International Finance Corporation (IFC) “Pitch@IFC” Food Safety Challenge 2021 – Call for Applications

IFC is calling on the public to develop digital/technology-based solutions for the food industry. You may be a business operator involved in the primary processing, production, or storage of food products; a broker or trader; a transport or distribution company; a retailer or catering establishment; an academic institution or student; a government agency; or simply a person with a fantastic idea. Regardless of your affiliation, all ideas are encouraged and welcomed.

Application Deadline: 26th April 2021 (09:00 East Africa Time EAT)

About the Award: The stakes are high: Africans suffer the highest burden of foodborne diseases worldwide, with an estimated 137,000 deaths and 91 million illnesses annually, according to a recent report from the Global Food Safety Partnership. Unsafe food has enormous economic ramifications on Africa’s economy, with estimated losses of up to $16.7 billion in annual productivity. IFC seeks to change this dynamic and focus on solutions for providing safer food for Africans. 

Food companies in Africa face numerous challenges, including limited access to finances to support food safety procedures, lack of incentives to improve domestic markets’ food safety, and outdated food safety policies and regulations. A strong and effective food safety system signifies a sustainable business and is evidence that risks are being identified and controlled.

The IFC Food Safety Challenge recognizes that food safety improvements are necessary and can save economies worldwide millions of dollars. Specifically, our focus is on continuously innovating and finding ways to trace and trail the food journey, better monitoring processes, and analyzing data efficiently to make the right decisions.

Type: Contest

Eligibility: IFC calls on the public, food companies, and all innovators to develop digital/technology-based solutions for the food industry to trace food products, monitor processes and improve data analysis.

Selection Criteria: IFC is looking for digital solutions to improve operations within the following areas continuously:

• Traceability
• System monitoring
• Data analysis

Eligible Countries: International

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: Through your submission of a solution to this Challenge, you/your organization can benefit from:

• Potential to advance the state-of-the-art in Food Safety
• Potential to receive funding for rapid prototyping and prospective further development of your solution
• Potential contract or agreement and continuing business partnerships
• Potential for official recognition for you and your company, if selected, through publication on internal and external IFC communication channels
• Potential opportunity to collaborate and work with industry and the government to positively impact Food Safety, ultimately creating a more resilient food system
• Potential to present at the 9th International Food Safety Forum in May 2021
• The winner will receive the title and prize for the “Food Safety Top Innovator 2021”

THE WINNER WILL ALSO RECEIVE:

• 1- year of mentorship and coaching
• Publicity on IFC’s social media channels

How to Apply: Participate Here

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details