# QUYA · Clean Industry

# QUYA

**Country:** Peru · BAGUA GRANDE
**Category:** Clean Industry
**Impact Areas:** Mitigation, Circular Economy, Nature-Based
**Stage:** Prototype
**Team Size:** 3
**Website:** —

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## Elevator Pitch
QUYA closes the cocoa loop: it transforms the husk—which accounts for 10–20% of the bean and is currently burned—into B2B extracts of antioxidants and methylxanthines for use in nutraceuticals and cosmetics, using scientifically validated green technology in Peru.

## Climate Problem
The husk accounts for 10–20% of the cocoa bean—up to 960,000 tons per year globally—and is either burned or left to decompose, emitting CO₂ and methane. It represents a massive amount of waste and a loss of high-value bioactive compounds that the nutraceutical industry needs.

## Solution
QUYA applies green extraction technology (ultrasound and microwaves with an ethanol-water solution) validated by PUCP to cocoa shells, transforming the waste into traceable B2B extracts of polyphenols and methylxanthines for use in nutraceuticals and cosmetics.

## Revenue Model
B2B sales of standardized extracts (powder and liquid) to manufacturers of nutraceuticals, natural cosmetics, and functional foods in Latin America, Europe, and the U.S. Complementary service: outsourced extraction services for cocoa cooperatives in the region.

## Target Market
B2B manufacturers of nutraceuticals, natural cosmetics, and functional foods in Europe (Germany, France, Belgium), North America, and Latin America. Global market for cocoa extracts: USD 3.2 billion (2023) → USD 5.9 billion (2032), CAGR 7.1%. Pharmaceutical applications grow by 8.1%.

## Social Impact
Indigenous Peoples, Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic - Religious and Linguistic Minorities, People Living in Extreme Poverty, Women

## Demand Evidence
International trade in cocoa waste reached 71,200 tons and $27.9 million in 2023 (top exporters: France, Belgium, the Netherlands). The industry prefers natural theobromine over synthetic Chinese/Indian theobromine for clean-label purposes. EUDR 2026 is accelerating demand for traceable origins

## Competitors
Global: BIOINVAL (Spain), Fermtech (UK, $3.3M by 2026), Barry Callebaut. In agricultural upcycling: Hubcycle (France, $16.3M). Theobromine producers: Indian/Chinese (synthetic). In Peru: no B2B cocoa players; Amazon Andes is the analogous model for other crops.

## Founder Expertise
Co-founder and manager with 10 years of experience in the Amazonian fine-aroma cocoa industry, exporting to Europe and the U.S. I have expertise across the entire supply chain, from farm to international B2B client, and maintain a well-established network of cocoa producers and cooperatives in Peru.

## External Support
We are not yet a company (we are in the ideation phase). We have scientific backing from PUCP: the extraction technology was developed as part of a PhD in engineering funded by a PROCIENCIA-CONCYTEC grant and published in *Sustainable Food Technology* (RSC, 2026).

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*Source: ClimateLaunchpad 2026 Application · App ID: 9665*
*Ingested: 2026-05-25*