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The science that brought green back to China’s Loess Plateau awarded the 2026 Volvo Environment Prize

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GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Once stripped of vegetation and scarred by some of the world’s most severe soil erosion, China’s Loess Plateau has undergone a remarkable ecological transformation. Professor Bojie Fu, one of the scientists who helped make that recovery possible, is the recipient of the 2026 Volvo Environment Prize.

The Loess Plateau was a major cradle of early Chinese civilization. But centuries of intensive cultivation and overgrazing pushed this huge area towards ecological collapse. Vegetation disappeared, soil was swept away, and vast quantities of sediment poured into the Yellow River. The landscape became a stark symbol of unsustainable land use.

Today, large areas of the plateau are green again.

Behind this dramatic revival lies one of the world’s most ambitious landscape-restoration efforts—and decades of scientific research into how damaged ecosystems can be rebuilt without exhausting the scarce resources on which both nature and people depend.

Professor Bojie Fu has played a decisive role in that work. Through extensive field studies and landscape-scale analysis, he and his team have investigated the complex relationships between land use, vegetation, water, soil, biodiversity, and local livelihoods.

Fu is a Professor of Geography and Landscape Ecology at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He and his research team revealed both the potential and the risks of ecological restoration. More vegetation can hold soil in place, capture carbon, and revive biodiversity—but planting the wrong species, or planting too densely, can deepen water scarcity and threaten the long-term survival of the restored landscape.

This evidence helped shift restoration strategies away from mass planting campaigns and towards carefully adapted, sustainable land management. It provided practical guidance on which species to plant, where they could thrive, and how to balance restoration with agriculture and local communities’ needs.

One major obstacle to restoration was resistance from farmers who feared for their livelihoods if they could no longer keep livestock or cultivate the land as before. The project, dubbed Grain for Green, helped overcome this resistance by compensating local communities and farmers.

The Prize Jury recognizes Professor Fu’s pioneering contributions to social-ecological systems and sustainability science, as well as his exceptional ability to connect local restoration with global sustainable development. The Jury particularly highlights how his work on the Loess Plateau has created science-based pathways for ecological recovery, human well-being, and effective policy across the Global South.

The plateau’s revitalization was neither simple nor swift. It was a complex, long-term undertaking involving local communities, government agencies, researchers, and international partners. Early demonstration projects received World Bank funding, while most subsequent investment came from the Chinese government.

Its success depended not only on sustained financial and political commitment, but also on continuous scientific monitoring and a willingness to adapt when evidence showed that established approaches were not working.

Professor Fu’s research demonstrates how science can turn restoration ambitions into lasting environmental change—and how a landscape once considered devastated can be given a future.

The Volvo Environment Prize has been awarded annually since 1990 and is regarded as one of the scientific world’s most respected environmental prizes. Presented by an independent foundation, the award consists of a hand-crafted diploma, a glass sculpture, and SEK 1.5 million.

Professor Bojie Fu will receive the Volvo Environment Prize at a ceremony in Stockholm, Nov 2, 2026.

More information about the laureate and the prize: www.environment-prize.com

September 23, 2026

Journalists wanting further information, please contact:
Claes Eliasson, Head of Media Relations
+46 76 553 7229
press@volvo.com

For more information, please visit volvogroup.com
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The Volvo Group drives prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions, offering trucks, buses, construction equipment, power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing and services that increase our customers’ uptime and productivity. Founded in 1927, the Volvo Group is committed to shaping the future landscape of sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, employs almost 100,000 people and serves customers in almost 180 markets. In 2025, net sales amounted to SEK 479 billion (EUR 43 billion). Volvo shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

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Press release — The science that brought green back to China’s Loess Plateau awarded the 2026 Volvo Environment Prize

https://news.cision.com/ab-volvo/i/260923-bojie-fu-vep-2026-1860×1050,c3567174

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The RBC iShares alliance launches ETF Series of RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged)

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TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2026 /CNW/ — The RBC iShares alliance today announced the launch of ETF Series units of RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) (the “ETF Series”), adding to its suite of alternative investment solutions. The new ETF Series is managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (“RBC GAM Inc.”) and is expected to begin trading on Cboe Canada today.

