Global AgriInno Challenge 2026 Open Call

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Welcome to the Global AgriInno Challenge (GAC) 2026

Accelerating Innovation for Resilient Agrifood Systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

An international call for startups, agripreneurs, researchers, and innovation teams developing solutions for more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.

Co-organized by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Zhejiang University, and Pinduoduo, GAC has established itself as one of the leading global platforms for youth-led agrifood innovation, fostering connections among emerging innovators, international experts, investors, policymakers, and technical partners.

The 2026 edition focuses on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) - regions particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, food insecurity, geographic isolation, and limited innovation ecosystems, yet often overlooked in global investment and technology landscapes.

Applications are open until 20 June 2026 (24:00 CEST) to teams from around the world, provided their solutions directly address agrifood challenges in SIDS contexts or have already been piloted in island environments.

Challenge Themes

GAC 2026 challenges innovators to develop or scale digital solutions for resilient blue and green agrifood systems that are grounded in the realities of island life, responsive to climate pressures, and capable of transforming outcomes at the community level.

All solutions must address at least one of four pillars critical to SIDS resilience:

· Better Production: Addressing limited arable land, fragmented supply chains, high food-import dependency, and climate pressures on agriculture and fisheries. 

· Better Nutrition: Tackling the double burden of malnutrition - rising obesity and diet-related NCDs - alongside limited access to affordable, healthy diets. 

· Better Enviroment: Protecting vulnerable SIDS ecosystems - forests, coral reefs, and coastal systems - from climate change, biodiversity loss, and degradation. 

· Better Life: Overcoming geographic isolation, limited economic opportunity, and high youth unemployment to foster inclusive rural development. 

What are we looking for?

Applications are evaluated across three core dimensions by an expert panel of agrifood specialists, innovation practitioners, and impact investors.

Who can apply?

Applications are open to agripreneurs and innovation teams worldwide. To be eligible, applicants must: 

· Be registered as a company or legal entity. 

· Have less than $1,000,000 in annual turnover. 

· Have less than 5 years of operations. 

· Have a technology-based solution or business model at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7-9, with evidence of post-MVP stage. 

· Have at least one team leader below 35 years of age. 

· Selected teams must commit to continuous engagement throughout the entire duration of the programme, including the Innovation for Good workshops, Global Final Pitch event in Hangzhou (August 2026), and potential showcase at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum in Rome (October 2026)

· Teams with female agripreneurs are strongly encouraged to apply. 

· Have a solution that directly addresses agrifood challenges in SIDS, or that has already been piloted or deployed in a SIDS context.  

· Teams based outside SIDS are fully eligible. However, teams originating from or led by individuals from a SIDS will be given preference in the evaluation process. 

Key benefits for finalists and winners

Languages

English and Chinese are the two working languages for the Global AgriInno Challenge 2026. However, all the proposals and presentations shall be conducted in English. 

Key Dates

Data Protection and Privacy 

FAO is committed to process data fairly, with integrity, responsibility, security, and transparency. We collect and process data – personal data and sensitive non-personal data – solely in accordance with our internal data protection rules and procedures, to the exclusion of any single national or regional system of law. This means we handle information in line with FAO’s own Data Protection Policy (DPP) and not under any national, regional jurisdiction. We process data only for legitimate purposes related to the mandate of the Organization, and we apply the highest standards to safeguard your privacy.

FAO (2025). Data Protection and Privacy Notice. 15 July 2025. 

FAO and ZJU reserve the right to change or cancel the requirement at any time during the innovation solutions solicitation process. FAO and ZJU also reserve the right to require compliance with additional conditions as and when issuing the seed funding.  

➡️ Read more on APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS  

Still have questions? Explore the FAQ

If you require further information, please contact: global_agriinno_challenge@zju.edu.cn and copy 

e-agriculture@fao.org

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