Three African startups have been selected to pitch at the Agriculture Innovation Challenge, organized by the World Bank’s Agriculture Observatory and Draper University. The startups are South Africa’s Esus Farm and Injini, and Ghana’s Satelligence. The pitch competition will hold today, the 10th of June 2020.
The Agriculture Innovation Competition is part of the World Bank’s three innovation challenges to respond to the effect of climate change on agriculture and to ensure food security. The pitch competition is in support of the Agriculture and Food Security Risk Financing initiative in South Africa. Climate change is expected to intensify agriculture risks in the South Africa Development Community (SADC). A typical example is the drought and pest infestation in some Eastern and Southern African countries.
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The pre-selection stage took place at the end of April 2020. At the event, the Grand Jury of Agriculture Innovation Challenge Initiative of the World Bank announced the winners of each category. The top finalists include Arable (USA), CropIn (India), Satelligence (Ghana), Sailog (Israel), EsusFarm (South Africa), and Injini (South Africa).
The participants are to present innovative solutions for agricultural data, weather variables, pests, and plant diseases in the most vulnerable regions. At the end of today’s pitch, the finalists will be invited to present their proposal work in a report on agriculture innovations to the World Bank and partners. They will be invited to an all-expense-paid award ceremony in Washington DC and have the opportunity to interact with potential partners.
The three agrotechs are the only African startups to take part in the virtual pitch contest. World Bank Agriculture Innovation Challenge will showcase the top agro and food security solutions in the world. The finalists will showcase their solutions to representatives of the World Bank and government officials.
To join the live stream, click here.
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