Awards mission

Technological and digital innovation will play a critical role in the future of our food. To address the unprecedented challenges facing our agrifood systems, we need to find new, actionable, innovative and inclusive solutions. We also need to ensure that these solutions take into account the complex, interrelated nature of global agrifood systems.

Through the WFF Startup Innovation Awards, we are seeking to identify, elevate and accelerate the growth of startups who show the greatest potential for a positive impact in transforming agrifood systems, aligned to one of four categories: better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life.

The Startup Innovation Awards provide finalists and award winners the potential for global visibility, the ability to raise capital, network with global entities (governments, United Nations agencies, corporations, VCs, partners), and gain the mentorship opportunities they need to pioneer technological breakthroughs and help power a sustainable future for our food.

Application and timeline

The WFF Innovation Labs launched the Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge, on 2 May 2023 during UN Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Forum and will accept applications until 15 June 2023. The competition is open to companies whose work impacts any element of agrifood systems: production, aggregation, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal of food products that originate from agriculture, forestry or fisheries; and parts of the broader economic, societal and natural environments in which they are embedded.

Be sure that you are registered for updates: Subscribe to the WFF mailing list and follow us on social media for the start of the call!

Phase I: Launch

2 May 2023: Launch of the WFF Startup Innovation Awards, powered by XTC, during UN STI Forum via our website, mailing list, and social media.

15 June 2023: Deadline for new applications.

Phase II: The WFF-XTC Startup Cup

June – October 2023: The WFF-XTC selection team will narrow down the list of entrants to an initial group of shortlisted startups to be highlighted on our website and participate in the September semi-finals.

The eight finalist startups across the Four Betters will then give their pitches to the panel of judges in a session during the World Food Forum flagship event in 16-20 October, with the final award for each of the categories of the Four Betters in relation to the 2023 theme: “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action”, as well as one overall winner, the WFF Startup Innovation of the Year Award, to be delivered in the WFF Innovation Award Ceremony.