Call for Applications: Data for Farm Value Global Challenge 2025 in Helsinki

Are you an modern startup with a mission to empower smallholder farmers by information? The Data for Farm Value Global Challenge, collectively launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the University of Helsinki’s Viikki Food Design Factory, is now accepting functions!

This world problem invites startups to submit scalable, data-driven options that unlock worth for farmers and drive sustainability throughout agrifood methods. Selected startups can have the chance to pitch on worldwide levels, entry precious information from FAO and companions, and achieve mentorship from world consultants.

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 What is the Challenge?

The Data for Farm Value Global Challenge is designed to establish and assist pioneering startups that harness farm-level information to create inclusive, truthful, and impactful options for smallholder farmers. Startups ought to suggest digital improvements and enterprise fashions that guarantee farmers are compensated and empowered as information contributors.

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Key Dates

• Application Deadline: August 25, 2025

• FAO Science and Innovation Forum (Rome): October 13–17, 2025

• Pitching Day at FAO SIF: October 16, 2025

• Y Science & Slush (Helsinki): November 19–20, 2025

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Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, candidates should:

• Be a registered firm with not less than 2 staff members working 50% of their time on the answer

• Have a Technology Readiness Level between 3 and 9 (Proof of Concept to Market-Ready Product)

• Be pre-seed to Series A funded with an annual income below €500,000

• Be primarily based wherever in the world

• Be obtainable and funded to journey to Rome and, if chosen, Helsinki

• Submit all supplies in English

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What We’re Looking For

Startups ought to suggest options that:

• Structure and render farm-level information in helpful and accessible codecs

• Develop truthful enterprise fashions that compensate farmers for their information

• Integrate farm information into provide chain, sustainability, or market platforms

• Enable farmer-owned information monetization by clear mechanisms

• Link farm-level information with public/personal sustainability initiatives

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What You’ll Gain

Participants will profit from:

• Workshops on pitching, enterprise modeling, and information monetization

• 1:1 Office Hours with FAO’s digital agriculture and information consultants

• Networking with the agrifood ecosystem throughout public, personal, and educational sectors

• Pitch alternative on the FAO SIF in Rome (10 startups)

• Final pitch at Y Science @ Slush in Helsinki (Top 4 startups)

• Free Slush ticket for finalists

• €5,000 money prize for the pitching competitors winner

• Access to the Data Refinery platform powered by FAO and Viikki Food Design Factory

• Visibility by FAO’s world platforms and occasions

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Message from the Organizers

“To the visionary changemakers rising to the Data for Farm Value Challenge: your innovations hold the power to rewrite the rules of the agrifood economy. By placing smallholder farmers at the center of the data revolution, you’re not only driving digital transformation, you’re shaping a future that is fairer, smarter, and more sustainable for all.”
— Vincent Martin, FAO Director of Innovation

“Now is the time to mobilize agri-data expertise to create impactful solutions and business models. Data must serve farmers, not just systems.”
— Laura Forsman, Viikki Food Design Factory Manager

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Apply Now

Submit your application by August 25, 2025, to be part of this transformative world initiative and pitch your answer on a world stage.

Apply here
For inquiries:

Let your innovation unlock worth and drive change the place it issues most — on the farm.

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For extra alternatives, go to opportunitiesforyouth.org.