The Global AgriInno Challenge 2021

Deadline: 10-Oct-21

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is pleased to launch The Global AgriInno Challenge 2021: Connecting Youth-Led Innovation to the Agri-food Sector that aims to harness innovation, entrepreneurship and digital technologies to address challenges related to the transformation from rural villages into ‘Digital Villages’that contribute to the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, while leaving no one behind.

• Better production: ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, through efficient and inclusive food and agriculture supply chains at local, regional, and global levels, ensuring resilient and sustainable agri-food systems in a changing climate and environment.
• Better nutrition: end hunger, achieve food security, and improved nutrition in all its forms, including promoting nutritious food and increasing access to healthy diets.
• Better environment: protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and combat climate change (reduce, reuse, recycle, residual management) through more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.
• Better life: promote inclusive economic growth by reducing inequalities (urban/rural areas, rich/poor countries, men/women).

• transforming rural villages into digital villages through innovative 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;

• 2-day professional development around your team’s solution through an approach of co-creation with other young agripreneurs/innovators and experienced experts worldwide. All related expenses for attending the Hacking For Good and pitch events in China will be covered, including:
  • travel expenses: round-trip flight and/or train; local transportation fee (taxi/bus/subway);
  • accommodation and meals;
  • visa application fees as applicable for international participants.
• The access to open data sets from FAO and other partners, such as the FAO Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform, FAO Digital Services Portfolio, Data Lab for Statistical Innovation, and the Earthmap, a Google Earth Engine based tool, etc.
• 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 chance to meet top angel investors from venture capital funds and business leaders in the agri-food sector who may invest in your solutions.
• The chance to build your global network in digital agriculture with a multitude of stakeholders.
• The top winning teams will receive seed funding.
• The top winning teams will have the opportunity to join the Digital Agriculture Bootcamp (training, travel and accommodation covered).
• Become an alumnus for Global AgriInno Challenge.

• FAO staff practicing or exploring innovation, digital agriculture, digital solutions, and rural transformation;
• all youth with digital innovations or ideas for agri-food sector.

For more information, visit http://www.fao.org/e-agriculture/global-agriinno-challenge-2021-connecting-youth-led-innovation-agri-food-sector