Global FoodTech Challenge announces 30 shortlisted start-ups in competition for $2mln prize

Global FoodTech Challenge announces 30 shortlisted start-ups in competition for $2mln prize

DUBAI - A selection of 30 innovative agritech and foodtech start-ups from around the world, working to address food security challenges, were today named as shortlisted teams vying to win the global FoodTech Challenge that has a pooled prize of US$2 million.

The second edition of the FoodTech Challenge seeks to find the next wave of technology innovations on the cusp of transforming traditional agriculture practices efficiently and sustainably. Officially launched at Expo City in Dubai in March 2022, the competition is organised by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Tamkeen, with ASPIRE as the lead partner.

The shortlisted start-ups have been selected from 667 submissions across 79 countries, representing a 52 percent increase in entries compared to the first edition of the competition, which saw 437 applications from 68 countries, with previous winners announced from Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the UK.

Of the shortlisted start-ups, 50 percent of proposals were focused on tackling food production – with a heavy focus on insect farming and aquaculture, farm management, plant-based solutions, and precision farming. Applications addressing food loss and waste solutions account for the other 50 percent of the shortlisted start-ups, which featured food waste tech, food sharing platforms,