admin The World Food Prize Foundation, in partnership with America’s Cultivation Corridor, has introduced the Innovate for Impact Challenge, a new initiative aimed at advancing agricultural technology (AgTech) and addressing global food security. Announced at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, this challenge seeks to identify and support tech-driven startups that offer promising solutions to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The foundation is calling on early-stage startups worldwide to participate, especially those aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This challenge will emphasise innovative approaches to combat hunger, with the foundation looking to boost new ideas that can make a transformative impact.
Live Competition and Awards for Leading Startups
The top three finalists will have the chance to showcase their AgTech solutions on stage at the 2025 Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, where they will present their technologies to a global audience of investors, industry leaders, and policymakers. This platform offers high visibility and the potential for critical support. After these presentations, the judges will select the winners, with the leading startup receiving a $50,000 prize to further its impact on food security, while the second and third-place winners will be awarded $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.
Eligible companies include for-profit startups in the early stages, from validated concepts to pre-Series A funding, with at least one full-time founder. Startups will be evaluated on their innovation, sustainability, market potential, scalability, and overall contribution to addressing food security.
Judges and Application Process
The judging panel will include AgTech and food systems expert Han Chen and chef and food equity advocate Lazarus Lynch, who will help select the top 10 finalists from the applicant pool. Applications for the Innovate for Impact Challenge will open in February 2025 and close in April, with finalists announced in June. The final competition is set for October 2025 in Des Moines.
Mashal Husain, COO of the World Food Prize Foundation, emphasised that innovation is crucial to overcoming current agricultural challenges and ensuring sustainable global food systems, adding that the challenge aims to empower startups that can drive meaningful progress in feeding the world and safeguarding the environment.
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