FAO, Zhejiang University and Pinduoduo launch Innovation Bootcamp to boost Digital Agriculture Transformation
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Zhejiang University and Pinduoduo, has launched a dynamic Digital Agriculture Innovation Bootcamp aimed at empowering youth-led agripreneurs with the support of FAO staff in driving digital transformation in the agrifood sector.
The seven-days programme, held in Zhejiang and other key locations in China, supports the development of innovative digital agriculture solutions to tackle global challenges related to food security, poverty, and sustainability.
The Digital Agriculture Innovation Bootcamp builds on the momentum of the Global AgriInno Challenge, bringing together a cohort of approximately 18 startups (winners of previous editions of the challenge) from 8 countries. These young innovators participated in an intensive learning experience designed to strengthen their capacities in digital agriculture, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
“As digital transformation reshapes agriculture, we must ensure that youth, women, and smallholder farmers are not left behind. This bootcamp is a crucial step toward democratizing access to innovation and fostering inclusive ecosystems,” said Ms Lu Jiang, Digital Agriculture and Innovation Specialist at FAO.
The Bootcamp is divided into two core parts:
Part I: A classroom-based workshop at Zhejiang University that introduces innovation tools and methodologies, such as stakeholder engagement strategies, innovation diagnostics, needs assessments, and fundraising techniques. Lectures are delivered by experts from FAO, Zhejiang University, China Academy of Agriculture, China Agriculture University and Pinduoduo, among others.
Part II: A study tour across key innovation hubs and backyard in China—including Hangzhou TOP CLOUD-AGRI Co., LTD, and Dali—offering firsthand exposure to successful digital agriculture applications such as smart farming platforms, science and technology backyard, Digital technology demonstration farms and farmers, and government-supported digital infrastructure projects.
The participants also engaged in peer exchange with leading Chinese rural innovators and entrepreneurs, deepening interregional collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
The Bootcamp aims to address a fundamental challenge in the innovation ecosystem: the gap between great ideas and scalable solutions. With up to 95% of innovations failing due to lack of structure and support, FAO, Zhejiang University, and Pinduoduo are equipping participants with actionable skills and frameworks to build sustainable business models and generate proofs of concept that respond to real-world agricultural needs.
Expected outcomes include:
Creation of digital agriculture prototypes by participating startups.
Strengthening of global and regional networks through the Global Network of the Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs, connecting government, academia, private sector, and farmers.
“Innovation is not only about technology—it’s about people. This bootcamp provides a space for young changemakers to co-create impactful solutions, share experiences, and build a global community of digital agriculture leaders,” said Mr Longbao Wei, Director of the Institute of Food & Agribusiness Management at Zhejiang University.
This initiative is the latest milestone in a robust partnership between FAO and Zhejiang University. In 2020, they co-hosted the Digital Agriculture Forum, which attracted over 300 participants from 80 countries and garnered attention from more than 100 national media outlets. The event laid the groundwork for continued cooperation in digital agriculture policy, research, and implementation.
The Innovation Bootcamp also leverages FAO’s platforms such as the International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture, the Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform, and its global youth-led innovation challenges (#HackAgainstHunger, Global AgriInno Challenge), creating synergies between grassroots innovation and policy-level transformation.
As the agrifood sector confronts mounting pressures from climate change, resource scarcity, and market volatility, the Digital Agriculture Innovation Bootcamp serves as a beacon of what is possible when science, technology, and inclusive capacity development come together.
By nurturing a new generation of digital agripreneurs and innovation champions, FAO, Zhejiang University, and Pinduoduo are helping pave the way toward better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all.
