Farmers lack real-time, reliable data on the carbon their land is sequestering and the overall condition of their soil, preventing proper care of the soil and lowering the yield on farming profits.
This is the total amount allocated to The Malama Project IoT Sensor Development.
We will develop IoT sensors to provide real-time data on carbon sequestration and soil health, enabling farmers to verify carbon credits and improve land management practices.
We depend on reliable third-party sensor manufacturers, data analytics platforms, and certification bodies for carbon credits to ensure accurate data collection and verification.
The entire process of building the devices, and the code to recreate our system will be open source and available to the public. The only thing that will not be open-sourced are relevant keys and other forms of encryption, to ensure data safey.
Solution Overview
Our proposed solution is to deploy a comprehensive IoT sensor network across Hawaii’s small farms to monitor and collect real-time environmental data critical for carbon sequestration verification. By integrating advanced IoT sensors with Cardano’s blockchain technology, we aim to create a transparent, verifiable system that empowers small landowners to participate in global carbon markets while improving their land's sustainability and productivity.
How Do You Perceive the Problem You Are Solving?
The problem we aim to solve is twofold:
Lack of Verifiable Data for Carbon Sequestration:
Many small-scale landowners in Hawaii are already practicing sustainable land management techniques, but they lack the ability to collect and present verifiable data on their carbon sequestration efforts. Without this data, they are excluded from the global carbon markets, preventing them from monetizing their sustainable practices.
Inaccessible Tools for Small Farmers:
The tools and technologies required to monitor environmental conditions, such as soil health, moisture levels, and temperature, are either too expensive or complicated for small farmers to access. This limits their ability to make data-driven decisions that would benefit both their land and the environment.
Our Approach and Why It’s Effective
Our solution addresses these issues by equipping farms with affordable, easy-to-deploy IoT sensors that monitor critical environmental metrics such as soil temperature, moisture levels, and biochar impact. These sensors provide actionable insights to farmers. The entire system is built on Cardano’s blockchain, ensuring that all data is securely stored, verifiable, and transparent, enabling farmers to demonstrate their contributions to carbon sequestration efforts.
Key reasons for approaching the problem this way include:
Who Will Benefit from This Solution?
The primary beneficiaries are small landowners and farmers in Hawaii. By participating in the project, they will gain access to real-time environmental data, allowing them to make informed decisions about their land management practices. Additionally, they will have a direct pathway to monetize their carbon sequestration efforts by trading carbon credits, providing them with a new revenue stream.
The Cardano ecosystem will benefit from showcasing a real-world use case of blockchain technology in environmental sustainability. By facilitating transparent and verifiable carbon credit trading on its platform, Cardano can position itself as a leader in decentralized environmental solutions.
By incentivizing sustainable practices, the project contributes to global carbon reduction efforts. The widespread adoption of biochar and other regenerative farming techniques will improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and sequester carbon over the long term.
How Will You Demonstrate and Prove Your Impact?
We will measure the success of this project through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics:
Data from IoT Sensors:
We will track and report the environmental data collected by the sensors, including soil moisture, temperature, and carbon content. This will serve as the primary proof of carbon sequestration efforts on each farm.
Blockchain Transactions:
By using Cardano’s blockchain, we can track all transactions related to the creation and trading of carbon credits. This will ensure that all processes are transparent, verifiable, and secure, further proving the efficacy of the system.
Economic Benefits:
We will document the financial benefits farmers receive from trading carbon credits, demonstrating how this solution provides a tangible, long-term economic impact for local communities.
What Is Unique About Your Solution?
Our solution is unique in several ways:
While many carbon sequestration efforts rely on manual data collection or external audits, our solution automates the process by collecting real-time data from IoT sensors and securely storing it on the blockchain. This combination of technologies provides unmatched transparency and accuracy, reducing costs and eliminating the need for intermediaries.
The system is designed to be scalable, allowing it to be deployed across a wide range of farm sizes and types. Our focus on affordability and ease of use ensures that even small, family-owned farms can participate in the project without requiring significant upfront investment or technical expertise.
Most carbon markets are dominated by large corporations or landowners with vast resources. By empowering small-scale farmers to participate, we democratize access to carbon credits, creating a more inclusive, decentralized solution.
In addition to carbon sequestration, the project emphasizes the importance of soil health. By monitoring and improving soil conditions through biochar and regenerative practices, farmers not only contribute to climate change mitigation but also improve their crop yields and food quality over time.
