the well-being of the Earth.

“I want to show that sustainable farming isn’t a niche or a luxury, it’s a necessity.”

Isaac’s story is a powerful reminder that transformation is possible at any stage of life. His bold decision to leave behind his corporate career to return to the land is a call to action. It invites us all to consider how we might live more harmoniously with nature and contribute to a more sustainable future.

“Every step we take toward sustainable farming is a step toward healing our planet. The future is in our hands, and it starts with the choices we make today.”

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The summer of 2022 was one of the hottest on record, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees across Europe. It was so bad that the European Union saw an excess of 53,000 deaths due to the tremendous heat. Through this time I became so reliant on my AC unit, which raises a lot of concerns as the heat of this summer becomes the new normal. But what if I told you that there is a new innovative solution to cooling which requires no electricity?

Israeli designer, Yael Issacharov, has introduced a natural energy-free air conditioner that uses the cooling properties of terracotta to regulate temperatures, while maintaining a stylish aesthetic that can be implemented in any space.

Issacharov’s Nave Air Conditioning System uses terracotta’s evaporative cooling abilities to naturally regulate temperatures by simply running water through an entry point in the structure. The water then evaporates, turning into vapour as the water seeps through the terracotta due to heat in the air, producing a cooling effect. This is all without the use of electricity, suggesting this new design is a sustainable solution to traditional AC systems.

Issacharov drew inspiration from Egyptian architecture and traditional Palestinian cooling systems which have been around for centuries, shielding its inhabitants from the brutal heat of the Middle East and Africa. Palestinian Jara, traditionally known as the Palestinian pot, was a water cooling system which Palestinians used for hundreds of years to keep drinking water cool. The clay used to make the pots has natural cooling abilities and was also believed to make the water taste better.

Similar designs have been implemented in subway stations and in low-tech cooler-humidifiers for small apartments. However, my personal favourite was seeing a similar design being used for both heating and AC in Mo de Movimiento, a restaurant in Madrid which aims to bring seasonal dishes to their clients in order to reduce their carbon footprint aka “miles to table”.

As a result of this innovative design, which is both sustainable as it is stylish, the Nave Air Conditioning System won the A’ Design Award this year.

Another Article You Might Like: Big Oil Is Thriving, The Planet Is Not

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I’ve always been obsessed with design and interiors, and as I’ve moved between different houseshares, the styling of my bedroom has become a paramount project. It’s a form of self-expression, and creating an enjoyable intimate space feels like a small victory in an era that can often feel so tumultuous and disempowering, especially concerning Covid-19, the climate crisis, and more recently, the rising cost of living. But an important question, in the face of the current climate crises, is how can we minimise material waste and think more consciously about sustainable living practices?

Researchers at the University of Nairobi have found that we are seeing a societal shift to integrate environmentally sustainable practices as people are starting to recognize the link between “spaces, people and the community.” 

This thinking inspires us to hold big business and industry accountable for environmental harm and challenges the misconception that public behaviour is solely responsible for the polluted built environments we inhabit. While we can all make differences in adopting greener behaviours, change fundamentally happens in the macro fields of environmental damage as opposed to micro ones.

This is where mushrooms make another compelling case. Mycelium, an offshoot of fungus, has gained traction in recent years as a sustainable material and is being used in the construction, architecture, and interior design industries. The construction industry is developing science-led innovations that will enable the roots of mushrooms, which consist of minuscule threads called hyphae, to become adopted and widespread in building initiatives.

The key reason for this technological drive is that mushrooms are sustainable. If we grow our bricks and boards from mycelium and fill it with agricultural waste, it takes days for the mushroom spores to absorb the organic matter into a viable solid, a process that is affordable and efficient. Mycelium is highly versatile and helps replace the use of harmful plastics. Researchers with Scientific American argue that biological technology is the most persuasive direction we must take to harmonize our built relationship with Earth.

The architectural firm The Living broke new ground with their sustainably made mushroom brick tower the “Hy-Fi”, which debuted at MoMA’s courtyard space in Manhattan in 2014. When the tower was dismantled two months later, each brick was taken to compost.

Architects were first inspired to use mushroom roots by biodegradable waste packaging initiatives that used mycelium. The drawback of using mushroom root in construction is the strength of the material. Although its function is proven in interior design fields and as an insulation material, it falls short in areas where structural proficiency is the end goal. Researchers are currently refining products to enable the material to be weight-bearing, which will diversify its use. The construction industries currently contribute to around a tenth of global carbon dioxide emissions and this isn’t improving without the integration of unconventional and grown materials which will steer industries away from factory-made fossil resources.

