#USA #Washington #UNDP #Nature Intelligence #TNFD

Nature Intelligence for Business Grand Challenge Unveils Finalists

On February 25, 2026, a significant announcement was made regarding the Nature Intelligence for Business Grand Challenge, organized by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), Conservation X Labs (CXL), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This global competition is dedicated to promoting practical tools that enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to comprehend and manage their reliance on nature as well as their impact on it.

This Grand Challenge will distribute a collective prize pool of $100,000, aimed at accelerating solutions that embody actionable 'nature intelligence' as per the TNFD's LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, and Prepare) methodology. Winning teams will garner the opportunity to collaborate with TNFD, CXL, UNDP, and various partners to enhance their solutions and foster real-world adoption.

In recent years, the importance of nature as a critical business concern has been increasingly acknowledged. Issues such as water availability, soil health, and ecological factors—such as pollination and coastal protection—pose risks for businesses under the threats of climate change and other hazards like flooding and droughts. With the degradation of ecosystems and declining biodiversity, there is mounting pressure on companies and investors to assess their dependencies on nature, identify impacts, risks, and opportunities.

By adopting the TNFD's LEAP methodology, businesses can approach these nature-related challenges in a systematic way. However, smaller businesses often face limitations in resources and expertise, making it harder to apply and implement such frameworks effectively.

The Nature Intelligence for Business Grand Challenge aims to bridge this gap by surfacing innovations that minimize costs, complexities, and implementation time while yielding credible, actionable outputs consistent with the TNFD's recommended metrics.

Tony Goldner, CEO of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, highlighted the importance of this initiative: "Every business, no matter its size—whether it’s a family-owned farm, a mid-sized construction firm, or a large retailer—has dependencies and impacts on nature which can significantly influence risks and opportunities for themselves and their customers downstream. The definition of nature intelligence can truly revolutionize business strategy. We are excited to see over 380 applications submitted to this Grand Challenge and are eager to discover the innovative solutions our finalists will propose to meet the demands of the world’s 300 million SMEs."

The twelve finalists selected from a diverse global pool represent a multitude of approaches designed to cater to the unique challenges faced by SMEs. Their innovative solutions include:

• - Darwin Data (France): A digital platform that analyzes basic geographical and product-related inputs to provide actionable insights.
• - Dunya Analytics (USA): A platform focused on helping businesses identify vulnerabilities related to nature and prioritizing their investments.
• - IDEEA Group (Australia): Experts in natural capital accounting, aiming to quantify the benefits of nature for improved environmental reporting and decision-making.
• - Innovanalisis (Colombia): A GIS-based solution that allows businesses to view nature as a strategic asset through relevant monitoring indicators.
• - Fair Trade USA (USA): Their focus is on a user-friendly, low-tech method to adapt the TNFD's LEAP strategy for agricultural SMEs.
• - GeoXpr (France): This tool automates nature-risk intelligence assessments that comply with TNFD guidelines, making it accessible to SMEs with limited data and expertise.
• - Kuyua (Germany): Leveraging AI to help businesses navigate risks linked to biodiversity loss and climate change.
• - LandPrint (USA): This initiative involves specialists who create a data intelligence platform evaluating nature-related risks and opportunities for businesses.
• - Marvin (Brazil): Their AI-powered supply chain infrastructure aims to mitigate risks and enhance trust and market access.
• - Mozaic Earth (UK): A platform that allows SMEs to utilize smartphones for on-site ecosystem assessments.
• - Prismo (Germany): This company merges geospatial insights with AI to provide clients with scientifically based nature risk assessments.
• - Space Eagle Enterprises (South Africa): Offering products that integrate broadband connectivity with advanced Earth-observation intelligence.

Maxim Vergeichik, Head of Nature Investments at UNDP, expressed his excitement regarding the finalists: "After a rigorous selection process, we've identified twelve finalists that reflect diverse backgrounds, including developing nations and regions rich in biodiversity. We are eager to explore these solutions in real-world contexts and evaluate their scalability and applicability."

As these finalists continue their journey through the Grand Challenge, they will refine their approaches to deliver credible nature intelligence that aligns with the LEAP methodology. This will support business resilience, meet supply-chain requirements, and respond to evolving disclosure expectations in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

For more information on the Nature Intelligence for Business Grand Challenge and the finalists, visit the respective organizers' websites.