Regeneration wins World Economic Forum land restoration challenge

Regeneration has been named a winner of the Scaling Land Restoration Challenge led by UpLink and Mercuria, with the World Economic Forum’s Nature Positive Transitions Initiative. The recognition could help the company expand its model of recovering minerals from legacy mine sites while restoring degraded land and attracting partners and capital.

Why it matters: - Regeneration’s model links two goals that often compete: mineral recovery and land restoration. - The company’s approach could help direct private capital toward post-mining cleanup and ecosystem repair. - The recognition puts legacy mine sites in view as potential sources of responsible minerals, not just environmental liabilities.

What happened: - Regeneration was selected as a winner of the Scaling Land Restoration Challenge. - UpLink and Mercuria led the challenge in collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s Nature Positive Transitions Initiative. - The announcement was made Sept. 22, 2026, from Washington, D.C. - The challenge reviewed early-stage ventures working on ecosystem restoration, including post-mining recovery.

The details: - Regeneration recovers minerals from legacy mine sites while restoring degraded lands. - The challenge looked for solutions that can unlock private capital and deliver measurable restoration outcomes. - Regeneration was recognized for connecting mineral recovery from legacy mine sites with restoration of degraded lands. - The company says the approach unlocks stranded value in metals and puts that value to work for restoration. - Regeneration works with Indigenous and local communities, governments, mining companies, technology providers and other partners. - The company has active projects in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. - Regeneration is an international social enterprise that converts mine waste into responsible minerals and turns degraded lands into ecological and community assets. - The company says it works with local and Indigenous communities, governments, sustainable brands and strategic partners. - Regeneration’s mission is to recover minerals from legacy mine sites while restoring landscapes impacted by mining. - Stephen D’Esposito, founder and CEO of Regeneration, said the recognition helps bring the solution to a global audience and connect the company with partners needed to scale. - Gillian Davidson, co-founder and chief sustainability officer, said the company needs new models that can deliver more minerals while increasing biodiversity protection, restoring degraded landscapes and creating benefits for communities.

Between the lines: - The award signals growing interest in business models that pair restoration with revenue generation. - Regeneration’s pitch is that mine waste can support both critical minerals supply and ecological repair. - The UpLink ecosystem is designed to help early-stage ventures build partnerships, access new markets and scale solutions to environmental and social challenges.

What's next: - Regeneration will join the World Economic Forum’s UpLink innovation ecosystem. - The company is expected to use that network to pursue partnerships and market access. - Regeneration will likely lean on the recognition to scale projects and attract additional collaborators. - The company’s next phase centers on expanding mineral recovery and restoration work across its active project sites.