Ten Latin American projects win Premios Verdes 2026

Ten projects from six Latin American countries were recognized at Premios Verdes 2026 in Cuenca, Ecuador, for work on water, biodiversity, pollution, energy and inclusion. The awards drew 2,087 entries from 29 countries and highlighted projects that could unlock funding, visibility and scale.

Why it matters: - The awards spotlight projects tackling urgent environmental and social problems across Latin America, from water scarcity and biodiversity loss to clean energy and financial inclusion. - Premios Verdes positions the winners for international visibility, collaboration and possible funding. - The 2026 edition drew 2,087 entries from 29 countries and 613 cities, showing broad regional competition for sustainability recognition.

What happened: - Ten projects from Colombia, Perú, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Chile won the 11th edition of Premios Verdes at a gala in Cuenca, Ecuador. - The winners were selected from 52 finalists representing 12 countries after a technical assessment and review by an international jury. - The awards covered ten categories: agriculture and food production, freshwater, resilient cities and communities, human development, circular economy, marine ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems, energy, finance and green tech.

The details: - BIO CO of Colombia won in agriculture and food production with a regenerative agriculture model involving 39 species, 95% waste reuse for agricultural inputs and 60 formal jobs. - AQUARESTAURA of Perú won in freshwater for restoring ancestral Andean water systems in Lima, rehabilitating 79 kilometers of traditional canals and reporting annual groundwater recharge of 13 million cubic meters. - The Extraordinary Story of Machu Picchu in Perú won in resilient cities and communities after combining waste management, electric mobility and ecological restoration; the initiative reports an 18.77% emissions reduction and retains carbon-neutral destination certification. - Replantando Vida in Brazil won in human development by linking Atlantic Forest restoration with the social reintegration of incarcerated people in Rio de Janeiro; the project says it has supported planting more than 4.5 million trees and involved over 6,000 people over 25 years. - Biovalor in Brazil won in circular economy for turning brewing industry waste into dairy cattle feed through biotechnology; its pilot model could cut feed costs for small-scale livestock farmers by up to 20%. - SOS Biotech in the Dominican Republic won in marine ecosystems after converting sargassum into agricultural inputs, recovering more than 30,000 metric tons and creating direct jobs for more than 160 fishers. - Salvemos Loma Delgada in Ecuador won in terrestrial ecosystems with a plan to protect 35 hectares of priority habitat in Quilanga for the Ecuadorian viscacha, which is classified as critically endangered within Ecuador. - Fundación Kara Solar in Ecuador won in energy for solar-powered electric boats that connect Indigenous Amazonian communities, carry more than 10,000 passengers a year, avoid 26,000 gallons of gasoline and serve 53 communities. - Financiamiento Verde para microfinanzas in Perú, led by Financiera Confianza, won in finance for supporting sustainable rural production; in 2025, the initiative disbursed between US$16 million and US$17 million through 1,300 green loans, and 43% went to women. - NANOLIFE of Chile won in green tech for cleaning concentrates made with nanotechnology and agri-food waste; a 25-gram refill can replace a conventional one-liter bottle and reduce water use, transport and single-use packaging.

Between the lines: - Gustavo Manrique, president and co-founder of Premios Verdes, said the goal is to help projects gain recognition that can lead to collaboration, knowledge-sharing and funding. - The awards are designed as more than a trophy moment. The program also uses technical review, capacity-building, acceleration and an international gathering to help projects scale. - Premios Verdes says its impact study found 36% of surveyed projects secured third-party funding after participating, while participants reported a 74% increase in sales.

What's next: - The winning projects now enter a visibility pipeline that could help them attract partners, investors and institutional support. - Premios Verdes will continue its year-round model of call for entries, technical assessment, capacity-building and international networking ahead of future editions. - Special recognition from the 2026 gala may also expand exposure for selected projects, including Fundación Kara Solar’s SDG Recognition and the marine expedition selections backed by Galápagos Life Fund.

The bottom line: - Premios Verdes 2026 used a regional awards platform to turn local sustainability projects into potential cross-border solutions with funding and scale-up prospects.