The BC+ Challenge accelerates emerging blue carbon business models within four blue carbon priority ecosystems: mangrove, tidal marsh, seagrass and macroalgae.
All participants were selected for their profitable structure and ecosystem forward model – creating strong incentives for both businesses and communities to conserve and regenerate blue carbon ecosystems, supporting increased carbon sequestration, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity recovery.
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The 2025 edition of the BC+ Challenge was held in Singapore from 5–8 May, 2025. On the final day, six of the 10 teams were selected to present their solutions to a room of investors. Three were awarded USD $50,000 in grant funding. The grantees include:
- Mapape Co-operative Society – which blends mangrove and seagrass restoration in Tanzania with livelihoods like sea cucumber farming, crab fattening and mangrove beekeeping – won the community-led enterprise category
- Mena Tsook – a social enterprise in Madagascar that transforms sea urchins into eco-friendly cosmetics and décor, while restoring seagrass meadows – won the pilot stage category
- Phyto Corporation – which restores salt-affected coastal areas of Mexico with Salicornia crops, generating blue carbon credits and food and ingredients products – won the scaling stage category.
- Additional participants included:
- Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration for Community Empowerment (MERCY) – which combines mangrove restoration with silvofishery, Nypa sugar, and broomstick production for local markets.
- Community Centered Conservation (C3) – which develops community-owned sea cucumber aquaculture within restored seagrass meadows.
- Sambung Asa – combines seaweed, shrimp and milkfish farming with mangrove restoration.
- Kalayaan Seafood Farm & RKG Agri-Trading –focuses on grouper farming combined with mangrove restoration.
- Carbon Ethics – integrates mangrove restoration with sustainable shrimp farming to enhance coastal community incomes.
- Regenerative Development of Anlo Wetlands (ReDaw) – combines regenerative aquaculture, halophyte farming, and apiculture to restore mangroves and diversify incomes.
- Mangrove-Crab Labs – transforms abandoned fish and shrimp ponds into productive silvofishery systems integrated with mangrove restoration.
If you have questions regarding the BC+ Challenge, please contact: Sarah Karner, Hatch Blue marketing manager - sarah@hatch.blue. For more information on Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy’s Blue Carbon Plus organisation, please contact: info@bcplus.org
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