Lineage Food Chain Innovation Challenge 2024

Calling all innovators, developers, designers and entrepreneurs! Apply for the Lineage Food Chain Innovation Challenge 2024. Lineage is inviting forward-thinking students and startups from across the world to help address the complexities of the food supply chain, explore new perspectives, and propose innovative solutions that can reshape how we feed the world.

The teams who present the best ideas at each regional event will receive a cash prize. Additionally, one overall winner will be selected to participate in an incubator program organized by Lineage to further scale or develop the proposed solution.

The Challenge

Postharvest food waste poses a significant global challenge, affecting food security, quality, and market access. Particularly in developing and emerging regions, the absence of affordable and scalable solutions accelerates this issue, resulting in the loss of valuable food resources that could nourish millions.

During Lineage’s Food Chain Innovation Challenge, participants will present their innovative technologies or data solutions that address postharvest food waste, considering its multifaceted impact on communities and economies.

Participants are encouraged to focus their solutions on one of the following themes:

• Reducing food waste: Technologies and strategies to minimize postharvest food waste across the supply chain, from farm to market, considering factors such as storage, transportation, and distribution.
• Innovative food preservation techniques: Novel methods or devices for preserving food freshness and quality, extending shelf life, and reducing spoilage, especially in resource-constrained environments.
• Access to nutritious food: Design solutions to improve access to nutritious food in underserved areas by addressing challenges such as food distribution logistics, affordability, and availability of fresh produce.
• Data-driven insights and analytics: Utilize data analytics, IoT devices, and other technologies to gather insights into food supply chains, identify areas of waste, and optimize resource allocation for maximum efficiency.

Benefits of Food Chain Innovation Challenge

Lineage’s Food Chain Innovation Challenge provides a unique opportunity for participating teams to:

• Connect: Network with industry professionals, mentors and fellow participants from around the world.
• Learn: Experts in the food and logistics fields will be on site to provide real-time feedback and guidance to teams to help them develop their proposals.
• Get Funded: The team with the winning entry selected by the judges in each region will receive a cash prize. Each of the regional winners will then enter a final round of global judging, competing for additional prize money and exclusive access to an executive-led incubator program organized by Lineage.
• Create Impact: Make a difference by addressing real-world issues and contributing to a sustainable future.

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Eligibility for Food Chain Innovation Challenge

• Open to students and entrepreneurs of all ages, genders, backgrounds, geographies and industries. Individuals or teams can participate.
  • There are no country restrictions, but entrants must be eligible to receive prizes (if they win) and it is their responsibility to pay any taxes on the prize winnings.
• The competition is open to startups and early-stage companies.
• All entries must comply with local business regulations and laws.

Team Formation and Registration

• Participant team Size: Teams may consist of 1 to 5 members.
• Changes to team members are not permitted after September 30, 2024. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis by the Food Chain Innovation Challenge committee.
• Teams should be made up exclusively of participants who are not organizers, volunteers, judges, sponsors, or in any other privileged position at the event.
• Judges are not eligible to participate in the Food Chain Innovation Challenge. They may, however, provide teams with advice and support ahead of the pitches on the day of the event.
• Participants/Teams must submit a detailed business plan, including market viability, product or service description, financial projections, and clearly state the impact their solution will have on minimizing post-harvest food waste.

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Judging Criteria

• Innovation: Originality and creativity of the idea.
• Viability: Practical implementation of the idea and potential for success.
• Impact: Potential market impact and benefit to the industry or society.
• Presentation: Clarity, persuasiveness, and professionalism of the presentation.
• Team capability: Ability of the team to execute the plan.

Application

The application form asks participants to describe their ideas. Compelling entries and presentations should aim to reduce waste, enhance food preservation techniques, and improve accessibility to nutritious food. Additionally, it should be adaptable to various socio-economic contexts, ensuring scalability and affordability. Participants may also upload a short (5-7 slides) pitch deck with additional information (optional).

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