APPLY NOW for the IFAD 2021 Agrobiodiversity Innovation Challenge

Application Deadline: September 30th 2021

Are you an innovator interested in solving challenges in the agri-food sector by utilizing or conserving agrobiodiversity? If yes, submit your application!

The Agrobiodiversity Innovation Challenge aims to recognize new products, services, and best practices that can help farmers, consumers, and food companies to increase production effectiveness, competitiveness, and resilience while conserving agrobiodiversity.

In an open innovation approach, we aim to: 

• Connect different actors who are motivated to improve global and community-based food systems.
• Attract and support innovators to scale up their solutions through a long-term research and development collaboration with CGIAR and its partners. 
• Identify innovators who could help advance research by sharing ideas and solutions. 

The challenge will highlight leading innovations that are helping to use, conserve, and consume agrobiodiversity in ways that are better for people and for the environment. The competition is open to individual founders, private companies, and institutions.

The Agrobiodiversity Innovation Challenge is being organized by The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, with the support of the Italian Government, and in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), The Lexicon, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture Business Incubation Platform, CIHEAM Bari, and the Italian Institute of Technology.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must be: individuals, private companies, or institutions responsible for an innovation with a demonstrated efficiency using novel tools, products, or services to enhance and promote sustainable food and agriculture.

• Startups
• International Organizations (IOs)
• National Agriculture Research System (NARS)
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
• Private Companies
• Universities
• Individuals (e.g. farmers, processors, engineers, etc.)

All innovations must apply to agrobiodiversity conservation and consumption practices and should aim to include climate change adaptation measures. Application forms that are incomplete, do not comply with the terms and conditions specified in the call, or are submitted after the deadline, will not be considered. No applicants under the age of 18 will be considered for the Award, unless represented by a parent or legal guardian. Participation is free of charge. 

Preference will be given to applications by teams that have developed solutions to address the needs of the rural poor and/or communities in fragile and conflict-affected states or heavily affected by the aftermath of COVID-19. 

Selection Process 

• Call for ideas announced. Submissions will be accepted until September 30, 2021 
• The 10 shortlisted contestants will be notified by email. Guidelines will be provided for shortlisted contestants to prepare descriptions and pitches to be uploaded on the Congress platform. 
• All applicants will be invited to attend and network at the 2nd International Agrobiodiversity Congress. 
• The 10 shortlisted contestants will be invited to take part in the Pitch Day Competition on Monday, November 15th. Contestants will be asked to make a final pitch and attend a Q&A session with the Selection Committee, investors, partners, and a global audience. 
• The five winning innovations will be awarded a prize on November 15th. 
• The winning innovations will also be notified by email and must respond to the notification email to accept the prize. If the Secretariat does not receive a response from winners within seven (7) days of the notification, the Secretariat reserves the right to reallocate the prize to another applicant.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2021 Agrobiodiversity Innovation Challenge