Latest news with #Dimitra
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Agri-Tech Firm Dimitra Partners With MANTRA to Bring Cacao, Carbon Credits onto the Blockchain
Dimitra, a blockchain-based agricultural technology company, has partnered with Layer 1 blockchain platform MANTRA to bring real-world agricultural assets on-chain. Jon Trask, Dimitra's founder CEO, told CoinDesk at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas last week that the partnership aims to eventually bring a billion dollars worth of agricultural assets, starting with cacao in Brazil and carbon credits in Mexico, onto MANTRA's blockchain. Trask added that the two pilot projects with MANTRA are currently small in scale — in Brazil, only 25 of the 374 cocoa farmers in Brazil's so-called 'cocoa pole' in the southern region of Roraima are currently signed up to participate — but could be expanded 'indefinitely' with enough investor interest. Through the partnership, MANTRA holders will be able to invest directly in smallholder farmers, providing funding for a variety of regenerative agricultural projects in a way that is made traceable and verifiable by the blockchain. Trask estimated that investors could see between a 10-30% return on their investments annually, which he clarified was a a projected range based on preliminary modeling — with agriculture comes risks like pests and drought which could impact yield, he added. Trask said that Dimitra is still in the process of integrating the two pilot programs with MANTRA, but expects that holders of MANTRA's native OM token will be able to invest in the projects within the next couple of months. Dimitra's announcement comes a month after MANTRA took a beating. Its OM token plummeted 90% in a flash-crash in April. Since the crash, OM has hovered around $0.34 — a far cry from its height of $8.47 in February. Asked why Dimitra went forward on a partnership with MANTRA following the fallout, Trask said that the deal pre-dated the crash, but admitted it initially gave him pause. 'We made the deal many months ago,' Trask told CoinDesk. 'Then they had their crash, and we all took a pause to reassess to ensure we were making the best decisions for the long-term benefit of the community and projects amid a time of volatility.' But ultimately Trask decided to move forward with the partnership, telling CoinDesk that, when the dust settled, he still found the fundamental reasons for the partnership to hold true: MANTRA had a strong team, he said, the real-world asset (RWA) development was sound, and he was impressed by their virtual asset service provider (VASP) license, granted by Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), which it obtained earlier this year. MANTRA has done a number of RWA tokenization projects in the Middle East, including tokenizing $500 million worth of real estate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a Dubai-based real estate group. 'Tokenizing agriculture isn't just about innovation, it's about finding solutions to real-world issues long associated with food supply — at scale — and for long-term impact,' said John Patrick Mullin, CEO of MANTRA, in a press release shared with CoinDesk. 'Dimitra is solving real-world problems, with a focus on traceability and transparency — and we're proud to help bring those to a wider audience. MANTRA Chain was built to support projects like these.' Sign in to access your portfolio
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Dimitra and MANTRA Partner to Tokenize Real-World Agricultural Assets for Real Impact
DUBAI, UAE, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- Dimitra, a global leader in agriculture technology and sustainability solutions - that leverages blockchain and artificial intelligence to support farmers - has partnered with MANTRA, a layer 1 blockchain platform focused on real-world assets (RWAs). This collaboration aims to bring green agricultural assets onchain, offering innovative ways for farmers to finance their activities, and enable global investors to engage in sustainable value creation. Dimitra uses blockchain and artificial intelligence to help smallholder farmers boost productivity and build more resilient agricultural systems. MANTRA brings a secure, regulation-friendly blockchain designed for tokenizing real-world assets, across real estate, commodities, and agriculture. Together, they will unlock new pathways to connect high-impact farming projects with investors seeking transparent, asset-backed opportunities that deliver both returns and positive change. The first phase of the partnership will focus on cacao production in the Amazon region of Brazil and carbon credit projects in Mexico. In Brazil, Dimitra is working with smallholder farmers to improve cacao yields through the Connected Cacao platform, designed to provide tools for soil analysis, crop monitoring, AI technical assistance and regenerative best practices. Cacao is a high-demand crop, especially among chocolate producers. Tokenizing cacao-based RWAs can open new paths for financing infrastructure, traceability and farmer incentives, making the entire value chain more profitable and transparent. In Mexico, Dimitra and MANTRA will leverage Dimitra's carbon monitoring tools to support a forest conservation project covering over 20,000 hectares, with the potential to generate nearly one million carbon credits in the next ten years. These efforts will produce 100% traceable carbon credits, making it easier to verify, trade and invest. As the global demand for carbon credits continues to rise, tokenization of carbon projects offers a path to broader access and greater impact. While the initial projects will focus on Brazil and Mexico, this partnership will establish a framework for tokenizing agricultural projects worldwide. Dimitra's portfolio includes dozens of agricultural projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Many of these projects are economically sound, but struggle to attract funding. With MANTRA's infrastructure, these initiatives can be turned into investable opportunities that appeal to a growing number of people and institutions looking to make a real impact with real returns. "This partnership is about unlocking new value from the real economy," said Jon Trask, CEO of Dimitra. "Through MANTRA's platform, we'll be able to turn powerful, regenerative agricultural projects into accessible investment opportunities, benefiting both farmers and investors." "Tokenizing agriculture isn't just about innovation, it's about finding solutions to real-world issues long associated with food supply - at scale - and for long-term impact," said John Patrick Mullin, CEO of MANTRA. "Dimitra is solving real-world problems, with a focus