News

From art and intellectual property to regenerative beekeeping, family farming, and digital education, four projects from different Latin American countries are demonstrating how technology can transform realities. Within the framework of the Early Adopters Blockchain LATAM Program, driven by RedCLARA and LNET, these projects leverage the BELLA II Blockchain Testbed to develop solutions that integrate technological innovation, sustainability, and social development, generating tangible benefits for their communities.

The Early Adopters Blockchain LATAM Program launched its call for proposals at the end of September, receiving 13 submissions from seven countries in the region. Of these, four projects were selected to advance to the next phase and are currently in the immersion stage, developing their MVPs (minimum viable products) using the potential of the BELLA II Blockchain Testbed provided by RedCLARA and LNET, along with the supporting ecosystem. The goal is to transform their proposals into real, scalable solutions with regional impact.

The first selected project, “Authorship and Ownership Validator”, led from Colombia by the Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, in collaboration with the University of Chile and the International Design Network (enREDo), aims to ensure that artistic and academic works are authentic and that their creators are recognized. To achieve this, the project uses digital technology that securely verifies the ownership of each work. Additionally, universities will be able to issue unique digital certificates that validate authorship, creating a trusted space where art, innovation, and technology come together to support creators.

From rural areas of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, the Colmena DAO project works to strengthen sustainable and inclusive beekeeping. Led by Philippe Boland and José Zárate, it combines digital tools with community participation to track honey production, organize democratic decision-making, and economically empower women and youth in these communities.

In the agricultural sector, the Smart AGRO RAF LATAM project, led by Rodrigo Brandão Mansilha with support from the University of Antioquia, Colombia, seeks to enhance transparency and sustainability in family farming. Through digital systems that record all production, the project ensures that products comply with regulations and are fairly valued, facilitating access for small farmers to local and international markets.

From Mexico, the team formed by the University of Guadalajara and the company KeepReading leads the project “Microcredentialing as an Emerging Interaction System.” The initiative aims to improve how learning achievements are recognized and validated in the region, using a digital “educational wallet” where students can securely store their accomplishments. These verifiable digital credentials, based on international standards, promote a more open, trustworthy education system that supports academic and professional mobility, allowing students to carry proof of their knowledge safely and reliably.

Over six weeks, the teams will develop, simulate, and validate their solutions within the BELLA II Testbed infrastructure provided by LNET and RedCLARA, and will participate in mentorship sessions covering blockchain best practices, value strategy, go-to-market approaches, and effective communication.

The Early Adopters Program, along with RedCLARA and LNET, is an initiative designed to strengthen blockchain adoption in Latin America’s academic and scientific ecosystem. It supports teams in the design, validation, and development of pilots in a safe, scalable, and regulated environment.

The Blockchain Testbed provides a secure, collaborative, and internationally recognized environment to test, scale, and validate Web3, academic, institutional, or enterprise solutions with specialized technical support. It is available to universities, startups, innovation labs, or public institutions. The BELLA II Testbed from LNET and RedCLARA allows experimentation with blockchain technology under the highest standards, access to technical mentoring, and flexible membership options tailored to project goals.