Additional work has been done exploring the benefit of mycelium in performing health and safety roles in buildings for its natural fire retardant properties. After the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, fire cladding entered public discourse for important reasons highlighting both government and construction failures. The subsequent inquiry concluded that the use of polymers such as polyethene incorporated aluminium composite in panels resulted in hazardous smoke inhalation that was mostly responsible for the 72 lives lost. Reports and quality laboratory testing proceed to strengthen the case of mycelium as a new sustainable and fire-impeding biomaterial, which is carbon-negative, meaning it confiscates more atmospheric carbon than it releases over its lifecycle.

In the spheres of our built world, mycelium provides hope and solutions to our pressing climate concerns. Through harnessing the powerful relationship between bioscience, innovation and design researchers and practitioners are showcasing what’s possible if we invest time and money into sustainable alternatives.

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The umami texture of mushrooms has become kindred with the meat substitute market. Think mushroom steaks, their chewy texture and porous properties allow flavours to be absorbed by these natural delights. Whilst long a staple in home cooking, mushrooms as a dynamic food source are on the rise.

Plant-based brands such as Meati, a Colorado-based company founded in 2019 have pioneered the field of innovation using mushroom root, a superfood blend based on the chemical structure of mushrooms to design a protein-dense and highly nutritious meat alternative. Meati’s mission statement is “Starting With Nature. Always.”

They use the compound of mushroom spores or filaments as the vital ingredient which makes up 95% of their available products. Let’s take their Meati Classic Cutlet as an example, this finished product has 17 grams of complete protein, a key nutrient in our diets allowing us to absorb the molecules in amino acids, vital to bodily functions and most commonly associated with animal products like eggs, meat, dairy and seafood.

Protein has become a nutritional obsession in recent years, but not without reason, as muscle growth and recovery are dependent on an adequate intake of this macronutrient. Happy minds and bodies require movement and our tissue repair essentially depends on getting your daily dose of protein.

Mushroom root otherwise known as mycelium has a long heritage in sustainable crop cultivation and has helped feed human populations for centuries and plays an important role in indigenous conservation leadership. A regenerative crop, this highly resilient biodynamic plant can be found growing naturally in cool damp woodlands where they provide water to plants and improve aeration, mushrooms have even been found in the burned areas left in the wake of wildfires. 

Regenerative agriculture counteracts the harmful impact of industrial farming by working with the land to increase biodiversity and enrich soil sources and ecosystems. The main aim of regenerative agriculture is to seize carbon in both soil areas and atmospheric biomass, in turn counteracting global trends of atmospheric warming.

Cultivating mushrooms works in natural symbiosis to recycle organic matter and support plant growth. Networks of fungi are responsible for converting dead matter into nutrients for the soil. Therefore fungi and plants reciprocate a natural balance and promote rather than deplete vital soil reserves. Mushrooms are also natural carbon dioxide warriors, absorbing C02 from the atmosphere.

Mushrooms are miraculous. As plant-based companies like Meati highlight they offer us an alternative sustainable and nourishing food source to animal products, especially for those who value a clean complete-protein source. Fungi properties operate as natural allies to flourishing soil and forestries supporting a shift towards more regenerative agricultural practices.

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It’s 1902, a warm evening during the British Empire’s grasp on the Raj. A Boris Johnson-esque Colonial official reprimands an Indian child for not appropriating white behaviours.

Fast forward to November 12th 2021, and you can see this same dynamic being replayed by COP delegates frustrated with Indian representatives. Coal is wrong. You’re wrong.

There is a lot to unpack in these interactions. From the evident bullying to the more subtle and insidious paternalistic attitudes of wealthier countries who believe they have the authority to reprimand the same countries they have historically exploited and whose energy trajectory they have been entirely implicit.

Coal, for example, is out of fashion in the Global North and has been for some time. Whilst I don’t advocate coal as a sustainable energy form, I support global equality and truth. We must then acknowledge the historical power imbalances which have resulted in the timeline of coal’s decline in the North, whilst the Global South has been left dependent on nonrenewable energy sources like coal and other fossil fuels out of necessity.

It is not unusual for the capitalist supernations to deflect blame onto countries in the Global South. This power imbalance which Edward Said coined in his pivotal book Orientalism, published in 1978, is evident in the scapegoating India and China as the ‘bad guys’ in the aftermath of the disappointing COP26 climate deal.

