A new initiative is seeking agro-tech startups that focus on the "operation system" of the food chain for a "fruitful" collaboration.
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On Wednesday, Good Company, Agoro Carbon Alliance, Strauss Israel, Smart Agro Fund, alongside LeumiTech, Meitar, ERB and AWS, launched the AgTech Mission.
The competition is actively seeking startups that re-envision how food and other agricultural products are grown, harvested, packaged, stored, transported, processed and sold, with an emphasis on become more efficient, sustainable and resilient and contributing to solutions to world hunger.
Ido Fishler, a managing partner at Good Company, said that the number of mouths to feed in the world was constantly increasing, while the amount of farmland dwindles. "Hunger is real and it's spreading (about 8.9% of the world's population – 690 million people) – go to bed on an empty stomach each night!" he noted.
According to Fishler, humanity must adapt its food "operation system."
"Alternative proteins, regenerative agriculture; precision farming and local supply chains are just some of the amazing trends that are experiencing accelerated disruption," Fishler explained. "We're proud to back BeeHero and we're looking to expand - that's why we're setting on a Mission to find startups in this space."
A selected number of startups will be invited to pitch in front of an experts' panel that includes the participating corporations, investors and larger startups already innovating in this space.
Investment of up to $250,000 will be available from Good Company, as well as from Smart Agro Fund, pending approval of the accelerator's investment committee. Participating startups will also be given opportunities to pilot projects with Strauss and Agoro Carbon Alliance.
The final pitch event is scheduled to take place Start-Up Nation Central's headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Applicants are required to submit a short application form sharing details about their startup's founders, purpose and product. Following a round of meetings with select startups, approximately five companies will be invited to pitch. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 30, 2021.
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