Why This Is Important to Cardano
This project demonstrates how Cardano’s blockchain can be used to drive real-world environmental and economic impact. By enabling transparent, decentralized verification of carbon credits, Cardano plays a pivotal role in scaling sustainable practices globally. The project aligns with Cardano’s broader mission to support decentralized systems that deliver societal and ecological benefits. Additionally, it showcases the flexibility of the Cardano ecosystem, proving its ability to support a wide range of use cases, from financial solutions to environmental conservation.
Impact
Our solution combines IoT technology with Cardano’s blockchain to create a transparent, verifiable system for monitoring soil health and carbon sequestration on small farms. By equipping farms with IoT sensors, we collect real-time data on environmental factors like soil health and carbon capture. This data will be securely stored on the Cardano blockchain, ensuring transparency and trust while incentivizing sustainable practices. Our project empowers farmers by providing them with actionable insights that encourage environmentally friendly practices.
Positive Impact on the Cardano Community
This project showcases Cardano’s technical capabilities and demonstrates its potential to solve real-world environmental challenges.
Impact Metrics
We will measure the success of the project using both quantitative and qualitative metrics:
Value to the Cardano Community
Measuring Impact
We will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess impact:
Sharing Outputs and Opportunities
By integrating IoT data collection with Cardano’s transparent and secure blockchain, we address pressing environmental challenges while demonstrating the platform’s innovative potential. This project not only benefits farmers and the environment but positions Cardano as a leader in blockchain-driven sustainability, driving adoption and reinforcing its role in global climate action.
Capability & Feasibility
Team Expertise and Experience
The Malama Project team is comprised of experts with specialized skills in blockchain technology, IoT hardware development, and sustainable agriculture, which together create a comprehensive foundation for successfully delivering this project.
Our blockchain team brings deep expertise in the Cardano ecosystem, particularly in Plutus smart contracts, decentralized applications (dApps), and secure blockchain integration. Their experience with Cardano ensures that the platform’s capabilities are fully leveraged to handle complex data management, verification, and tokenization processes essential for issuing carbon credits.
We have a team of experienced IoT engineers who have successfully designed and deployed sensor networks in real-world agricultural environments. Their focus on sensor precision, data reliability, and durability in various soil and climate conditions guarantees that the data collected from the sensors is accurate and actionable for carbon sequestration measurements.
Our team includes agronomists and environmental scientists with deep knowledge of soil health, carbon sequestration techniques, and biochar application. Their expertise ensures that the project’s agricultural practices are optimized for both environmental sustainability and carbon credit generation. This expertise will drive the meaningful impact we aim to deliver to local Hawaiian farmers and global environmental efforts.
Our project managers have extensive experience in leading large-scale interdisciplinary projects that span multiple domains such as technology, agriculture, and blockchain. They will ensure the efficient coordination of resources, timely delivery of milestones, and strict adherence to budgets. With a solid track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget, they are integral to the successful execution of this initiative.
Proven Track Record
The Malama Project team has successfully delivered previous initiatives in blockchain-based carbon sequestration and IoT-driven agricultural monitoring, both of which have set a strong foundation for this project. For instance, our past work in the tokenization of carbon credits has demonstrated our ability to merge advanced technology with sustainability goals, providing valuable insights that will be applied to this new venture.
Additionally, the team's experience with deploying IoT sensor networks for monitoring environmental conditions has equipped us with the skills necessary to deliver a highly scalable solution that directly benefits small farmers while ensuring transparency through the Cardano blockchain.
Trust and Accountability
To ensure high levels of trust and accountability, the Malama Project is built upon principles of transparency, secure fund management, and independent oversight:
We follow an open and inclusive governance model that encourages stakeholder participation in decision-making processes. Regular updates, community feedback, and detailed progress reports will ensure that all stakeholders are informed and involved at every stage of the project.
A dedicated finance team will oversee all budgeting and financial management. We implement strict budgeting practices and provide regular financial reporting to stakeholders to ensure funds are managed responsibly. We will engage independent auditors to review and verify financial records and processes to ensure the project’s compliance with best practices.
Utilizing the Cardano blockchain guarantees the immutability and transparency of all carbon-related data. This ensures that every step of the carbon credit creation process is securely recorded, tamper-proof, and publicly verifiable. By using blockchain technology, we foster trust among all stakeholders, including farmers, environmental organizations, and potential buyers of carbon credits.
