III Food Loss Challenge

Challenge for startups with initiativeS in the food loss and waste chain aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Reasons

Food loss starts at the production level. Low market prices and high labor costs often make it uneconomic for farmers to harvest everything they produce. Strict cosmetic standards result in an insufficient demand for imperfect-looking products.

Despite farm-to-food collection and efforts to recover this uncollected food, the vast majority is left in the fields. Additionally, supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 closures and other barriers, along with labor shortages caused by virus precautions, led to increased farm-level waste early in the pandemic.

Food waste reduction solutions and recommendations include producers or producers and companies that package agricultural or animal products at the point of production. Agriculture generates 16.7 million tonnes of surplus produce; almost all are left behind after harvest as it is not considered marketable.

Only 1.7% is donated to hunger relief. Implementing solutions and establishing best practices at the farm level can build resilience across the supply chain is imperative.

Startups are sources of new products and solutions. With the challenge, in its second edition, Bayer contributes to strengthening the transformation of food systems.

Food Loss Percentage
Post Harvest | Product Group

Roots, Tubers, and Oil-Bearing Crops
25
Meat and Animal Products
12
Fruits and Vegetables
22
Cereals and Pulses
7
Other
10

FAO 2019 Food Loss Percentage | Regions

World
14
Western Asia and Northern Africa
11
Sub-Saharan Africa
15
Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand)
8
Northern America and Europe
16
Latin America and the Caribbean
13
Eastern and South-Eastern Asia
7
Central and Southern Asia
21
Australia and New Zealand
6

Key Figures - World

1.3 billion tons of food are lost in the world

It means 30% of total food production, 15% of all calories

Useless consumption of land, water, energy

Unnecessary emission of greenhouse gases

And not always the calculated cost to society

Key Figures - Brazil

Brazil loses approximately 10% of the total food produced
Biggest losses:

Main causes of losses: storage, packaging, handling, and transport

Pineapple
20%
Manioc
16%
Banana
15%
Yam
12%
Other Fruits
22%
Other Vegetables
12%
Rice, Corn, Tomato, and Onion
10%
Milk and Wheat
5%
Eggs and Beans
3%

Who Can Participate?

Startups focused on digital technology, Crop management, storage, and transport in the field and out of the field

Startups that bring solutions to reduce product losses in the field and out of the field with disruptive and global impact innovation

Startups with fiscal registration and operating

Global startups with solutions to reduce food loss and waste

Challenge

Identify disruptive startups focusing on food waste in and off the field

Technology and Innovation in Agriculture:
The transformation in the way of producing food in the field

IN THE FIELD

IN THE FIELD

  • Digital technology

    Digital technology, e-commerce platforms, Robots, automation in the field, intelligent machines and sensors, data, artificial intelligence

  • Regenerative Agriculture

    Reduction in water consumption, bio inputs, energy consumption reduction, pest control, climate, Predictive tools for crop management

  • Transport and storage

    Smart packaging, more effective transport. Post-harvest protection systems

Challenge

Identify disruptive startups focusing on food waste in and off the field

Disruptive New Technologies out of the field
How the food industry and the consumer are preparing for a sustainable future

OUT OF THE FIELD

FOOD WASTE RETAIL/CONSUMER

FOOD WASTE INDUSTRY/DISTRIBUTION
  • Reduction of Food Waste in the Chain

    Use of biomass, Improvement in technological processes in the industry

  • Digital Solutions: AI, IOT

    Transport IOT Solutions, Restaurant Loss Reduction Solutions, Consumer Awareness Data

  • Packaging

    Innovative packaging, shelf-life increase

Timeline

Launch

16.10.2023

Announcement

Qualified Startups
17.11.2023

Interview with qualified startups

20 to 27.11.2023

Final

13.12.2023

Competition Dynamics

The Challenge is an initiative of Bayer’s Life Hub and partners with FoodTech Hub Latam

In the selection process we will:

Release: 16.10.2023

Announcement of qualifiers: 17.11.2023

Interviews of qualified startups:  20 to 27.11.2023

Final: 13.12.2023

During the call process, national and international mentors will be allocated to help in the development of the Startup

05 startups will be selected per category in the final

Each Startup will have 07 minutes for the pitch with 03 minutes for the Q&A

A select group of judges representing the agricultural industry, academia, venture capital, entrepreneurs, and the government will evaluate and choose the champion of each category

The prize for each winner will be BRL 5,000.00 (five thousand reais) in credit for a trip to visit knowledge spaces related to the category. The organizing committee and the startup will define the place to be seen

IMPORTANT

Check the full rules

CONTACT