New deadline for submissions to the Open Call for the Global AgriInno Challenge

Global AgriInno Challenge 2020: Connecting youth-led innovation to agri-food sector
Duration of the Call : 15 September 2020 -08 November 2020

Global AgriInno Challenge 2020 is coming!

Join us now, and you will have the chance to share information and enhance your knowledge on smart agriculture, innovation and start-up practice through a unique global network composed of United Nations’ mentors, leading angel investors, academic experts and youth agripreneurs from the global agri-food sector.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Zhejiang University, are co-organizing the Global AgriInno Challenge 2020 to harness innovation solutions in response to the challenges associated with 'distribution and sales of agri-food products'.

Please submit your team’s application by 08 November 2020 (24:00 CEST).

The selected teams will be invited to further develop and pitch their digital development solutions in Zhejiang Province, China on 04-05 December 2020 with all relevant expenses covered. Winning teams will be granted seed funding, and the opportunity to participate in a one-week agro-bootcamp and world study tour. So, are you ready to join us?

Remote participation is an option for international teams due to COVID-19 pandemic.

See the guidelines below and register your team now!

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact


1. Background

The agricultural sector is going to face enormous challenges to feed the projected 9.6 billion people who will inhabit the planet by 2050, requiring a 60% increase in food. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in severe economic and social distress around the world, including negative impacts on agri-food systems. Logistic transportation and sale channels have been seriously hindered, while the demand for agricultural products has increased dramatically.

On the other hand, innovation, digital technology and entrepreneurship have become even more important in accelerating and the transformation of agri-food systems, by increasing productivity and effectiveness. All these efforts contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During this process, youth plays an important role and therefore it is essential to provide support with digital innovative solutions.

Aimed at identifying, accelerating and scaling-up youth-led innovative business models and digital solutions to unlock the potentials of agri-food innovation to address the challenges of distribution and sales of agri-food products, FAO, in partnership with Zhejiang University is organizing the 2020 Global AgriInno Challenge implementing the following actions:

a) sharing the latest information, knowledge and best practices in agri-food innovation, technology and business models;

b) building an enabling environment through Public-Private Partnership and co-creation opportunities with diverse participants, practitioners and experts;

c) engaging and empowering the young agripreneurs and innovators to tackle development challenges through FAO and partners’ global network and continuous support during and after the innovation challenge.

2. Benefits for participation

The selected teams to attend the final competition in China will benefit from:

3. Who can apply?

The Global AgriInno Challenge 2020 is open for all youth with digital innovations or ideas for agri-food sector. English and Chinese are the two working languages during the Global AgriInno Challenge 2020. The selection criteria for the final competition in China are as follows:

Note: Any adjustments to the rules will be updated through http://www.fao.org/e-agriculture/. Also, all the participants will be notified in time through e-mails.

Ideally, the team should be composed of the following skill set:

4. How to apply?

The team leader needs to fill the Application Form, with the Digital Development Solution (in PPT format) and a video, sending these to global_agriinno_challenge@zju.edu.cnand copying lu.jiang@fao.org by 08 November 2020 (24:00 CEST).

The documentation to submit should include (in English):

5. Mentors & Juries

pic2

6. Organizational Structure

Host: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

           Zhejiang University

           National Agricultural Science & Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation Alliance, China

Supporter: Pinduoduo Inc.

 

7. Scan QR code to apply

pic2

© 2020 Zhejiang University