The UAE has unveiled the latest edition of the FoodTech Challenge during the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting, held alongside the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Aimed at tackling global food security challenges, the competition focuses on driving tech-based solutions for food systems in difficult environments, especially in the context of a world expected to feed an additional 2 billion people by 2050.
This year’s expanded FoodTech Challenge, featuring a $2 million prize pool, is organized by the UAE Presidential Court’s International Affairs Office and Tamkeen. The challenge is backed by prominent partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, ne’ma (the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Initiative), and Silal, a leading UAE agri-tech company.
The 2024 edition broadens its focus to encompass three critical areas: food and water, food and energy, and food loss and waste. Four winning startups will receive a share of the prize, alongside go-to-market support and access to an extensive network of partners. The winners will showcase and develop their innovative solutions within the UAE, with plans to expand these models to underserved markets in the Global South.
The competition aims to address the unique challenges posed by the UAE’s harsh climate, characterized by limited arable land and water resources. Innovations developed in the UAE will serve as models for other nations facing similar issues, providing scalable solutions for global food security.
Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Co-Chair of the FoodTech Challenge, stated: “After the historic COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, and the announcement of the partnership between the UAE and the Gates Foundation on agriculture innovation, the critical role of agriculture and food production in the wider climate crisis is increasingly coming into focus. 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 continued, “Through the FoodTech Challenge, we are ensuring that every country and region has the opportunity to participate in the exchange of ideas and investments on the critical issue of food security.”
Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and Co-Chair of the FoodTech Challenge, emphasized the UAE’s forward-thinking approach: “In the UAE, innovation is part of our DNA, and we’ve learned that the key to accelerating the pace of progress lies in combining forward-thinking ideas with partnership, inclusivity, and early-stage investment. This approach has proven effective in driving transformative outcomes, both locally and globally.”
Rodger Voorhies, President of Global Growth & Opportunity at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, added, “The effects of food insecurity and malnutrition are in sharp focus for us at the Gates Foundation, with our annual Goalkeepers report highlighting child malnutrition as one of the world’s worst health crises. As food insecurity rises globally and climate change continues to disrupt the sensitive task of raising crops and livestock, we must support innovative solutions and technologies that ensure stable food systems.”
Since its inception, the FoodTech Challenge has attracted over 1,100 applications from 98 countries. Previous winners have showcased groundbreaking technologies, ranging from AI-powered food waste reduction to carbon-negative plant-based protein development. One such winner, Iyris (formerly Red Sea Farms), has raised over $34 million in additional funding since winning the competition, and its technology is now being deployed across Silal farms in Abu Dhabi.
Applications for the latest challenge close on December 12, 2024, with finalists to be announced in April 2025. Startups interested in competing can apply through the FoodTech Challenge website.
