The 2024 InnovaInvest Copernicus Edition recently concluded in Panama, showcasing three innovative initiatives and five groups of concept notes that will receive technical support and guidance from various regional organizations to accelerate their implementation. These proposals emerged from the Copernicus Ideathon and Hackathon, held in 2023.
Laura Castellana, Project Coordinator for RedCLARA, highlighted the achievement of funding and collaboration with key stakeholders, such as the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC), and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). "This event served not only as a platform to showcase innovation processes within regional research groups but also as a means to create synergies among various stakeholders, reflecting RedCLARA's DNA within the framework of the BELLA II project," she stated.
Carlos González, RedCLARA’s Services Manager, emphasized the intent to organize future editions of the event. "The Copernicus Ideathon and Hackathon in 2023 initiated a process culminating in this first edition. We plan to hold new editions to address Latin America and the Caribbean’s challenges. We are currently working on collaboration plans between organizations and the winning teams," he affirmed.
The eight initiatives will receive specialized training, technical support, access to advanced tools and funding platforms, as well as the opportunity to participate in bootcamps focused on project development and implementation.
Highlighted projects include "Cosechas 4.0," a CATHALAC Panama web platform measuring humidity indices to assist family farmers in mitigating losses from climate change, even without internet access. Also featured is Argentina’s Fire Prevention System (SPI), which uses artificial intelligence to monitor climatic variables and predict fires, with plans for regional scalability through a mobile app. Additionally, a project from the Humboldt Institute and WCS Colombia, winner of the 2023 Hackathon, aims to enhance the adaptability of vicuñas through climate and ecosystem data collection.
The concept notes presented include "Ventana Copernicus," a Geo-Spatial Data Portal for Public Policy Development and Climate Change Resilience in Rural Communities (from Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Uruguay); a Monitoring Dashboard for Vegetation Distribution and Sustainable Biodiversity Management; a data visualization platform supporting family farming in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador; and Remote Sensing Applications for Forest Ecosystem Conservation in Mexico’s Central-West.
"Ventana Copernicus" brings together institutions from Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay to expand Copernicus training regionally, aligning with SDG 17. According to Carlos Hernán, the initiative seeks to transform collaborative efforts in the region, ensuring Copernicus tools support informed decision-making. This project secured initial collaboration commitments from IICA and CATHALAC to promote awareness of it in Latin America, particularly among public policymakers.
Another initiative supports families producing cocoa and coffee in Guatemala’s cloud forests and Panama’s water recharge areas. The project proposes a data portal providing valuable information for producers, enhancing crop yields, and facilitating access to high-value markets and international certifications. CAF backed the project, assisting with roadmap development and a governance model to enhance value chain processes, while CATHALAC and IICA will offer technical support, training, and coffee-related data resources.
The Monitoring Dashboard is a joint initiative between El Salvador and Colombia focused on tracking climate change impacts on Latin America’s biodiversity, which holds 80% of global diversity. Using Copernicus satellite images, the project analyzes current conditions and generates alerts about threats like pests, illegal logging, and deforestation. CAF will support partner engagement, and IICA will provide digital tool training and access to specialists.
An additional project targets family farming in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador, using Copernicus data to promote food security by transforming complex information into accessible visualizations for decision-making by farmers and institutions. The group received advice to define the project’s scope before developing the platform to ensure long-term sustainability. IICA and CATHALAC will assist in shaping the initiative.
The presentation concluded with a concept note on Remote Sensing Applications for Forest Ecosystem Conservation in Mexico's Central-West, which aimed to provide Copernicus data for decision-making in response to citizen demand and scientific interest. This project also received technical support from the involved institutions.
You can view the full 2023 Ideathon and Hackathon General Catalog of Initiatives at the following link: https://bella-programme.eu/es/catalogo-general.
