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The Global FoodTech Challenge has selected Aquagrain, Orbisk, Revoltech and Sustainable Planet as winners who will receive a combined prize of up to US$2 million to expand their business models in the UAE.
The second edition of the Global FoodTech Challenge, which seeks to identify the next wave of technological innovations that can efficiently and sustainably transform traditional farming practices, announced four winners at an awards ceremony at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2023 .
Winners were selected from 12 finalists selected from an initial 667 entries submitted from 79 countries.
high tech concept
The finalists presented their high-tech concepts at ADSW, representing a diverse group of people – 33% of whom were led by young CXOs aged 22-35, highlighting the role of the next generation in developing sustainable food security solutions.
With a total prize pool of up to US$2 million, the four winners will be invited to scale their business models in the UAE and will receive cash prizes as well as R&D, startup acceleration, business incentives and mentoring from a wide range of partners including ASPIRE, Silal , ADQ, Emirates Foundation, Hub71, Ma’an, The Catalyst, ADGM, ADRO, Abu Dhabi Competition Office and Khalifa Fund.
While the other finalists may not have won awards, they all represent promising solutions that can be scaled.
Winner Profile [listed alphabetically]
water pattern: Upcycling Food Waste to Grow Food in Sandy Soils (UK)
Aquagrain is a groundbreaking clean technology soil amendment made from organic waste that can absorb up to 30 times its mass in water, providing plants with valuable nutrients. It also reduces the need for inorganic fertilizers.
Obish: Reduce restaurant food waste by up to 70% with AI-enabled cameras (Netherlands)
Orbisk focuses on food loss and waste, using artificial intelligence image recognition technology and automation technology to quantify and predict food waste in professional kitchens, reduce food waste and improve profitability. The technology helps reduce food waste by 50-70% in the first year of use.
revolutionary technology: Your Burger, Preserved for 50 Years (UAE)
Revoltech’s unique freezing technology uses electromagnetic fields to reduce damage to food during cooling. Not only does the technology help to freeze food twice as fast, it can also preserve food for up to 50 years.
sustainable earth: Growing Plant-Based Protein Without Fresh Water (UK)
Sustainable Planet has revolutionized the growing of water lentils, a plant-based protein that can be grown on non-arable land and in salt water, using 20 times less water than protein isolates like soy. The start-up aims to drastically reduce protein imports.
AgTech Landscape
Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and co-chair of the FoodTech Challenge, said: “Congratulations to the four talented awardees who will reshape the agtech landscape in the UAE and the wider world. The FoodTech Challenge leverages global talent to deliver cutting-edge Innovation in technology provides critical pathways while supporting the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy and the path to a more sustainable global food system.”
Tamkeen Chair and FoodTech Challenge Co-Chair Rima Al Mokarrab added: “The FoodTech Challenge has selected four winners from around the world for transformative agricultural technology innovations. Their real work now begins as they mobilize and leverage the competition’s multi-sectoral The partner’s expertise delivers and scales food safety solutions to the UAE and beyond.”
This year’s FoodTech Challenge is organized by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Tamkeen, with ASPIRE as the main partner. The competition is also supported by local champions ADQ, Silal and the Emirates Foundation. — trade arab news agency
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