Fund

Ticker Symbol

Management Fee

RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) – ETF Series

RNWH

1.00 %

Absolute return strategy designed to seek capital growth independent of market movements
The new ETF Series expands the suite of liquid alternative investment solutions offered by the RBC iShares alliance. RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) aims to provide consistent capital growth that is substantially independent of the performance of the global equity market by investing primarily in units of RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (the “Underlying Fund”). The Underlying Fund takes long and short positions primarily in securities that are listed on major global stock exchanges using a quantitative investment model designed to select individual stocks, control portfolio-level risk and maximize exposure to factors associated with outperformance. Additionally, RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) seeks to minimize exposure to currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar by using a hedging strategy.

“Sophisticated investors have long used market neutral strategies to help offset the impact of market volatility on their portfolios,” said Mark Neill, Managing Director and Head of Exchange-Traded Funds and Strategic Alliances, RBC Global Asset Management Inc. “By launching RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) in an ETF series, the RBC iShares alliance is expanding its alternative investment solution set to provide Canadian advisors and investors with an institutional style product in a convenient ETF format.”

Capital gains distribution payment method for ETF Series units of RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund and RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged)
RBC GAM Inc. will file an amendment to the RBC Funds simplified prospectus today to clarify that RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund and RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) intend to distribute any net capital gains for ETF Series units quarterly in March, June, September, and December which, in RBC GAM Inc.’s discretion, may be paid in cash or reinvested automatically in additional ETF Series units of the applicable fund at a price equal to the net asset value per ETF Series unit of the applicable fund. In the case of any reinvestment, the ETF Series units will be immediately consolidated, such that the number of outstanding ETF Series units following the distribution will equal the number of ETF Series units outstanding prior to the distribution.

The RBC iShares alliance aims to help clients achieve their investment objectives by empowering them to build efficient portfolios and take control of their financial futures. The RBC iShares alliance is committed to delivering a truly differentiated ETF experience and positive outcomes for clients.

For more information about RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged), please visit https://www.rbcgam.com/en/ca/products/alternative-investments/about/.

The RBC iShares alliance includes RBC ETFs and ETF Series of RBC Funds managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (“RBC GAM Inc.”) and iShares ETFs managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Please read the applicable prospectus or ETF Facts document before investing. ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. ETF Series is a class of securities offered by a conventional mutual fund however, unlike conventional mutual fund series, ETF Series are bought and sold at market price on a stock exchange like an ETF. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. RBC Funds are managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc., which is a member of the RBC GAM group of companies and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 105,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

About RBC Global Asset Management
RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). RBC GAM is a provider of global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies. RBC Funds, BlueBay Funds, PH&N Funds and RBC ETFs are offered by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (RBC GAM Inc.) and distributed through authorized dealers in Canada. The RBC GAM group of companies, which includes RBC GAM Inc. (including PH&N Institutional), manage approximately $834 billion in assets and have approximately 1,600 employees located across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

About BlackRock 
BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.

About iShares ETFs 
iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of more than 1,700 exchange traded funds (ETFs) and approximately $6.2 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

For more information, please contact:
Brandon Dorey, RBC GAM Corporate Communications, 647-262-6307

SOURCE RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

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Kipsu Announces Strategic Investment from M-One Capital to Accelerate Growth and Expansion

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Partnership will provide growth capital and strategic resources to support Kipsu’s continued business and team growth, industry-expansion across hospitality, healthcare and other customer experience-focused markets.

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kipsu, Inc. (“Kipsu” or the “Company”), a leading customer experience platform that helps hospitality, healthcare and other service leaders engage customers in real time and coordinate the operational workflows required to deliver exceptional service, today announced a strategic partnership with M-One Capital (“M-One”), a private investment firm. As part of the partnership, M-One has made a minority investment in Kipsu. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Kipsu helps high touch service organizations engage the people they serve and coordinate operational workflows to deliver exceptional service. The Company plans to continue expansion within the hospitality industry, developing additional operational and AI-enabled capabilities, and grow in markets like healthcare where responsive communication and coordinated service execution are increasingly important. The Company will also continue to seek strategic acquisition opportunities that complement its technology and extend the value it provides to customers.

“We built Kipsu with a long-term view of where this market is headed,” said Chris Smith, founder and CEO of Kipsu. “Today we are a satisfaction company helping organizations deliver better experiences in the moments that matter. This partnership gives us more resources to keep building — growing our team, investing in our products and expanding our impact. M-One understands what we’re building and shares our long-term perspective, which made them the right partner for this next stage of growth.”

