Global FoodTech Challenge launches its second edition
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today attended the opening of the second edition of the Global FoodTech Challenge at EXPO 2020 Dubai.
The FoodTech Challenge competition aims to identify the next wave of technological innovations that are on the cusp of transforming traditional farming methods that are efficient and sustainable. The competition focuses on early-stage start-ups, ranging from research groups based at international universities to individual entrepreneurs and small firms, and offers innovations in two vital areas: food production and food loss and waste. The “food production” strand aims to address food availability and abundance and find “next generation” nutrient-rich alternatives, while the “food loss and waste” strand aims to ensure the sustainability of the entire food supply chain and the entire planet.
The event was attended by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; and His Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs.
Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to scale their business model in the UAE with the support of R&D, startup gas pedals, commercial incentives and mentorship to take the winning concepts from the lab to the marketplace. Applications are accepted from around the world, with priority given to countries that focus on agri-tech.
The Global FoodTech Challenge is organized by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Tamkeen, an organization in Abu Dhabi that works with leading local and international institutions to implement projects that enrich the UAE’s social, cultural and educational landscape. In this edition of the competition, they are joined by ASPIRE, the program management arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), which oversees technology R&D funding for Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole. In each area, the Challenge is supported by a local champion. ADQ and Silal are field partners in increasing food production, and the Emirates Foundation is a field partner in reducing food loss and waste.
The competition is supported by additional support from Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi Residents Office, The Catalyst Accelerator and Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.
Entries will be accepted until June, after which a shortlist will be created and the top 10 teams will have the opportunity to present their business cases at an awards ceremony in November. Applications for the contest can be submitted online at www.foodtechchallenge.com.
In the first edition of the FoodTech Challenge, 437 entries from 68 countries were submitted, with winners announced from Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the United Kingdom.
At @expo2020dubai, @HHShkMohd witnesses the launch of the 2nd edition of FoodTech Challenge, with a focus on finding the next wave of technologies to transform food & traditional agriculture practices, efficiently and sustainably. pic.twitter.com/94cCPzFPBu
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 25, 2022
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