Key Takeaways:
- The UAE has launched the third edition of the FoodTech Challenge with a $2 million prize to identify tech-driven solutions for global food security challenges.
- The competition focuses on three key areas: food and water, food and energy, and food loss and waste.
- Organized by the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, the challenge partners with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, and other organizations.
- The goal is to scale innovative solutions in the UAE and beyond, addressing food security in harsh environments, with potential for global impact.
UAE Launches Global FoodTech Challenge at Clinton Global Initiative 2024
The UAE has launched the third edition of its FoodTech Challenge during the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting in New York, held alongside the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The competition, organized by the UAE’s International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court and Tamkeen, offers a $2 million cash prize and aims to identify and support early-stage, tech-driven solutions to global food security challenges.
By 2050, the world will need to feed an additional 2 billion people, making food security an urgent global priority. The FoodTech Challenge targets innovations that can transform food systems in harsh environments, such as those found in arid regions.
Expanding Focus Areas and Partnership Support
This year, the FoodTech Challenge broadens its scope to three critical areas: food and water, food and energy, and food loss and waste. The competition is delivered in partnership with major organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, ne’ma (the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Initiative), and UAE agri-tech firm Silal.
Four winning start-ups will receive the $2 million cash prize, go-to-market support, and access to a global network of partners. The challenge provides these start-ups the opportunity to demonstrate, refine, and expand their solutions in the UAE, while offering a platform to scale their innovations to underserved regions in the Global South. With its arid desert climate and limited water resources, the UAE provides an ideal testbed for sustainable agricultural technologies, many of which can be replicated in other parts of the world facing similar challenges.
A Commitment to Food Security and Innovation
Launched by Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, and Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen, the FoodTech Challenge is part of the UAE’s broader efforts to drive agricultural innovation. Speaking about the competition, Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri said, “With the rising demands for food, water, and energy in the face of climate change, we need bold action, innovative thinking, and a transformative approach to our food systems.” She emphasized the importance of creating a platform for global collaboration on food security solutions.
Rima Al Mokarrab echoed this sentiment, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to innovation: “In the UAE, innovation is part of our DNA. The FoodTech Challenge harnesses this philosophy by identifying and connecting promising early-stage innovators with a wide network of partners.”
Rodger Voorhies, President of Global Growth & Opportunity at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, added, “As food insecurity rises globally and climate change continues to disrupt agriculture, we must support innovative solutions and technologies that ensure stable food systems. We are delighted to partner with the FoodTech Challenge and support their work to foster innovation in agri-tech.”
Proven Success and Future Potential
In its first two editions, the FoodTech Challenge attracted over 1,100 applications from start-ups in 98 countries, with innovations ranging from carbon-negative plant-based proteins to AI-driven food waste reduction technologies. Past winners have gone on to achieve significant success, with some securing additional funding and forming joint ventures to deploy their solutions.
For example, Iyris (formerly Red Sea Farms), a past winner, has raised over $34 million and implemented its agricultural technologies on Silal farms in Abu Dhabi.
