TLDR: Six pioneering AI and data-driven projects, backed by £2 million in pilot funding from Innovate UK, have demonstrated significant real-world environmental impact and successfully attracted further investment. These initiatives, part of a larger £7 million program, are leveraging advanced technology to address critical challenges from coastal erosion to peatland restoration, proving the commercial viability and effectiveness of nature-positive solutions.
Six cutting-edge projects, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and data, have showcased remarkable real-world gains and secured additional investment after receiving an initial £2 million in pilot funding from Innovate UK. These initiatives are part of the broader £7 million ‘Integrating Finance and Biodiversity for a Nature-Positive Future’ (IFB) programme, led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), aimed at accelerating and commercializing solutions for pressing environmental challenges.
Each of the selected projects received grants ranging from £250,000 to £500,000. Catherine Makin, Innovation Lead for Green Finance at Innovate UK, highlighted the success, stating, “Each project addresses a crucial environmental need — from coastal conservation to water resilience and peatland restoration. We’re delighted to see real progress in unlocking nature-positive investment, and the fact that several projects have already attracted follow-on funding speaks volumes.”
The projects are already demonstrating powerful use cases and gaining commercial traction:
Ocean Ledger has significantly enhanced its geospatial analytics system. This platform forecasts coastal erosion and infrastructure decay, providing crucial insights for insurers, councils, and engineering firms to anticipate sea level rise and storm surge damage. The company has since been selected for Lloyd’s Lab, a leading UK insurtech accelerator.
TierraSphere, in collaboration with the University of Huddersfield, developed a proprietary AI-driven Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) model. This model forecasts areas likely to produce the highest inorganic carbon sequestration from natural oxalate inputs in soils, successfully restoring 40 hectares in a rural Mexico project. Future developments will integrate positive social impact, biodiversity, and water retention metrics.
Auquan, partnered with University College London, has created an agentic AI platform capable of processing and analyzing complex geospatial nature datasets. Initial feedback indicates significant time savings and improved accuracy in environmental risk evaluation, enhancing the speed and depth of nature-positive due diligence in investment decisions.
Caledonian Climate Partners, working with New Gradient, launched a drone-based AI platform that streamlines the planning and costing of peatland restoration. This tool has already secured a mapping contract with the Cairngorms National Park Authority and contributes to the goals outlined by the IUCN Peatland Programme.
City Science Corporation, in conjunction with Caerphilly County Borough Council, delivered a digital land assessment tool. This tool helps embed natural capital thinking into local planning processes, actively being used to counter habitat loss and promote biodiversity in future development decisions.
Zulu Ecosystems, alongside Severn Trent, developed a suite of land use optimization tools. These models demonstrate how nature-based interventions can improve flood resilience, drought response, and water quality, with their River Idle catchment model identifying areas for habitat restoration that also support carbon, biodiversity, and water management targets.
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Several of these ventures are actively engaged in discussions with investors, while others have already secured pilot projects or formal contracts, underscoring the commercial viability and impactful potential of AI in addressing critical environmental challenges.
