Global AgriInno Challenge 2024: Showcasing Innovation for Agrifood Transformation
The Global AgriInno Challenge 2024 concluded with resounding success, bringing together brilliant minds from across the globe to present their innovative solutions aimed at transforming the agrifood systems. This year’s competition, hosted in collaboration with FAO, Zhejiang University, and sponsored by Foreign Economic Cooperation Center, Ministry of agriculture and rural affairs of China, Pinduoduo, was a celebration of youth-driven agritech innovations.
The success of the Global AgroInno Challenge 2024 was made possible through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Zhejiang University, and the generous support of Pinduoduo, a major advocate for developing agricultural technologies as part of their broader mission to invest in the future of sustainable farming. This collaboration underscores the growing importance of partnerships in advancing agritech solutions on a global scale.
Opening the event, Vincent Martin, Director of the Office of Innovation at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), addressed the audience with a powerful message on the transformative potential of innovation in agrifood systems. Speaking at the hybrid event held in Hangzhou, China, Martin emphasized the theme, "Inclusive AI and Emerging Technologies for Agrifood Systems Transformation," highlighting the urgency of adopting innovative solutions to combat global vulnerabilities in food systems. Martin also acknowledged the crucial partnership between FAO and Zhejiang University, which has led to the establishment of digital agriculture hubs and the development of localized solutions. He congratulated the young innovators participating in the challenge for their innovative ideas aimed at solving critical agricultural issues, encouraging them to continue driving change in the agrifood sector.
During the event, Huifang Lin, Deputy Director of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, delivered a speech highlighting the importance of international cooperation in fostering agricultural innovation. Vice President of Pinduoduo, Kaidi HOU in her address, emphasized the company's commitment to supporting agricultural innovation and its role in bridging the gap between smallholder farmers and global markets through technology. Wang Menghui, a member of the Standing Committee of the People's Government of Binjiang District, Hangzhou, also extended his congratulations to the participants and spoke about the local government's support for fostering an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector.
The challenge was evaluated by a panel of global experts, including Nikola Trendov, Digital Agriculture Specialist at FAO; André Freitas Colaço, Assistant Professor in Biosystems Engineering at the University of São Paulo; Grace Wachori, Regional Director at the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE); Simon Clements, Deputy Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) China Office; and Professor Longbao Wei, the judging panel chair,Director of the Institute of Food and Agribusiness Management at Zhejiang University. Their diverse expertise provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in agrifood systems, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation of the innovations.
The winning teams presented projects that tackle critical challenges in agriculture and leverage digital solutions tailored to the needs of their respective countries. These innovative approaches aim to enhance sustainability, improve resource management, and empower rural communities, demonstrating the transformative potential of technology in agrifood systems. The awardees are:
Gold Award: Agrayu - Digital Identity for Rural (Peru) Agrayu’s solution focuses on providing a digital identity platform for rural farmers, empowering them with better access to financial services, markets, and support systems through a technology-driven approach.
Silver Award: Climate Smart Irrigator (Tanzania) This project provides a climate-resilient irrigation system designed to optimize water use for farming, helping smallholder farmers adapt to unpredictable climate patterns while enhancing crop yields.
Bronze Award: Smart Tomato (China) Smart Tomato presented an advanced digital monitoring system for tomato cultivation, using AI and IoT technologies to improve yield, reduce waste, and enhance the efficiency of farming processes.
Notably, both the Gold and Silver Award-winning teams will have the opportunity to present their work at the upcoming Science and Innovation Forum, gaining even more visibility for their impactful projects.
Participants benefited from an intensive two-day preparation session before the final pitch, which included hands-on training to enhance their presentations and business models. Fruit Tessema from FAO led a session on the Business Innovation Model, helping participants refine their strategies for scalability and impact. Professor Walter GE, founding partner of Green Leaf Ventures, conducted a workshop on storytelling and pitching techniques, ensuring participants could effectively communicate their innovations to potential investors. Additionally, Bo JIA from Sinomach Digital Technology shared insights into the Chinese startup ecosystem, while Le Dong from the FAO China Office provided an overview of FAO's role in digital agriculture and agrifood technology.
The Global AgriInno Challenge continues to play a pivotal role in advancing agricultural innovation by providing young entrepreneurs a platform to share their ideas and make a tangible difference in global food systems. As the Gold and Silver award winners prepare to present at the Science and Innovation Forum in Rome, this event marks another milestone in the journey toward sustainable and resilient agrifood systems worldwide.
As Professor Longbao Wei of Zhejiang University said in his closing speech, the Global AgriInno Challenge, as a platform jointly built by Zhejiang University and FAO together with the government, enterprises and NGOs to help young people and women to start agricultural science and technology businesses will never end.