Asad Rehman, executive director of War on Want, the anti-poverty London Based charity that challenges the root causes of inequality and injustice through partnerships with social movements in the Global South, described the deal as a betrayal in which only the fossil fuel industries will be celebrating. It is a deal where Global South countries received the blame, whilst the rich – the UK, the USA and the European Union (also the countries most accountable for the violence and destruction of imperialism) – bullied poorer nations by controlling the venue and negotiating rooms and barring members of civil society, whilst lobbyists had no issues of access both digitally and in person.

The UK, USA and EU also blocked progress on promises of loss and damage demanded by the Global South who make up 80% of the world’s population and whose inhabitants have already seen and lived through the threats imposed by the climate crisis, which intersects many areas of inequity these countries are constantly struggling with.

The colonial perception continues to manifest in the UK’s hosting of such a problematic COP, and the Western media’s shameless and unoriginal portrayal of the Global South through the binary of bad and backward to, while the North is heralded for change and progress. I’m currently reading Black Gold by British journalist Jeremy Paxman who celebrates the classic British mentality: the UK’s deeply connected social and economic history with coal, describing it as essentially the vehicle which birthed the British Nation as a major modern economic power. To quote Alok Sharma back to himself, he may be ‘deeply frustrated’ by India and China over coal, but what’s worse is the Global North’s refusal to look inwards at its history, and so their exploitation of the world continues.

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Coldplay has partnered with climate change researchers at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute to quantify the impact of their tours. Their aim is to decrease the carbon footprint of their tour by 50 percent when compared to their previous tour. The remaining 50 percent will be off-setted with nature-based solutions and carbon capture technology.The Music of the Spheres tour will begin in Costa Rica on 18 March 2022 – a symbolic country as all of its energy consumption comes from renewable energy – and continue to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, USA, Germany, Poland, France, Belgium and the UK.

“When [I] say, ‘I need you to jump up and down,’ I’ll literally need you to jump up and down, because if you don’t, then the lights will go out.”
– Coldplay frontman Chris Martin explained to the BBC.

To lower its emissions the concerts will be powered by solar panels, waste cooking oil and Coldplay’s fans, through a kinetic stadium floor and electricity-generating power bikes, which fans can use to actively charge the show’s battery. The customized stadium floors were created in partnership with BMW.

The stage will be built from recycled steel and bamboo, and the show design will be adapted to local materials and equipment as much as possible. They will upgrade to ultra-efficient equipment such as low-energy LED screens, laser and lighting system and a PA system with up to 50 percent less power consumption compared to the previous tour that will also dramatically reduce environmental noise outside the venues.

Coldplay will avoid private planes and will pay a surcharge to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The fuel is made from renewable waste materials. It’s important to note that biofuels still emit GHGs, although they are better than traditional fuels, as they are waste and do not need to be extracted in a highly polluting manner.

Coldplay also partnered with Swiss carbon capture company Climeworks.

“We pledge to drawdown any unavoidable emissions according to the Oxford Principles for Net-Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting.”

Climeworks’ machines remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it safely or package it for commercial use in products such as fizzy drinks. CCU/CCS technologies to need a lot of energy to even function, which is why Coldplay will also be focusing on nature-based solutions such as reforestation, rewilding, soil and seagrass restoration, partnering with OneTreePlanted to plant a tree for each ticket purchase.

“Coldplay has announced their next tour Music of the Spheres World Tour to have at minimum a net-zero carbon footprint and as such have built a portfolio of solutions to help them achieve this goal by the end of the new touring cycle.”— Climeworks

Fans will be encouraged to use low-carbon transport to the event. If fans can document their transport on an official tour app they become eligible for certain discounts. Based on fans’ use of the app , Coldplay will calculate the total carbon footprint of travel to and from shows.

The tour will also include onsite activations, powered by solar and kinetic energy. These activations will feature interactive and educational experiences highlighting innovations in clean technology and the natural world.

Learn more about Coldplay’s sustainability pledge.

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Leading up to COP26 a legendary Glasgow nightclub SWG3 decided to undergo a green renovation, rethinking its entire energy consumption and pledging to go net zero by 2025.

SWG23 welcomes over 250,000 people every year, and the space can hold up to 6,000 people per night. Its pledge sets a high standard for all other nightclubs to follow suit.

Their most exciting green-tervention is dance energy. This state-of-the-art heating/cooling system takes the heat emanating from dancing bodies and transforms into a source of energy. It manages to heat the entire venue even throughout Scotland’s winter. The best part of it? The energy can be stored for months after the party ends. The pilot event using this energy will launch during COP26 this November.

