Gentian Secures Share of £6M Innovate UK Funding for AI-Driven Peatland and Open Mosaic Habitat Monitoring
London, UK – [October 4, 2024] – Gentian, a pioneering leader in AI-driven ecological surveys, is thrilled to announce its successful bid for the Environmental Monitoring competition from the UK’s Innovation agency, Innovate UK. The project, titled Eco-Patterns: Ecological Characterisation and Monitoring of Habitats by AI Pattern-Recognition for Policy, Practice, and Emerging Environmental Markets, has been awarded funding as part of a £6M initiative aimed at monitoring environmental change in the UK.
Harnessing AI to Revolutionise Habitat Monitoring
Eco-Patterns will leverage cutting-edge AI and pattern-recognition technology to create a novel tool for the rapid and accurate assessment of ecological habitats, specifically targeting peatlands and Open Mosaic Habitats (OMH). This tool, developed in partnership with the University of East London, West Midlands Combined Authority, BSG Ecology, and the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, will utilise high-resolution satellite data to deliver more comprehensive ecological surveys at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional methods.
Peatlands, a vital carbon sink storing more carbon than all the UK's forests combined, are deteriorating, and this project aims to provide a more accurate and scalable solution for monitoring their condition. Another, key focus, Open Mosaic Habitats (OMH), are dynamic and biodiverse environments characterised by a patchwork of bare ground, grassland, scrub, and wetland, often found on post-industrial or previously disturbed sites. Under the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) framework, they are classified as habitats of high distinctiveness due to their rarity, ecological value, and the range of species they support, making their protection and restoration a priority in development projects.
Daniel White, CEO of Gentian, emphasised the importance of this project for both environmental stewardship and emerging green markets:
“Eco-Patterns represents a significant step forward in ecological monitoring, allowing us to not only respond to the urgent need for more accurate environmental assessments but also to unlock opportunities within emerging environmental markets such as Biodiversity Net Gain and biodiversity credits. This project aligns perfectly with Gentian’s mission of empowering organisations with tools to better understand and protect nature through high-resolution, AI-driven data.”
Supporting National and International Environmental Initiatives
This groundbreaking technology is expected to enhance the UK’s ability to meet critical environmental targets, including those set out in the UK Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and the Convention on Biological Diversity's Montreal Framework. The insights generated by Eco-Patterns will directly support land management and restoration efforts by providing organisations with the tools they need to evaluate and protect key habitats.
Eco-Patterns will also drive commercial growth for Gentian and its partners by addressing a growing demand from urban authorities, land developers, and conservation specialists for scalable environmental monitoring solutions.
Join us in the Future of Sustainable Development
Fill out the form below to learn more about the Eco-Patterns project or our other biodiversity related services and how they could benefit your organisation’s environmental monitoring efforts.
We believe in a greener, more resilient future, and we invite you to join us in this journey.
About Gentian
Gentian empowers organisations with the tools to understand the natural world using high-resolution satellite imagery and AI, helping them manage nature-related risks and opportunities. With a focus on climate resilience, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, Gentian is committed to making information about nature accessible to everyone.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas. For more information, visit www.innovateuk.ukri.org.