Open Call: Global AgriInno Challenge 2024

As a global platform for youth agripreneurs and innovators, the Global AgriInno Challenge (GAC) continues to showcase and foster cutting-edge digital agricultural talent. Following the success of the previous editions held in 2020 till 2022, they are thrilled to announce that GAC 2024 will once again provide a vibrant platform for startups to exchange ideas, enrich their knowledge, and establish valuable connections with a global network of collaborators.

FAO’s latest forecasts food outlook on biannual report global food markets point to increased production and higher stocks for several basic foodstuffs. However, global food production remains susceptible to shocks arising from weather conditions, geopolitical tensions, and policies. These factors could disrupt the delicate balance between supply and demand, impacting global food security.

FAO is facilitating the capacity development and enhancement of digital skills and digital innovation capabilities among youth and women agripreneurs through a learning program-based assessment and gap analysis to respond to the real need and context, but also digital capabilities for policymakers, various types of training institutions, and relevant agribusiness stakeholders.

Purpose

• Aimed at identifying, accelerating and scaling-up youth-led innovative business models and innovative solutions for agrifood system issues, FAO and Zhejiang University have co-organized the Global AgriInno Challenge 2024 to achieve SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities). The Challenge will implement the following actions:
  • transforming rural development through innovative and digital solutions under the framework of the Four Betters (better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life);
  • sharing the latest information, knowledge, and best practices in rural digital transformation innovations, digital technologies, and business models;
  • building an enabling environment through Public-Private Partnerships and co-creation opportunities with diverse participants, practitioners, and experts;
  • engaging and empowering young agripreneurs and innovators to tackle development challenges through FAO and partners’ global networks with continuous support during and after the innovation challenge.

Priority Areas

• How AI and emerging technologies can improve market access, value addition and social benefits for smallholders, especially for women and marginalized groups?
• How can blockchain and related emerging technologies change food production and processing technologies to improve diet quality; and to protect vulnerable populations, in particular children, from invasive marketing campaigns promoting ultra-processed foods, high sugar/salt content foods and drinks, and addictive substances?
• How can GeoAI and other emerging technologies improve effective fisheries management by using innovative data and information systems and provide inclusive access to fisherfolks?
• How can they improve food production, harvesting and distribution practices and protect food through use of low-cost digital solutions and enhanced storage facilities with limited GHG footprint in the LMICs?
• How can they improve the use of GeoAI and data utilization to optimize irrigation decision and timing for smallholders and in the same time to protect soil and water by reducing the use of chemical inputs?
• How to leverage, re-use and integrate traditional knowledge including Indigenous People, to improve and benefit from digital enabled climate financing and adoption of AI in carbon credit market opportunities in the agrifood systems?
• How to provide accurate information on anticipated climate impacts at local level and making available low-cost, inclusive, and easily accessible climate risk management digital solutions, including early warning mechanisms?

Themes

• The theme of GAC 2024 is “Inclusive AI and emerging technologies for agrifood systems transformation”. Six teams will be selected to participate in the final pitch event, scheduled to take place in China on 26 September 2024, with all related expenses covered.

Benefits

• The selected teams chosen to attend the Innovation for Good and Pitch Event in China will benefit from:
  • Two-day technical support for each team’s solution through an approach of co-creation with other young agripreneurs/innovators and experienced experts worldwide. All related expenses for attending the Innovation for Good and pitch events in China will be covered, including a) travel expenses: round-trip flight and/or train; local transportation fee (taxi/bus/subway); b) accommodation and meals; c) visa application fees as applicable for international participants.
  • The chance to pitch and showcase solutions at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2024, during the pitch event “Pitching Fest”. This pitching event, hosted by the FAO Office of Innovation aims to foster transformative solutions for agrifood systems by showcasing the creativity and ingenuity of innovators. The winners of GAC and other global competitions will present their ideas on topics ranging from bio-economy initiatives to gender empowerment projects, addressing current climate challenges and more. The event, in collaboration with Salesforce, the UN Youth Office, UN OITC, Zhejiang University the Digital Public Goods Alliance and FAO, highlights the power of strategic partnerships in driving impactful change.
  • Advice from experienced experts from the UN, international organizations, the private sector and academia, and the chance to have a dialogue with high-level representatives from leading companies and organizations.
  • The opportunity to meet and create market linkage with angel investors from venture capital funds, business leaders in the agrifood sector and relevant investors/participants from the FAO HiH Investment Forum. Global networking opportunity with a multitude of stakeholders.
  • The top teams will be awarded seed funding up to 30k dollars to further their innovation ventures and win the chance to present at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2024.
  • Become an alumnus for Global AgriInno Challenge.

Who can apply?

• GAC 2024 is open for youth who are developing and deploying digital innovation products and services that can accelerate the Four Betters implementation and agrifood systems transformation.
• English and Chinese are the two working languages for the Global AgriInno Challenge 2024. However, all the proposals and presentations shall be conducted in English.

For more information, visit FAO.