Global AgriInno Challenge 2025 Open Call

Harnessing emerging technologies and Digital Public Infrastructure for sustainable agrifood systems: Advancing climate resilience, supply chain efficiency, and nutritional security

Duration of the Call: 30 April - 7 June 2025

Join the Global AgriInno Challenge 2025 — Now Open for Applications Worldwide!

Following the success of the 2020–2024 editions, we are excited to announce that the 2025 Global AgriInno Challenge will once again offer a dynamic platform for startups to exchange ideas, gain insights, and connect with a global network of collaborators. The GAC empowers young innovators and agri-tech entrepreneurs by providing a resource-rich platform that links them with international organizations, government bodies, academia, research institutes, and the private sector. Since 2020, the GAC has attracted over 1,414 youth participants in over 600 teams from 75 countries, all showcasing forward-thinking solutions for the future of agriculture.

Are you passionate about transforming agriculture through digital innovation?

Do you believe your ideas could inspire global change and solve real-world challenges?

Are you ready to showcase your solutions on the world stage and take them beyond borders? If so—this is your moment. Join us, and be part of a global movement shaping the future of agrifood systems.

Seize this opportunity and submit your application as a team by 7 June 2025 (24:00 CEST).

The theme of Global AgriInno Challenge 2025 is “Harnessing emerging technologies and Digital Public Infrastructure for sustainable agrifood systems: Advancing climate resilience, supply chain efficiency, and nutritional security”. 6 teams will be selected to participate in the final pitch event, scheduled to take place in China on 29 August 2025, with all related expenses covered. The top teams will be awarded seed funding to further their innovation ventures and win the chance to present at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2025 Pitch Event.

Review the guidelines and register your team today! If you have any inquiries, please contact:

·global_agriinno_challenge@zju.edu.cn; lu.jiang@fao.org; fruit.tessema@fao.org.

If you require further information, please click here to get more information:

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1. Background

The United Nations is spearheading inclusive digital transformation through several interlinked initiatives, including the UN Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Universal Safeguards Framework, the UN 2.0 “Quintet of Change”, and the Global Digital Compact (GDC). FAO is championing Digital Public Goods (DPGs), for example by hosting Reboot the Earth 2024 events, and providing technical guidance to experts in the field of agriculture and climate, helping them address the challenges through solutions that could become DPGs.

FAO’s focus on DPI and DPG is essential for bridging the triple divide (digital, rural and gender) in the agrifood sector enabling smallholder farmers to benefit from innovations like AI-driven advisory services and real-time market intelligence. Collectively, these initiatives support FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, the FAO Climate Change Strategy 2022-2031, and FAO Science and Innovation Strategy aiming to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems; for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Through the Global Network of Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs, digital agriculture and innovation hubs were established in 4 countries (Dominica, Ethiopia, Grenada and Morocco) in conjunction with country institutions to accelerate the development and uptake of digital innovation in support of farmers and value chain actors, especially youth and women.

Furthermore, innovators and start-ups are rapidly growing in digital agriculture markets providing the latest digital technologies such as AI, IoT, etc. into their digital solutions and services. Digital innovations that adhere to local context and local needs help democratize solutions, making them more useful, usable and used, accessible and affordable for the smallholder farmers.

Founded in 1987, Zhejiang University (ZJU) is one of China's oldest, most selective, and most prestigious institutions. As an active contributor to rural development, ZJU has made significant efforts to drive the transformation and upgrading of the agricultural industry, support small-scale farmers, boost agricultural productivity, increase farmers' income, alleviate poverty, promote rural revitalization, and achieve agricultural sustainability. ZJU benefits from extensive industry resources as well as close partnerships with both government and non-governmental actors, establishing a network of professional collaborations in academia, industry and government. In recent years, many initiatives and programs have been implemented to encourage and foster international collaborations, group strategies, and cross-organizational collaboration in agricultural and rural development.

2. Purposes

We're bringing together global youth innovators, agri-tech entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to develop cutting-edge digital solutions that drive climate resilience, supply chain efficiency, and nutritional security in agrifood systems. Through this initiative, we aim to advance inclusive, sustainable innovation aligned with the SDGs—particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). By fostering collaboration and scaling impactful innovations, we bridge the digital, gender, and rural divides. We aim to achieve the following:

a) spotlight and scale up the most promising, technology-driven solutions for agrifood system challenges

b) Co-create innovations that are practical, inclusive, and locally relevant

c) Connect global innovators with mentors, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders

d) Prepare winning teams to pitch at global events like the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2025

3. Benefits for participants

The selected teams from the first phase will be given a chance to attend the Innovation for Good and Pitch Event in China. The Innovation for Good and the pitch event will be composed of the following elements:

a) Two-days technical support for each team’s solution through 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.  

b) Coaching from experienced experts from the UN, international organizations, private sector and academia, and the chance to have a dialogue with high-level representatives from leading companies and organizations.

c) The opportunity to meet and create market linkage with investors from venture capital funds, business leaders in the agrifood sector and participants of the World Food Forum.

d) Global networking opportunity with a multitude of stakeholders.

e) Become alumni of the Global AgriInno Challenge Network.

