The Agritech Challenge 2021 is open for applications

In partnership with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog (Government of India), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rabo Foundation, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Bayer, The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) launched an innovation platform to enable a cross-border exchange of innovations, insights, and investments. The Agritech Challenge Programme is the first initiative to be announced which aims at improving the financial health of smallholder farmers by supporting agritech and agri-fintech startups to expand to international markets across Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia) and Asia (Malaysia, India, and Indonesia). Applicants must address at least one of the three identified challenge areas in their chosen international market: 1) law productivity: access to new technology and innovations, 2) climate risk: resilience against climate change and natural hazards, and 3) inefficient supply chains: reduce wastage and build transparent pricing. Through this programme, participants will get access to industry, investor, and market linkages, along with mentorship from sector experts to help them build and test their solution, with subsequent support on scaling the solution as well. The deadline for applications is 10 September 2021.