on traceability and transparency - and we're proud to help bring those to a wider audience. MANTRA Chain was built to support projects like these." The partnership follows a string of strong developments from MANTRA, which continues to build momentum in the real-world asset space. Earlier this year, MANTRA was awarded the first DeFi license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to operate as a Virtual Asset Exchange, as well as provide Broker-Dealer and Management and Investment Services. It also launched the RWAccelerator - a start-up program for builders and startups supported by Google Cloud. Dimitra is a leading AI and blockchain-based platform for AgTech driving productive, intelligent and inclusive farming. Dimitra empowers farmers to make their processes smarter through actionable data-driven insights. Now working with farmers and co-ops across 35 countries, Dimitra's AI-driven solutions equip farmers, agribusinesses, and governments with cutting-edge technology to combat deforestation, increase yields, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. Dimitra ensures seamless access to precision agriculture, supply chain transparency, carbon credit generation, and regulatory compliance. About Mantra MANTRA is a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain for real-world assets, capable of adherence to real-world regulatory requirements. As a permissionless chain, MANTRA Chain empowers developers and institutions to seamlessly participate in the evolving RWA tokenization space by offering advanced technology modules, compliance mechanisms, and cross-chain interoperability. MANTRA holds a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), to operate as a Virtual Asset Exchange, as well as provide Broker-Dealer and Management and Investment Services.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TransCrypts Wins Pitchfest at Consensus Hong Kong
Four and half years ago, when Zain Zaidi was applying to grad school, he submitted his academic transcripts. But, through an administrative error, the documents were lost, and he almost lost his place. Understanding how someone's life could be altered by not being able to prove something like an academic credential, Zaidi set out to try and make it easier. Instead of going to grad school, Zaidi started TransCrypts, which helps companies verify employment information. The blockchain-powered startup recently won CoinDesk's Pitchfest at Consensus Hong Kong. Zaidi says if we're not able to prove data about ourselves, we give up something important about who we are. 'We as consumers can't actually verify who we are, own who we are,' Zaidi told CoinDesk Live after walking off stage. TransCrypts gives individuals 'self-sovereignty' over their ID information, proving their information on-chain. Zaidi told us the business already generates about $5 million in annual revenue. After employment information, the startup is now expanding into medical records and academic records. TransCrypts picked up $10,000 in tokens, a trophy and ten coaching sessions. In the runner-up spot was CredShields, an automated auditing platform that scans, manages, and fixes vulnerabilities in Solidity smart contracts. Ten other teams competed at Pitchfest at Hong Kong, including Oneverse Technology and Liquidium (both finalists) and semi-finalists Apillon, Domi Chain, GoSats, iBTC, NettyWorth, Tokenyze, Vanilla Finance, and Zypher Network. The event was presented by Dimitra, a token and toolkit for smallholder farmers. Sign in to access your portfolio
Emirates Woman
03-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Emirates Woman
22 designer bags to purchase under Dhs1,500
Fashion by Sarah Joseph 29 mins ago Looking for your first designer bag without having to spend a fortune? Then you're in the right place. Designers such as Marc Jacobs and as well as Insta-famous brands like Low Classic, Cult Gaia and Vanina have done well to diversify their offer of leather goods to please everyone without breaking the bank. Purchasing your first designer bag can be a significant investment, and you'll want to make sure it's worth the splurge. Here are some tips to keep in mind: Set a Budget Designer bags can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Before you shop, set a clear budget to avoid overspending and help you narrow down your choices. Do Your Research Learn about different brands, bag styles, and collections. Compare prices, materials, and craftsmanship. Some brands hold their value better over time (e.g., Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton), making them good investments. Choose a Classic Style For your first designer bag, opt for a timeless, versatile design that can be worn on various occasions. Classic colors like black, beige, and tan tend to work well with most outfits and won't go out of style. Consider Resale Value Some bags retain or even increase in value over time. Look at resale platforms (e.g., The RealReal or Vestiaire Collective) to see which models and brands have high resale potential. So, maybe you're looking to invest in a high-quality forever piece, or simply want a little slice of your favourite brand. Also, If you want to make small steps towards being more conscious, then it's time to secure your bag on your next shopping spree. If you're in need of some inspiration, swipe through our guide to see some of our favourite designer handbags at Dhs1,500 or less. Reformation Small Silvana Bucket Bag Dhs1,200. Shop from Marge Sherwood Small Hobo Leather Bag Dhs1,150. Shop from Michael Kors Ludlow Leather Pochette Dhs980. Shop from Reformation Mini Luciana Bag Dhs1,200. Shop from Reformation Dimitra Pouch Bag Dhs1,200. Shop from Longchamp Le Pliage Energy Top Handle Tote Dhs815. Shop from St Agni Mini Bon Bon Bag in Suede Leather Dhs825. Shop from Zadig&Voltaire Rock logo-plaque shoulder bag Dhs1,301. Shop from Staud Ollie Shoulder Bag in Leather Dhs 975. Shop from Vivienne Westwood Orb-plaque leather tote bag Dhs883. Shop from Cult Gaia Aiko Top Handle Bag Cult Gaia Dhs1,450. Shop from Marc Jacobs The Marc Jacobs Small The Tote Bag Dhs1,050. Shop from ZAC Zac Posen Belay Mini Saddle Crossbody Bag in Leather Dhs 1,150. Shop from MM6 Maison Margiela Numbers-motif mesh tote Dhs1,075. Shop from Marc Jacobs mini Vanity bag Dhs964. Shop from Bou crocodille-effect leather bucket bag Dhs1,317. Shop from DeMellier The Tokyo tote bag Dhs1,265. Shop from Maje Quilted M Bag in Leather Dhs 1,250. Shop from St Agni 90s Petit Shoulder Bag Dhs765. Shop from Linda Shoulder Bag Dhs765. Shop from Tiny Nino Tote Bag in Satin Dhs 525. Shop from MARGE SHERWOOD Hobo Shoulder Bag in Leather Dhs 770. Shop from – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram @clairerose