The winning teams of the final pitch event will be granted:

a) The chance to pitch and showcase solutions at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2025, during the “Seeds to Scale” session. This event, hosted by the FAO Office of Innovation during the Science and Innovation Forum 2025, aims to foster transformative solutions for agrifood systems by showcasing the creativity and ingenuity of innovators. The winners of GAC and other FAO-led Innovation Challenges (e.g. Reboot the Earth and Agrisafe Hackathon in NENA Region) will present their groundbreaking ideas. The event, in collaboration with Salesforce, Pinduoduo, the UN Youth Office, UN OITC, Zhejiang University, the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) and FAO, highlights the power of strategic partnerships in driving impactful change.

b) The top 3 winning teams will receive seed funding (specific amount to be determined).

4. Theme organization

The theme

Harnessing emerging technologies and Digital Public Infrastructure for sustainable agrifood systems: Advancing climate resilience, supply chain efficiency, and nutritional security

Proposed challenges/priority areas

· Climate-Smart Agriculture Solutions using Digital Public Infrastructure by leveraging open-source platforms, data, content, standards, and AI models for real-time weather analytics, pest outbreak alerts, and resource optimization to promote climate resilience.

· Traceable and inclusive agrifood value chains using interoperable Digital Public Goods (e.g., blockchain, open APIs) to enhance transparency and fairness across supply chains, ensuring smallholders can directly access markets and secure better pricing.

· AI-enabled digital advisory services that are built on open-source platforms (mobile apps, online portals) that provide accessible extension services and covering best practices, financial literacy, and nutrition education, especially in remote and rural areas.

5. Who can apply?

GAC 2025 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.  

6. Selection criteria:

·  The team has registered as a company or legal entity;

· Have less than USD 1 million in turnover;

· Have less than 5 years of operations;

· Have an innovative, technology-based solution or business model with a Technological Readiness Level (TRL) between 7 and 9 (provide evidence that the project is beyond the MVP stage);  

· Be committed to continuous engagement throughout the entire duration of the program;

· At least one leader of the group must be below 35 years old (Teams with female agripreneurs are highly encouraged).

Note: any adjustments to the criteria will be updated through the GAC 2025 main page.  Also, all the participants will be notified in time through e-mails. 

7. Languages

English and Chinese are the two working languages for the Global AgriInno Challenge 2025. However, all the proposals and presentations shall be conducted in English.

8. How to apply?

The team needs to fill in the application form and submit it by 7 June 2025 (24:00 CEST).  Please find the link in item 13 and fill in carefully.

The requirements to the files submitted in the application form are as below (in English):

· Innovation Solution (PowerPoint or Pdf format of max 12 slides, up to 250 words per slide, Microsoft YaHei Font, font size not less than 16)

o Summary of the solution (up to 250 words)

o Problem identification (analysis of challenges relating to transformation of the agri-food system)

o Mission, vision, values of the project (the type of agriculture activity/sub-sector targeted)

o Technical model (how to address challenges relating to digital agriculture and the agri-food system?)

o Timing justification (why is this moment the best time?)

o Situation analysis (who is your main competitor and why is your solution better or more innovative than others?)

o Business plan (target group, the description of outputs and related activities, adoption strategy, applied methods, partners, sustainability, and consideration of gender)

o Financial situation (capital raised, capital needed, revenue analysis)

o Phased development planning (what is the potential contribution of your solution in three years? how do you plan to achieve it? what are the milestones?)

· 1-2 minutes long video explaining:

How is your idea or solution going to help benefit vulnerable and rural populations? Answer this question in a 1-2 minute long video. Upload the video online to a video sharing platform (YouTube, Google Cloud, Youku, Baidu Cloud or others) and share the address of the link. 

9. Timeline 

10. Mentors & Juries

· Mentors:

o Academic experts: FAO, Zhejiang University and other stakeholders in the field of digital agriculture and innovation.

o Business mentors: business leaders from top companies in agribusiness-related sectors; angel investors from top venture capital funds with extensive investment experience in smart agriculture.

· Juries: professional experts from academies, international organizations and government, investors and business leaders in the agri-food sector.

11. Organizers Structure

Hosted by:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Zhejiang University (ZJU)

Pinduoduo (tbc)

12. Data Protection

Global AgriInno Challenge working group gives great importance to the responsible and transparent management of personal data.

13. Click to apply

Global AgriInno Challenge 2025: Home

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