Innovation / Published August 29, 2024

Arauco Ventures startup launches first satellite to protect biodiversity


Lemu Nge (‘Eye of the forest’ in Mapudungun), Chile’s first private satellite, aims to observe changes in the planet’s biodiversity, being able to identify modifications or new trends in the environment in time.

The device is a nanosatellite with a high-definition hyperspectral camera that measures 32 spectral bands between 450 and 900 nanometres, capturing details that are imperceptible to the human eye.

This project was developed under the wing of Lemu, a startup founded by Leo Prieto and owned since 2023 by Arauco Ventures, ARAUCO’s investment arm for innovation projects.

“We are crossing the frontier of innovation with a decisive step towards obtaining accurate and detailed data on the biodiversity of Chile and the world,” said Charles Kimber, ARAUCO’s VP of Human Resources and Sustainability.