There will also be an additional four S$50,000 Startup SG grants available, sponsored by SPRING Singapore.
To qualify, applicants need to have completed a proof-of-concept for an innovative and sustainable technology that positively impacts the food ecosystem
The judging panel includes Gérard Jacquin, former Director of Partnerships, Transfer and Innovation at INRA, Europe’s leading agricultural research institute; Dr Ralph Graichen, Director of Food and Nutrition at A*STAR’s Biomedical Research Council; Victoria de la Huerga, Vice President of ADM Ventures, Archer Daniels Midland Company; and Isabelle Decitre, Founder and CEO of organisers ID Capital.
The final award event will be hosted in Singapore in the second half of May 2018, where finalist start-ups will have the opportunity to present their technology to a room full of industry experts and investors.
Expanding horizons
Last year’s competition received entries from 19 different countries.
Decitre said 2018 would see the addition of five new categories; agri marketplaces, agri finance, food fortification, smart manufacturing; technologies and smart packaging.
“The new categories ensure we are on trend, as the sector begins to expand its horizon,” she said. “We will also keep progressing all finalists into the Future Food Asia Platform, which provides structured support to these entrepreneurs.”
She added the sector was continuing to grow, with AgFunder reporting investments of US$ 4.4bn in the first half of 2017, a 6% increase on 2016.
Last year Indian firm String Bio took the US$100,000 top prize, with four other companies; Agrint (Israel), Hands Life Science (Hong Kong), Smart AHC (Singapore) and Sophie’s Kitchen (Taiwan) each receiving a SG$50,000 Startup SG Grant.
Applications for the Future Food Asia Award will close in the first week of April 2018. Find out more here.