Are you a young innovator or agripreneur with a groundbreaking solution for sustainable agriculture? Do you want to pitch your startup on a global stage and win seed funding? The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with Zhejiang University and Pinduoduo, invites you to apply for the Global AgriInno Challenge (GAC) 2026. This fully funded opportunity will take top finalists to Hangzhou, China, for an intensive innovation bootcamp, offering seed funding, international mentorship, and global visibility.

While the 2026 edition places a special focus on resilient agrifood systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the challenge is open to innovative teams from all around the world. If your technology or business model is ready to scale and address critical challenges in food security, climate resilience, and rural development, this is your chance to transform your impact.

Important Details

• Organizers: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Zhejiang University, and Pinduoduo
• Location: Hangzhou, China (Bootcamp) & Rome, Italy (Showcase for winners)
• Format: Online screening, remote coaching, followed by an in-person pitch event
• Application Deadline: 20 June 2026 (24:00 CEST)
• Eligible Candidates: Agripreneurs, startup founders, researchers, and innovation teams worldwide

Financial Benefits and Opportunities

The Global AgriInno Challenge provides substantial support to its finalists and winners to help scale their impact:

• Full Travel Package for Finalists: Selected teams will receive round-trip flights, accommodation and meals, local transportation in China, and visa application fee coverage to attend the Global Final Pitch event in Hangzhou (August 2026).
• Top 3 Winners Awards: The top three teams will receive seed funding, an exclusive exhibition slot at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum in Rome, Italy (October 2026), and a Digital Agriculture Innovation Bootcamp in China.
• Expert Coaching: Participants receive access to a 2-day workshop, UN and academic mentorship, investor matchmaking, and global networking opportunities.
• Long-term Visibility: Teams will be showcased on FAO official channels, gain access to the alumni network, and be invited to Caribbean and Pacific events.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Global AgriInno Challenge 2026, applicants must meet the following strict requirements:

• Company Status: Be registered as a company or legal entity.
• Financial Capacity: Have less than $1,000,000 in annual turnover.
• Operational Age: Have been operating for less than 5 years.
• Technology Readiness: Possess a technology-based solution or business model at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7-9. The solution must be beyond the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage with evidence of real-world deployment, pilot testing, or operational demonstration.
• Age Limit: Have at least one team leader who is below 35 years of age.
• Commitment: Selected teams must commit to continuous engagement throughout the programme, including workshops, the Hangzhou pitch event, and the potential Rome showcase.
• Geographic Focus: Teams based worldwide are fully eligible to apply. However, solutions must directly address agrifood challenges in SIDS contexts or have already been piloted in island environments. Preference will be given to teams originating from or led by individuals from a SIDS.
• Diversity: Teams featuring female agripreneurs are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Submission Limit: Each applicant can submit only one application.

Challenge Themes

All proposed solutions must address at least one of the four following pillars critical to resilience:

• Better Production: Addressing limited arable land, fragmented supply chains, high food-import dependency, and climate pressures on agriculture and fisheries.
• Better Nutrition: Tackling the double burden of malnutrition (rising obesity and diet-related NCDs) alongside limited access to affordable, healthy diets.
• Better Environment: Protecting vulnerable ecosystems like forests, coral reefs, and coastal systems from climate change, biodiversity loss, and degradation.
• Better Life: Overcoming geographic isolation, limited economic opportunity, and high youth unemployment to foster inclusive rural development.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be rigorously evaluated by an expert panel of agrifood specialists, innovation practitioners, and impact investors based on:

• Innovation: Original use of emerging technologies, alignment with challenge themes, and accessibility for smallholder farmers.
• Market Potential & Economic Value: Potential for market entry, scalability, profitability, and ability to generate employment or investment.
• Social, Environmental Impact & Sustainability: Improvement of livelihoods, reduction of food loss/pollution, climate resilience, and social inclusion.
• Project Team: Operational capacity, relevant experience, technical skills, and commitment to diversity and gender equity.

How to Apply and Required Documents

Eligible candidates must submit their applications through the official STI portal network. English and Chinese are the working languages of the challenge, but all proposals and presentations must be submitted in English.

Applicants must prepare and submit the following materials:

• Innovation Solution Presentation: A PowerPoint or PDF format presentation (Maximum 12 slides, up to 250 words per slide, Microsoft YaHei font, minimum font size 16). The presentation must include:
  • Summary of the solution (up to 250 words)
  • Problem identification
  • Mission, vision, and values
  • Technical model
  • Timing justification (why now?)
  • Situation analysis (competitors/advantages)
  • Business plan (target group, adoption strategy, sustainability, gender consideration)
  • Financial situation (capital raised/needed, revenue analysis)
  • Phased development planning (3-year milestones)
• Video Pitch (1-2 minutes): A video answering the specific question: “How is your idea or solution going to help benefit vulnerable and rural populations?” This video must be uploaded to a sharing platform (YouTube, Google Drive, Youku, Baidu Cloud, etc.) and the link shared in the application form.

For more information and to apply, please visit the official FAO STI Portal application page linked below.

Information and Application: Apply Here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can my startup apply if we are not based in a Small Island Developing State (SIDS)? Yes, teams based anywhere in the world are fully eligible to apply. However, your solution must address agrifood challenges relevant to SIDS, and preference is given to teams led by individuals from SIDS.

What does Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7-9 mean for this application? TRL 7-9 means your product must be past the early prototype stage. You need to show that your system has been demonstrated in an operational environment (TRL 7), is qualified through testing (TRL 8), or is a proven system already in use (TRL 9).

Do all team members need to be under 35 years old? No. The requirement states that at least one team leader must be below the age of 35. There is no strict age limit for the rest of the team members.

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