When 2,087 sustainability projects from 29 countries and 613 cities compete for just ten awards, the winners represent far more than a trophy—they signal the most urgent and inventive environmental work happening across Latin America. The 11th edition of Premios Verdes, held in Cuenca, Ecuador, has now named those ten winners, hailing from Colombia, Peru, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Chile.
Fundación Kara Solar connects Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon through solar-powered electric boats. The initiative won the Energy category at Premios Verdes 2026.
AQUARESTAURA restores ancestral Andean water systems to improve water availability in Lima, Peru. The initiative won the Freshwater category at Premios Verdes 2026.
Selected from 2,087 entries, the winners address water scarcity, biodiversity loss and other environmental and social challenges.
Our aim is for their work to gain international recognition and for that visibility to open up new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and funding.”— Gustavo Manrique, President and Co-founder of Premios Verdes
The gala in Cuenca capped off a rigorous selection process. After a technical assessment, an international jury chose the winners from 52 finalists representing 12 countries. The projects tackle everything from water scarcity and biodiversity loss to pollution, the energy transition and social inclusion.
“Behind every project are people who are changing lives in their communities. Our aim is for their work to gain international recognition and for that visibility to open up new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and funding. Receiving this award is an important acknowledgment, but what we ultimately want is for these projects to keep growing and for their solutions to reach more places,” said Gustavo Manrique, president and co-founder of Premios Verdes.
The ten winning projects
1. Agriculture and Food Production: BIO CO, Colombia
BIO CO’s regenerative agriculture model involves 39 species. It uses 95% of its waste to produce agricultural inputs and provides 60 formal jobs.
2. Freshwater: AQUARESTAURA, Perú
AQUARESTAURA restores ancestral Andean water systems to improve water availability in Lima. It has rehabilitated 79 kilometers of traditional canals and reports annual groundwater recharge of 13 million cubic meters.
3. Resilient Cities and Communities: The Extraordinary Story of Machu Picchu, Perú
Combining waste management, electric mobility and ecological restoration, the initiative reports an 18.77% reduction in emissions and maintains its certification as a carbon-neutral destination.
4. Human Development: Replantando Vida, Brazil
Linking Atlantic Forest restoration with the social reintegration of incarcerated people in Rio de Janeiro, Replantando Vida has supported planting more than 4.5 million trees and involved over 6,000 people across 25 years.
5. Circular Economy: Biovalor, Brazil
Biovalor turns brewing industry waste into dairy cattle feed through biotechnology. Its pilot model has the potential to reduce feed costs for small-scale livestock farmers by up to 20%.
6. Marine Ecosystems: SOS Biotech, Dominican Republic
SOS Biotech converts sargassum into agricultural inputs. It has recovered more than 30,000 metric tons and created direct employment opportunities for more than 160 fishers.
7. Terrestrial Ecosystems: Salvemos Loma Delgada, Ecuador
The initiative aims to protect 35 hectares of priority habitat in Quilanga for the Ecuadorian viscacha, classified as critically endangered within Ecuador.
8. Energy: Fundación Kara Solar, Ecuador
Its solar-powered electric boats connect Indigenous Amazonian communities, carrying more than 10,000 passengers annually. The system has avoided using 26,000 gallons of gasoline and benefits 53 communities.
9. Finance: Financiamiento Verde para microfinanzas, Perú
Led by Financiera Confianza, the initiative supports sustainable rural production. In 2025, it disbursed between US$16 million and US$17 million through 1,300 green loans, 43% of which went to women.
10. Green Tech: Nanomateriales Waterless para la Higiene Circular, Chile
NANOLIFE develops cleaning concentrates using nanotechnology and agri-food waste. A 25-gram refill can replace a conventional one-liter bottle, reducing water consumption, product transport and single-use packaging.
Special recognition
Fundación Kara Solar received the SDG Recognition, presented jointly with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Galápagos Life Fund selected Eco-Ruta Tortuga, Panama, and Corallium, Ecuador, for a marine expedition combining scientific and hands-on learning, part of the fifth level of the Premios Verdes capacity-building program.
SAMBITO’s Circular Economy Center recognized Economía Circular OLC Group, COOPCOAMA: Amigas del Ambiente and Moneda Social with an immersive experience featuring circular economy models, workshops and business exchanges.
The gala concluded Sustainability Week, held October 19–22, bringing together government, business, academia and international organizations. According to a Premios Verdes impact study, 36% of surveyed projects secured third-party funding after participating, while participants reported a 74% increase in sales.
About Premios Verdes
Premios Verdes is a regional movement that identifies, connects and raises the profile of projects and leaders advancing sustainable solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. Over more than a decade, it has received more than 22,000 project entries from 53 countries, establishing itself as one of the region’s leading gatherings for environmental innovation, social impact and sustainability.
Strategic partners for the 2026 edition are UNDP, VGV Corporate, AENOR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). LATAM Airlines is the official airline; Cielo is the official beverage; BYD | Andor Corporation is the official vehicle partner; ESPOL is the official university; and Enosis Capital is a thematic partner. Banco del Austro and Grupo Vintimilla also participate as category partners.
Corporate partners include Coca-Cola Latin America, Indurama, Artesa, Banco Pichincha, CRISFE, Inhaus Corp., Banco Guayaquil, Graiman, Centro Atenas, Aeropuerto Ecológico Galápagos, Tim Ballard Foundation Ecuador, Hotel Cruz del Vado – Art Hotels, GET, Grupo Futuro, Oletnat, Nutri, Colineal, Vitapro, Ecuagenera, Grupo Danec, Ponce3, República del Cacao, Recicla Electronic, RECOIL and Isirent. Partner organizations also include Centro de Economía Circular, SEGINUS, GTREES and BAPU.
Premios Verdes also has an international jury and an Advisory Board made up of leaders associated with multilateral organizations, development banking, conservation, academia, the private sector and international funds. Its model combines an international call for entries, technical assessment, capacity-building and acceleration programs, visibility, and an international gathering that brings together entrepreneurs, businesses, governments, academia and multilateral organizations to connect solutions, create opportunities and scale their impact.
Omar Dimitrakis
Agencia Dimitrakis
+593 98 790 6373
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Premios Verdes 2026 Awards Ceremony in Cuenca, Ecuador
Why it matters: These ten projects demonstrate that grassroots environmental solutions can scale—and attract real funding. With 36% of past participants securing outside investment and a reported 74% sales increase, the Premios Verdes model shows that recognizing local innovation can unlock the resources needed to tackle Latin America’s most pressing ecological challenges.
