Key Takeaways
- Innovative Solutions Identified: Goumbook’s Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme has identified ten projects that address sustainability challenges in agriculture across the MENAT region.
- Diverse Technological and Organic Approaches: The projects encompass a variety of approaches, from technological innovations to organic methods, aimed at improving soil health, conserving water, and enhancing crop resilience.
- Support and Development Opportunities: Finalists will receive mentorship, development sessions, and opportunities to compete for grants, enhancing their potential for real-world impact.
- Emphasis on Regenerative Practices: The initiative highlights the importance of regenerative agriculture in addressing climate change and securing food.
- Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with significant financial and educational institutions emphasizes a strong support network for fostering these innovations.
Goumbook, a prominent social enterprise focused on sustainability, has unveiled the top ten finalists of its Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme. This initiative fosters innovative agricultural practices integrating science, research, and entrepreneurship within the MENAT region. Submissions were welcomed from 18 countries, leading to a diverse group of finalists from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey.
Process and Selection
The selection involved an esteemed Judge Evaluation Committee and regenerative agriculture, innovation, and entrepreneurship experts. “The selection process was designed to identify the most promising solutions that could bring measurable improvements in sustainability within the region,” explains a committee spokesperson.
Description of the Top 10 Finalists and Their Projects
United Arab Emirates
- More Drop, More Crop: Focuses on sustainable water conservation technologies.
- Systemic Farming Method: Aims at enhancing carbon sequestration to improve future food security.
- Food Waste Rescue, Compost Production: Converts food waste into valuable compost, enhancing soil health.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Farm as an Ecosystem: Creates resilient farm ecosystems that improve soil microbiomes.
- Smart Encapsulation of Plant Growth Factors: Reduces chemical use while increasing wheat germination rates.
- Sesame Breeding: Produces improved sesame varieties tailored for arid climates.
Egypt
- MicroFert: Develops customized bio-products to increase crop productivity and soil fertility.
- Cyanoboost: Enhances plant growth and microbial diversity in the cultivation of medicinal plants.
- Egrobots: Deploys AI-driven robots for more effective crop protection.
Turkey
- Conservation & Organic Agriculture of Olive Trees: Promotes diversified and organic farming of olive trees.
Impact and Future Steps
“These projects will now move into a crucial phase where they will develop their concepts further and prepare for scalability and real-world application,” says Samantha Kayruz, Goumbook’s Strategy & Sustainability Impact Director. She adds, “The diversity and ingenuity of these solutions demonstrate the MENAT region’s capacity for research and innovation in tackling significant agricultural challenges.”
Finalists will engage in further developmental sessions and mentorship opportunities, culminating in a competitive pitch for one of three $10,000 grants. These grants are intended to facilitate the scaling of their solutions to broader applications.
