About the Entrepreneurs and Their Impact
In Mexico, there are over 135,000 tortilla shops that consume large quantities of water during the nixtamalization process. To address this issue, Pablo Olivares Ramírez and Máximo Estrella Suárez developed Neutrayote, a mechanical system that enables a 50% reduction in water usage.
Their innovation was recognized with first place in the National Youth Water Prize 2025 (PNJA), an initiative by the Swedish Embassy in Mexico, the Water Network of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (RAUNAM), the UNESCO-sponsored Regional Water Security Center (CERSHI), and Fundación Coca-Cola México.
Originating from Tonalá, Jalisco, the entrepreneurs represented Mexico in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2025, known as the Youth Nobel Prize for Water.
How Neutrayote Works
Neutrayote began as a student project at the Centro de Enseñanza Técnico Industrial (CETI) in Tonalá and evolved into a thesis plan.
The primary goal is to decrease water consumption, as 100 liters of water are needed for every 300 kilograms of corn. With over 135,000 tortilla shops in the country producing more than 22 million cubic meters of nejayote annually, which is untreated and drained without any treatment.
Neutrayote’s system separates solids from liquids in just 90 minutes, without requiring electricity. The separated nutrients can be reintegrated into the dough, enhancing tortilla quality without altering its taste. The cleaned water can then be disposed of without harming the environment.
By implementing Neutrayote, a single tortilla shop can save approximately 600 liters of water per year. If applied to at least half of the tortilla shops in the country, this system could save up to 850 million liters of water annually.
Entrepreneurs’ Vision
Pablo Olivares Ramírez emphasized their goal to transform the tortilla industry, making it more sustainable with accessible technological solutions for everyone’s benefit.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Neutrayote? Neutrayote is a mechanical system developed by Pablo Olivares Ramírez and Máximo Estrella Suárez to reduce water consumption in the nixtamalization process of tortilla shops.
- What problem does Neutrayote solve? Neutrayote addresses the excessive water usage in tortilla production, which contributes to water scarcity and environmental concerns.
- How does Neutrayote work? The system separates solids from liquids in nejayote, allowing the reintegration of nutrients into the dough and producing clean water for disposal.
- What impact does Neutrayote have? By implementing Neutrayote, tortilla shops can save significant amounts of water annually, contributing to a more sustainable industry.
- What recognition has Neutrayote received? Neutrayote was awarded first place in the National Youth Water Prize 2025 and represented Mexico in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2025.