Steps to Validate Feasibility
Prototype Testing:
System Integration:
Third-Party Verification:
Pilot Program:
Scalability Planning:
Financial Management and Fund Oversight
Managing project funds responsibly is of the utmost importance to us, and we have implemented the following practices to ensure financial transparency and accountability:
Work Completed and Proof of Concept
As part of the Malama Project, we have already begun testing solar-powered IoT sensors, which collect real-time environmental data such as soil and air temperature and humidity. These sensors are designed to operate independently using solar energy, making them sustainable and scalable for small farms. Our current tests focus on monitoring changes in soil and air conditions before and after biochar application. By collecting this data, we aim to track improvements in soil health and carbon sequestration, which will be critical for assessing environmental impact.
The sensor data is securely reported to the Cardano blockchain, ensuring transparency and verifiability. You can view real-time data from our ongoing tests at the following link:
[Proof of Concept - Real World Results](https://nana-frontend.vercel.app/dagwell-test)
This early-stage testing demonstrates the feasibility of the system and its potential to empower farmers with actionable insights while contributing to the Cardano ecosystem by providing verifiable environmental metrics on-chain.
Sensor Design and Prototyping
Pilot Deployment on Farms
Data Integration and Blockchain Testing
The Malama Project Team
The Malama Project team consists of seasoned professionals with extensive expertise in blockchain technology, sustainable development, design, compliance, and marketing. Our collective experience and dedication ensure the successful development and deployment of the Hawaii Farmer Carbon Credit App, seamlessly integrating it into the existing Malama Project framework.
Jeffrey Wise - Project Lead
Role: Oversees overall project development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning.
Responsibilities:
Background:
Jeffrey is an entrepreneur and co-founder of the Malama Project, bringing a robust background in real estate, agroforestry, and blockchain innovation. His leadership in sustainable agriculture and community development on Maui has been pivotal in advancing the Malama Project’s mission.
Derrick "Alpine" Oatway - Full Stack Developer/Engineer
Role: Responsible for front and backend app development, user interface implementation, and middleware integration.
Responsibilities:
Background:
Derrick is a visionary full-stack developer and blockchain advocate, co-founder of the Malama Project. His work focuses on creating innovative tools that empower farmers and communities in Hawaii to manage their sustainable agricultural efforts.
Dominick "Dagwell" Garey - Full Stack Cardano Developer
Role: Manages blockchain integration, smart contract development, and NFT issuance.
Responsibilities:
Background:
Dominick is an expert in the Cardano ecosystem, specializing in Plutus smart contracts and decentralized applications. As a co-founder of Gotchi Labs LLC, Dagwell has a proven track record in integrating decentralized technologies with real-world applications.
Wyatt Sharpley - Marketing Director
Role: Handles community outreach and user acquisition efforts.
Responsibilities:
Background:
Wyatt is an experienced professional with expertise in digital marketing, brand development, and community engagement, ensuring the project attracts and retains a robust user base and partnerships.
Paul Apao - Co-Project Lead, Eco-Friendly Farming Expert / Hawaii Landowner
Role: Provides insights into sustainable farming practices, assists with landowner engagement, and leads the use of heavy machinery in land management.
Responsibilities:
Background:
Paul is an experienced farmer and advocate for eco-friendly agriculture in Hawaii, bringing practical knowledge of sustainable farming practices, heavy machinery operation, and strong connections with the local landowner community. His expertise in managing heavy machinery enhances the project’s ability to efficiently prepare land for biochar production and carbon sequestration.
Budget for 35 Units of Sensors and Equipment
Total Cost for 35 Units of Sensors and Equipment: $23,113.65
Additional Budget Elements
Total Estimated Budget
Grand Total: $46,713.65
Value for Money
The Malama Project offers a cost-effective, scalable solution that empowers small landowners with access to verifiable carbon credits, promoting sustainability through IoT sensor technology and Cardano’s blockchain. This integration ensures transparency, security, and efficiency in carbon credit verification, creating real-world impact while demonstrating Cardano’s value in addressing global environmental challenges.
Cost Justification
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Supporting Cardano Ecosystem
Measuring Value for Money
The Malama Project maximizes value for money by addressing economic, environmental, and community challenges in a scalable, efficient way. It leverages Cardano’s blockchain to deliver real-world impact, positioning the platform as a leader in decentralized sustainability solutions.