The UAE has announced a prize of up to $2 million for startups that can offer technology innovations to transform traditional agricultural practices efficiently and sustainably.
The FoodTech Challenge is organized by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Tamkeen, an Abu Dhabi entity that partners with leading local and international institutions to deliver projects that enrich the UAE’s social, cultural and educational landscape.
Targeted at early-stage start-ups, ranging from international university-based research teams to individual entrepreneurs and small firms, the competition invites innovations related to two critical tracks–Food Production to address the availability and abundance of food and explore ‘next gen’, nutrient rich alternatives and Food Loss and Waste to ensure sustainability across the food supply chain and the planet more broadly.
The winners will be offered an opportunity to scale-up their business model within the UAE, supported with R&D, start-up acceleration, commercial incentives and mentorship to take winning concepts from lab-to-market. Applications are being encouraged from around the world, with a priority on agri-tech concentrated nations.
Applications for the challenge will remain open until June, when submissions will be shortlisted and the top 10 teams given an opportunity to present their business cases at the Awarding Ceremony in November. Entrants can submit their applications via www.foodtechchallenge.com.
The first edition of the FoodTech Challenge saw 437 applications from across 68 countries, with winners announced from Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the UK.