Protecting life below water

Our mission is to make biodiversity measurable at a scale, using eDNA technology that measures water (and soil) samples at precise locations. The rich data we get from even a small sample of water gives us a very complete picture of the different organisms and species present.  eDNA is the perfect technology for measuring the complexity of biodiversity. It provides very, very granular data sets. When people have accurate data about biodiversity, they can make better decisions.

Our project with Deutsche Bank is a fantastic example of where corporate partnership can enrich scientific discovery of ocean biodiversity. In addition to sponsoring Germany’s SailGP team, Deutsche Bank is funding eDNA collection by the team at race sites, including Bermuda. The islands of Bermuda are a key migration point for North Atlantic humpback whales.The sample found eDNA of the whales in areas much closer to shore than ever recorded before. This provides new and valuable information for the research of WhalesBermuda, a non-government organisation which is tracing over 2500 humpback whales. Deutsche Bank’s Chief Investment Office recently published this special report on our eDNA data partnership.

Traditional methods for monitoring biodiversity haven’t changed in decades, like quadrat sampling, where species are literally counted by ecologists. This method can effectively generate species-level data but is expensive and time-consuming, relying on trained ecologists or naturalists. There’s also hard-to-detect species. For example, there’s much better data on birds compared with other taxonomies because they’re easier to see and hear. Earth satellite data is also a newer top-down approach and data is useful to track changes of vast areas over time. But it doesn’t yield granular data that way eDNA does.

To help companies stop biodiversity loss, we need to put the right data in the hands of the right people who will make the right decisions.

We’ve distilled the eDNA sampling process to make it simple and accessible for anyone, from children in the community to international companies. Our kits collect soil or water samples. The sample is sent for lab processing. Our eDNA lab is one of the largest in the world.  Scientists analyse the eDNA and use our analytics platform to create a complete picture of life at the collection point. eDNA yields insights because it detects species not easily identifiable, including bacteria and insects. The scalable nature of eDNA makes consistent monitoring over time possible, and standardisation enables robust comparison between sites.

Amazing creatures – from the North Sea to the Amazon! We’ve found a Nawal in the North Sea, pygmy hippos thought to be locally extinct, and Amazon River dolphins. Our data is creating fantastic nature insights, and these discoveries bring to life the power of our technology, as well as enrich the way we understand and interact with the world around us.

An example is our work with oil, gas and mining companies, whose operations have significant impact on nature. We help them monitor operations by providing high-integrity data. In one instance, our data helped identify a species that was thought to be extinct, allowing the company to put in extra conservation steps to protect it. In a separate project, we discovered a migratory species by measuring water samples for a cruise line from their cooling systems. Collecting samples along the path of their ocean route meant we could fill in a lot of data gaps, because the ocean isn’t easily accessible.

One of the most exciting things about eDNA is that it’s standardised and repeatable, like satellite data. We’re currently doing really exciting things with our eDNA data sets and AI to produce actionable metrics that provide real value to decision makers.

We provide biodiversity data that companies need, so they can fully account for their supply chains and make the right decisions for the business and community. With ecosystems under threat, there’s a growing demand for biodiversity measurement around the world. We are growing geographically, and now operate in 110 countries with more than 600 clients. We’ve started working with satellite data and also entering new partnerships such as the Nature Tech Alliance. We’re also thinking how we cater to regulation and initiatives like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

This page was published in November 2024.