“Heat is essentially thermal energy, and if you’ve ever found yourself in the middle of a packed out club night then you’ll be well aware of just how much energy could be kicking around that room. [Traditionally, [w]hen you look to cool down those spaces using either air-conditioning or ventilation systems, you’re pretty much pulling the heat out of a space and releasing it into the atmosphere.”

So how on earth does dance energy work?

SWG3 is piloting BODYHEAT by TownRock Energy

TownRock Energy is a company that produces geothermal heat pumps.

Geothermal heat pumps are either ground-source or water-source. This SWG3 is a ground-source heat pump. This works by transferring heat between the event space and the ground where it can stored into into boreholes in the rock to use at a later time. In winter, colder air from a building gets pumped down and warmer air is circulated into the building. In order to convert the cold air to hot air or vice versa heat pumps use a refrigerant.

Studies show that geothermal heat pumps use 70% less energy and are 45% more energy-efficient than standard options.

BODYHEAT explained

1. An idle human body radiates about 100 watts of excess heat, people dancing at clubs or gigs generate a lot more heat which is generally ejected into the atmosphere as waste.
2. BODYHEAT will  utilise that warmth
3. Through air collectors in SWG3’s ceilings will capture the hot air and send it to ground-coupled heat pumps that capture and store the waste heat—at 650 feet into the Earth.
4. The heat is drawn back out of the ground to heat the venue at different times
5. This allows SWG3 to use 70% less electricity and to completely avoid gas boilers to heat the space in the winter
6. It will save 70 tonnes of CO2 annually

“The thing I love most about BODYHEAT is that it’s all existing technology, Innovations aren’t limited to inventing something new, and with so many conversations on a more sustainable future already happening in the city, I’m excited to see what else we’ll be able to get off the ground by the end of it.”

Leading by example: SWG3’s NET-ZERO plan by 2025

Over the next 12 months:

• Remove single-use plastic from events

• Implement BODYHEAT: first major sustainability-focused capital project
• Design and cultivate two acres of garden space, including community growing space, beehives and native and biodiverse planting
• Carry out energy, waste and water audits, establishing a register of energy efficiency projects
• Establish an SWG3 Green Team to measure, manage and advocate change from within
• Implement a sustainable travel plan
• Implement sustainable sourcing policies for food, beverages, supplies and partnerships
• Develop a company vision and strategy to integrate UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Publish a first yearly sustainability report, detailing our strategy for reductions and progress thus far

Between 2022-2026:

• Become a circular business, adopting innovative ways to go further than just avoiding waste

• Radically reduce our carbon emissions through energy efficiency projects, going beyond net zero and aiming for carbon positive status by generating more energy than we use
• Advocate change and share what we’ve learnt with transparency and optimism

“We want to keep dancing, keep working, keep creating, keep inspiring ― but we also want to do this in a responsible, innovative way,” the pledge said. “We know this won’t be easy, but we know we have to try — and we’re mad up for the challenge.”

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The Earthshot Prize is a prestigious global environment prize established by the Royal Foundation. The prize is awarded to innovators whose contributions can be scalable and could instigate change over the next ten years.

“The Prize aims to turn the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism, by highlighting the ability of human ingenuity to bring about change, and inspiring collective action.”

The Earthshot Prize is centered around five different ‘Earthshots’ – simple but ambitious goals that if achieved by 2030 will enable us to live more in harmony with nature. Each Earthshot is awarded to five inspiring solutions that undergo scrupulous consideration from a Global Expert Advisory Panel.

*The word Earthshot was inspired by JFK’s Moonshots that instigated technological innovation during the 60s.

What winners receive:

• £1million prize money
• A one-of-a-kind Earthshot Prize medal
• A global network of professional and technical support to scale these cutting-edge solutions.

This year’s winners include an entire country, a forward-thinking city, brilliant innovators and inspiring entrepreneurs from around the world.

1. Protect & Restore Nature Prize: The Republic of Costa Rica

   1. The problem: in 2020 more trees were felled than ever before, causing 10% of global warming.
   2. The solution: Policy. Between 1950-1985 half of CR’s rainforests had been cleared to make way for cattle ranching and plantations. In the 90s the government made it illegal to chop down trees without governmental approval, then it implemented programs that paid farmers to reforest their land. Meanwhile they refocused the economy from from agriculture and to eco-tourism.
      By 2020 Costa Rica brought back 90% of the lost forests.
   3. Why it won the Earthshot prize: the CR government believes that 30% of the world’s land and oceans could be protected this way too. Winning would help it share knowledge and practices globally.

