WFP - World Food Programme

12/01/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/01/2022 04:44

WFP Innovation Accelerator hosts global Pitch Event for start-ups addressing the climate and global food crises

MUNICH - Seven start-ups competing for up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding from the United Nations World Food Programme Innovation accelerator, showcased their new technologies to tackle hunger and the climate crisis, at a global pitch event in Munich, Germany.

Aumsat, Fonio, Blue Marble, Etherisc, Emerging Cooking Solutions project, MegaGas, and Africa GreenTec are the seven start-ups that showcased their innovations, to potential funders, local and international partners. The solutions ranged from food processing machines, solar-powered cooling storage units, to innovative agriculture insurance technology solutions, and emerging cooking solutions.

"For everybody who knows about climate science, it is clear that the world needs a lot more climate action," said Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of the World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator. "Some of the most affected people by climate change are in developing countries, making the global food crisis even worse. At the WFP Innovation Accelerator, we believe that start-ups and innovations can play a key role in climate action and ending global hunger."

The finalists' start-ups collaborated with the WFP Innovation Accelerator to improve their solutions, ensuring projects have the greatest possible impact for the world's 828 million hungry people.

Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, and Zambia are already testing the start-up solutions presented and the most promising projects will be considered for the WFP Sprint Programme and receive equity-free funding, mentorship and access to WFP's global network of partners and field operations in 120 countries and territories.

The Global pitch event in Munich concludes the World Food Programme Accelerator, which seeks innovations that improve nature-based solutions and climate-resilient infrastructures; anticipate pre-positioned finance and preventive action before disasters strike; promote climate risk insurance as safety nets for food-insecure populations; and promote sustainable energy solutions in schools and communities.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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