Abu Dhabi: The four winners of the second edition of the global FoodTech Challenge, to find the next wave of technology innovations on the cusp of transforming traditional agriculture practices, efficiently and sustainably, were announced at an awards ceremony during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2023.
The winners, Aquagrain, Orbisk, Revoltech, and Sustainable Planet, were selected from a pool of 12 finalists chosen from an initial 667 submissions from 79 countries. The finalists, who showcased their high-tech concepts at ADSW, represented a diverse demographic with 33 percent led by young CXOs between the ages of 22-35 years old, highlighting the role of the next generation in developing sustainable solutions to food security.
Congratulations to the winners of the second edition of the #FoodTechChallenge: @aquagraincrops, Orbisk, Revoltech and Sustainable Planet!!!🌱 🏆#foodsecurity #foodtech #agtech pic.twitter.com/nMOm0QT4KS
— UAE FoodTech Challenge (@FoodTechUAE) January 17, 2023
With a pooled prized of up to $2 million, the four winners will be invited to scale up their business models within the UAE and will be supported with a cash award plus R&D, start-up acceleration, commercial incentives, and mentorship from an extensive range of partners, including ASPIRE, Silal, ADQ, Emirates Foundation, Hub71, Ma’an, The Catalyst, ADGM, ADRO, the Competitive Office of Abu Dhabi, and Khalifa Fund. While the other finalists may not have taken home the prize, they all represent promising solutions that can be scaled.
Ms. Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Co-Chair of the FoodTech Challenge, commented that. “Congratulations to the four incredibly talented winners that are set to reshape the agri-tech landscape of the UAE and wider world. The FoodTech Challenge taps into global talent and provides a critical path to innovation across cutting-edge technologies, while supporting the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy and a path towards a more sustainable global food system.”