Innovation is changing the way food is produced, processed, traded and consumed and building more resilient and robust food systems. Both digital technologies and innovative practices for growing food have the potential to transform food systems, providing smallholder farmers with a better future, making farming more sustainable and ultimately closing the digital gap between developed and developing countries.
Since 2018, the FAO and the Federal Government of Switzerland encourage innovation by publically recognizing best practices through the International Innovation Award for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. The award does not only acknowledge digital innovation, but also new or existing products or practices that are used in a specific context, to increase effectiveness, competitiveness and resilience.
The innovation award is divided in two categories:
Category A
- USD 30,000 is awarded for excellence in digitization and innovation for sustainable food systems.
Category B
- USD 30,000 recognizes an innovation that specifically empowers youth in sustainable food systems.
Whether you are an individual, private company or institution with an innovation that is already in action and has demonstrated concrete results, they want to hear from you. Submit your application before the deadline on 19 March 2021.
*The awards are limited to innovations related to agriculture and pastoral systems only in accordance with the technical competencies of the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture.
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