A Problem Hidden in Plain Sight

In the outskirts of São Paulo, Jorge Mendes grew up surrounded by farmland — and mountains of agricultural waste. Every harvest season brought the same sight: heaps of crop residue left to rot or burn, releasing methane and CO₂ into the air.

As a mechanical engineer, Jorge wondered: What if all that waste could power the very communities that produced it? That question led to the founding of BioNova, a company converting organic waste into clean biogas and electricity.

Building a Circular System

BioNova’s solution began with a simple modular biodigester. Farmers could feed it with leftover crop material, animal manure, or organic waste from local markets. The system then produced biogas for cooking, heating, and electricity generation — closing the loop between waste and energy.

To make adoption easier, BioNova designed the units to be portable, low-cost, and scalable, meaning communities didn’t need to overhaul their infrastructure.

Empowering Communities

Early pilots in rural Brazil demonstrated striking results. Within six months, participating farms were producing enough biogas to power small irrigation pumps and community kitchens. Waste that once emitted greenhouse gases was now fueling livelihoods.

“People began to see waste not as a problem,” Jorge recalls, “but as a source of independence.”

The Impact

Today, BioNova diverts over 500 tons of waste per month, generating clean power for more than 2,000 households across South America. The company’s approach embodies the spirit of a circular economy — where nothing is wasted, and everything contributes to resilience.

A Scalable Vision

With support from early-stage climate investors, BioNova is scaling into East Africa, adapting its tech to suit different climates and agricultural contexts. For Jorge, it’s a simple equation: “Waste is universal. So is the opportunity to turn it into something good.”