UN FAO Data for Farm Value Global Challenge 2025 for innovative startups worldwide (€5,000 prize) – Opportunities For Africans

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Application Deadline: 25 August 2025

Applications at the moment are open for the 2025 UN FAO Data for Farm Value Global Challenge. FAO and the University of Helsinki’s Viikki Food Design Factory have launched the worldwide Data for Farm Value Challenge to assist startups utilizing farm-level information in innovative methods. The aim is to unlock worth for smallholder farmers, who typically generate key insights however are neglected of the data-driven agrifood economic system.

The connection between agricultural information and smallholder farmers is in dire have to be strengthened. To unlock its innovative potential, we’re searching for honest enterprise fashions which have the capability to incorporate smallholder farmers within the compensation mechanisms within the information ecosystem surrounding the agrifood world. 

Startups are invited to:

• Develop scalable digital options that render, and construction information generated on the farm-level in a usable, helpful and extra generally used format. 
• Create/Propose enterprise fashions the place farmers are included and pretty compensated for their information contributions, i.e. enterprise fashions capturing worth additionally for the farmers as information producers. 
• Facilitate the mixing of farm-level information into the availability chain, sustainability, and market entry platforms
• Design clear mechanisms that allow farmers to promote or commerce information whereas sustaining possession
• Connect farm-level information with broader private and non-private sector initiatives to drive sustainability and financial worth throughout the worth chain

 Eligibility standards

• Registered firms with a minimal crew dimension of two individuals working 50% of their working hours on the answer
• Technology Readiness Level 3-7 (between Proof of Concept and Approved Prototype)
• funding degree: At minimal pre-seed funding, at most Series A funded, with annual income not more than €500K/12 months
• Startups could be positioned wherever around the globe
• Availability and funds to attend the FAO Science and Innovation Forum in Rome, Italy, on October 16 and (for the chosen 4 pitching finalists) the Y Science and Slush occasions on November 18-20, 2025, in Helsinki, Finland
• All submissions ,displays and communications are required to be in English

Benefits

• Workshops on pitching and product-market match associated to data-focused startups
• Networking Opportunities within the agrifood innovation ecosystem spanning the UN, private and non-private sectors, and academia
• Opportunity for 10 startups to pitch on stage on the FAO’s Science and Innovation Forum (SIF) in Rome on October 16, 2025
• Access to the World Food Forum throughout FAO’s eightieth anniversary celebrations.
• The prime 4 startups from the SIF pitchers will pitch at Y Science, a aspect occasion of Slush, in Helsinki on November 19, 2025
• A free ticket to Slush for the 4 finalists
• A money prize of 5,000 euros for the winner of the pitching competitors.
• Access to the Data Refinery, a joint initiative by FAO and the University of Helsinki’s Viikki Food Design Factory together with accesing and utilizing worthwhile information units from FAO and companions
• Mentoring with FAO’s international digital agriculture and information specialists by means of 1:1 workplace hours

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the UN FAO Data for Farm Value Global Challenge