The Agropolis Foundation in France seeks partnerships to address the world’s challenges related to food, agriculture, and biodiversity. The Foundation intends to devote one-third of its resources to co-invest with private and public partners. Potentially interested partners can contact Agropolis at the indicated email address. Click here for more information
business/enterprise
European Union — AgriFI Challenge Fund
The AgriFI Kenya Challenge Fund is a European Union initiative to support smallholder agriculture through the provision of financial support to agri– enterprises. The Fund awards financial support to smallholder farmers in Kenya to practice environmentally sustainable and climate-smart agriculture. Any financial support requested must fall between the minimum amount of €200 thousand and the maximum amount of €750 thousand. The financial support will require 50% match funding from the agri-enterprise. The Fund aims to support projects put forward by small and medium sized agri-enterprises. The deadline is 27 August 2020. Find the call guidelines
Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine — Africa Agri-Food Development Program
The Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP) is a joint initiative between the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. AADP seeks to develop partnerships between the Irish Agri-Food Sector and African countries to support sustainable and mutual trade between Ireland and Africa. For this purpose AADP provides funding of up to €250 thousand per company for a full project or €100 thousand for a feasibility study. Only Irish Agri-Food companies are eligible to apply but each applicant must have at least one local partner in Africa. Projects will be supported in Botswana, Cóte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The closing date for the receipt of applications is 02 September 2020. Find the AADP
World Tourism Organization — SDGs Global Startup Competition
The UNWTO Sustainable Development Goals Global Startup Competition seeks innovative startups that directly contribute to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The competition features 17 categories, each one representing a Sustainable Development Goal. Startups from all over the world and all economic sectors are invited to participate. The winning startups receive a pitch at a UNWTO Demo Day, capacity and business development training, access to technological support, and connection to the UNWTO Innovation Network. The deadline for candidatures is 20 September 2020. Link to the competition
UK Department for International Development — Agri-Tech Catalyst for Africa
The Agri-Tech Catalyst aims to increase the pace and scale of uptake of agricultural innovation by farmers in Africa. Projects should focus in any of three categories: early-stage technical feasibility; industrial research; or late-stage experimental development. Project leaders must be UK businesses (or UK research organizations in the case of early-stage technical feasibility). Projects should include at least one consortium member from an eligible African country. The amount of project co-funding available varies from £100 thousand to £1 million depending on category and business size. The deadline for registration is 21 October 2020. Find the call
Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries — Special Call for Proposals on Firms and Climate Change
The Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries (PEDL) Initiative announces a special research grant program specifically related to understanding the relationship between private sector development and the environment. The objective of PEDL is to fund cutting-edge, policy-oriented research that could be published in leading academic journals. Exploratory Research Grant (ERG) are grants of between £10 thousand and £40 thousand. Grants will fund research assistance, data collection and new surveys in LICs. Proposed projects must be relevant to policy in low-income countries in order to be eligible. The deadline for this special call is 31 August 2020. Link
Olam International — Prize for Food Security 2021
The Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security, in partnership with Agropolis Fondation, honors and offers financial support to an outstanding research project for its potential impact on the availability, affordability, accessibility, or adequacy of food. Olam invites applications from research projects in plant science, soil science, nutritional science, agricultural sciences, and any other field of scientific research impacting food security, focused on any part of the agricultural supply chain. The winning research project will receive US$75 thousand in unrestricted funding to support further development of the research project. The deadline for applications is 11 January 2021. Link
United States Agency for International Development — Equal Access to Natural Resources
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announces the Resilient, Inclusive, & Sustainable Environments (RISE) Challenge. USAID seeks innovative interventions that prevent and respond to gender-based violence across programs that address the access, use and management of natural resources. The challenge aims to fund organizations to innovatively adapt and implement promising or proven interventions that enhanced environmental action and women’s empowerment. USAID will award up to three awards in the amount of up to US$300 thousand. Eligibility extends to all organizations regardless of type (e.g., NGO; for profit; not-for-profit; community organizations, etc.) with local presence where USAID is currently operational. Submissions are due on 05 August 2020. Rise Challenge
FoodTech Accelerator — Global FoodTech Accelerator
The Global Foodtech Accelerator 2020 is open for applications. The Program seeks 10 startups with innovative solutions and international partners to improve agrifood and retail sectors. Selected projects will receive an economic contribution, office space, mentorship and networking opportunities. Eligibility extends to Italian and foreign companies and individuals. The application deadline is 30 September 2020. Link
InVivo Group — AgFood Climate Change Challenges
InVivo’s Quest Competition seeks technological and ecological innovations to answer to climate change challenges in the AgFood industry. The competition is open to start-ups which already have a commercialized product or service with technology focus. The current 4th Quest is open to businesses in Europe, divided into 7 geographical areas. The laureate of each geographical area will earn a “business connexions” pack including consulting from leading agfood companies and a two day stay in Paris, including lunch with the InVivo Executive Committee. Start-us from Eastern Europe may apply until 30 September 2020. Link