M-One Capital brings extensive experience partnering with founder-led companies and helping management teams execute long-term growth strategies. The firm was drawn to Kipsu’s guest engagement platform, strong customer retention, culture of innovation and the team’s track record of building and scaling a mission-critical solution for hospitality and other service-focused organizations.

“We are excited to partner with the Kipsu team,” said BJ Hansen, Managing Director at M-One Capital. “Kipsu has built a technology platform in an increasingly important category. The team has demonstrated a consistent ability to execute, deepen customer relationships and expand the Company’s capabilities while maintaining a strong and distinctive culture. We look forward to supporting management as Kipsu invests in product innovation, expands within hospitality and brings its platform to additional markets.”

About Kipsu

Kipsu is a technology platform that provides frontline customer experience solutions to hospitality, healthcare, and other leading service organizations. Kipsu’s software enables customers to improve service delivery through real-time digital engagement and operational execution. The Company’s platform helps organizations strengthen customer communication, coordinate frontline workflows, and deliver more responsive and personalized experiences. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Kipsu serves over 45M guests each year across more than 11,000 sites around the world.

About M-One Capital

M-One Capital Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser that conducts business as M-One Capital. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, M-One Capital is a private investment firm focused on being a value-added partner for management teams, founders, and family owners. Specializing in supporting management teams who retain operating control and meaningful ownership, M-One Capital provides equity capital, guidance, and strategic resources to the entrepreneurs and companies in which it invests. McCarthy Capital rebranded to M-One Capital in 2025. For more information, please visit m-onecapital.com.

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SOURCE Kipsu

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Proprioceptive AI Outlines Roadmap for Model Interpretability and Targeted Adaptation

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Operational V1 and internal research underpin the company’s next phase of scientific validation, patent prosecution and commercial development.

PHOENIX, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Proprioceptive AI, Inc. is advancing its model interpretability and targeted adaptation technology toward independent scientific evaluation and commercial deployment. Its product strategy centers on probes and adapters for local models and large-scale commercial clients, connecting analysis of internal model states with targeted improvements to model behavior.

Proprioceptive AI advances probes and adapters for model interpretability and targeted adaptation.

The company’s V1 system is operational in a private research environment. In defined internal tests, Proprioceptive AI reported an 85.8% reduction in confident-wrong output. Its internal work includes model-state probes, targeted corrections and capability checks. The next phase builds on these results through independent reproduction, broader evaluation and product development.

Commercial AI teams, developers and researchers: visit www.proprioceptiveai.com and contact Logan@proprioceptiveai.com to discuss model evaluation, targeted adaptation or scientific collaboration.

Proprioceptive AI’s approach links three functions: sensing internal model states, applying targeted interventions and verifying their effects. Its research and intellectual property strategy extends across the interfaces needed to read and influence model states across supported architectures. The objective is to turn internal model insight into practical control over behavior and measurable improvements in model quality.

“We are building technology to understand and shape model behavior from within,” said Logan Napolitano of Proprioceptive AI. “V1 is operational, and our internal research provides the foundation. We are now focused on independent scientific evaluation and delivering probes and adapters that serve both local-model users and commercial AI teams.”

The company is recruiting scientists to expand its research and validation work. The next phase will focus on:

Independent reproduction: Reproduce internal findings using documented protocols and external reviewers.Model quality: Measure targeted performance improvements against baseline models and relevant alternative methods.Capability preservation: Evaluate the effects of interventions on other model capabilities, including regressions and behavior on held-out data.Deployment performance: Establish supported-model coverage, integration requirements, latency and computing costs for customer environments.

This program will connect research results to defined product specifications and customer acceptance criteria. For commercial clients, the company’s planned engagement model progresses from model diagnostics to targeted adaptation and deployment evaluation, with technical scope and performance requirements established for each engagement.

Proprioceptive AI has retained both intellectual property counsel and securities counsel. The company is pursuing patent prosecution and working with Castle Placement on investor preparation as it develops the scientific, legal and commercial foundations for growth.

Its immediate priorities are to expand the scientific team, organize external evaluation and package the technology for repeatable customer testing. The broader ambition is to give developers and organizations the tools to interpret, adapt and improve the models they operate.

About Proprioceptive AI, Inc.

Proprioceptive AI, Inc. develops technology for model interpretability and targeted adaptation. Its work spans internal-state sensing, model-state interfaces, targeted intervention and outcome verification, with a product strategy focused on probes and adapters for local models and commercial AI deployments.

Learn more at www.proprioceptiveai.com.

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SOURCE Proprioceptive AI, Inc

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