2. Build a Waste-free world Prize: The City of Milan

   1. The problem: over 1/3 of food produced is wasted. The global food system generates 30% of global GHG emissions.
   2. The solution: The City of Milan’s Food Waste Hubs tackle two problems in one. Launched in 2019 with the aim of halving waste by 2030, each hub recovers food mainly from supermarkets and companies’ canteens and gives it to NGOs who distribute it to the neediest citizens.
   3. Why it won the Earthshot prize: Milan is the first major city to enforce a city-wide food waste policy. And it is working. Today the city has three Food Waste Hubs, each recovering about 130 tonnes of food per year (260,000 meals equivalent). Milan has created a blueprint that can be scaled throughout the world

3. Revive our Oceans Prize: Coral Vita

   1. The problem: coral bleaching due to warming oceans and ocean acidification
   2. The solution: Coral Vita protects threatened ecosystems by growing diverse and resilient corals and outplanting them into degraded reefs. Its methods grow coral up to 50 times faster and improves resilience to the impact of climate change.
   3. Why it won the Earthshot prize: With Coral Vita’s methods, a single farm could potentially supply coral for an entire nation, and they ultimately envision a network of such farms in every nation with reefs, kickstarting a restoration economy to preserve the ecosystems that sustain us all.

4. Clean our Air Prize: Takachar

   1. The problem: Worldwide, $120 billion worth of crop and forest residues are burned in the open each year, creating massive air pollution.
   2. The solution: Using a novel concept called oxygen-lean torrefaction, Takachar has developed and patented the design of small-scale, low-cost, portable equipment to convert agricultural waste into solid fuel, fertilizer, and other specialty chemicals. The technology can be easily attached to tractors in remote farms.
   3. Why it won the Earthshot prize: If scaled, it could cut a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

5. Fix our Climate Prize: AEM Electrolyser

   1. The problem: Burning fossil fuels for energy produces GHG that are causing climate change
   2. The solution: green hydrogen with the AEM electrolyses. AEM turns water electrolysis into a universal and affordable product who’s ony emission is water vapor.
   3. Why it won the Earthshot prize: Funding will help scale mass production, which is planned to begin in 2022, while growing the team faster and funding further research and development. By 2050, Enapter’s vision is to account for 10% of the world’s hydrogen generation.

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For 170 years, World Expos have provided a platform to showcase the most remarkable innovations that have shaped the world we live in today. The famous Eiffel Tower and the Space Needle have been historical landmarks conceived for the Global Expos.

Expo 2020 will continue that tradition with the latest technology from around the globe, showcasing sustainability and the need for innovations in architecture and urban development.

This year’s Expo is held in Dubai, unveiling a self-sustaining enormous futuristic “sustainability pavilion” named Terra. Residents and tourists will explore the relationship between nature and humans, enabling them to reflect on their actions on the environment.

Terra has a large solar canopy on top of the pavilion with over 4,912 solar panels, generating 5.5 megawatts of renewable energy to the Emirates peninsula. Around the structure, you can find 18 “energy trees” that rotate following the sun’s path.

Plus, the architects and engineers found a technology that transforms air into water, making it a self-sufficient building in the middle of the desert, demonstrating that sustainability is possible wherever there is intention. Terra also has a greywater recycling system that aims to reduce water use by 0.

This new landmark will inspire a new generation of sustainable infrastructures.

Dubai, responsible for this innovation, demonstrates how despite its oil-based economy it has encouraged young entrepreneurs to develop sustainable innovations.

This year’s Expo showcases new models of urban development, hopefully paving the way for a regenerative economy.

Check out the video of the Expo to immerse yourself in the experience of the futuristic Terra.

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Naifactory is a Barcelona design startup developing bio-based and circular materials.

Their “Reolivar” material reinvents discarded olive pits turning them into lamps, toys and kitchenware. Olive pits are made of cellulose and lignin, two of the most abundant organic materials in the world. In Spain olives are ubiquitous, which is how founder Catazine became inspired in repurposing the pits.

Olive pits if not discarded are usually crushed and burnt to produce biofuel, however biofuel still emits GHG emissions when burnt. Whereas Naifactory aims to crush the pits and create a variety of economical and moldable textures.

The bio-compostable materials are unique and compostable. The designers hope to eventually produce a line of furniture and eventually launch their store

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