Innovations on Sustainable Food and Agriculture Recognized at FAO Awards

Innovations on Sustainable Food and Agriculture Recognized at FAO Awards

During the FAO Awards held on 26 June 2019, winners of the International Innovation Award for Sustainable Food and Agriculture were recognized.  

The Award was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Federal Government of Switzerland on October 2018 and was opened to individuals, private companies, and institutions. Over 400 proposals were received worldwide and were evaluated based on quality and merit of the innovation, its potential benefit, impact and sustainability, scalability, and value for money by FAO’s team of experts. The Award had two categories: Award for Digitalization and Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems (Category A) and Award for innovations that empower youth in agriculture and food systems (Category B). 

The Award for Digitalization and Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems (Category A) recognized innovations that impact more than one level of supply chain and strengthen the link between farmers and consumers. The winners include Imaflora‘s digital platform and brand “Origens Brasil” that links indigenous groups in Amazonia to new markets and Practical Action‘s initiatives towards empowering landless and marginalized farmers through “sandbar cropping” and connecting growers to buyers in domestic and export markets. Among the shortlisted candidates were Binkabi, United Kingdom, East Africa Fruits, Tanzania, and Solar Freeze, Kenya.

On the other hand, the Award for innovations that empower youth in agriculture and food systems (Category B) recognized innovations that empower youth (under 35 years old) in agriculture and food systems. Adjudged as winner was the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for establishing an agribusiness incubation program called IITA Youth Agripreneurs. Shortlisted candidates were Farmerline Ltd., Ghana, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenya, and Ubiriki, Peru.

For more information on the Award and its winners, visit the FAO page on the Award.

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