ThinkAg NEWS: Inviting Applications to Rabo Bank's “SustainableAg Asia Challenge" and more

Rabobank, a global leader in food and agri banking, is excited to announce the launch of its “SustainableAg Asia Challenge”. Agtech companies with innovative solutions, that promote integrity in the agri-food supply chain in Asia, are invited to apply. The selected companies will benefit from networking opportunities with leading agri-businesses and eco-system partners to help them scale their businesses.

As agri-food supply chains are becoming increasingly interconnected - from input companies to farmers, traders, food companies and retailers – data and innovation are key to meet the increased demand for food.  Better data collection, analysis and sharing will improve integrity in the agri-food supply chain. Moreover, data-driven technology will enable farmers and food & agri companies to make more informed decisions, triggering new smart farming and processing techniques and new ways of food distribution. With the vast majority of smallholder farmers living in Asia, agtech solutions will enable farmers to improve their crop production and access to markets, and in turn improve their incomes. 

Against this backdrop, Rabobank, a global leader in food and agri banking, is organizing the “SustainableAg Asia Challenge”. Agtech companies with a market-ready innovative solution, that promote integrity in the agri-food supply chain in Asia, are invited to apply before Sunday 1 September 2019, 23:59 pm Singapore time. Solutions could be in the areas of farming practices, inclusivity of smallholder farmers, traceability, food safety, data integrity & sharing and/or improving access to markets.

The Top-15 companies will be invited to attend the Pitch Day in Singapore on 10th of October 2019and stand a chance to win a cash prize from a pool of US$20,000 and an exclusive invitation to pitch/present at Rabobank Asia’s annual Food & Agribusiness Advisory Board Meeting held in Shanghai on 31 October 2019. Travel grants will be provided to the Top-15 shortlisted companies to travel to Singapore and the Top-5 to travel to Shanghai. Successful applicants will be evaluated based on their technology innovation, market readiness, scalability and extent of addressing integrity in the agri-food value chain in Asia.

Rabo Foundation Head of Innovations Albert Boogaard adds: ”With the vast majority of the farmers in Asia being smallholders, we are excited to be involved in the Challenge again. Smallholder farmers lack mostly access to finance and knowledge. Data-driven technology enables smallholder farmers to get more insight how to increase their productivity and in turn increase their incomes.”

The Challenge is supported by Rabo Foundation, and in partnership with food and agriculture companies Archer Daniels Midland, Bayer and Olam International, and eco-system partners ADB Ventures, Bits & Bites, DSM and Temasek, who will act as Judges.

Find out more about the SustainableAg Asia Challenge by Rabobank at www.sustainableag.asia

Marico Innovation Awards 2020

At ThinkAg we are committed towards building platforms that accelerate innovation in food and agriculture. Here is one such collaboration with Marico Innovation Foundation.

They are back with the *most prestigious recognition platform* for undiscovered, disruptive innovations in the country! Inviting applications from and recommendations of innovations across the *Business, Start-Up and Social categories*. Winning entries gain exclusive access to *rewards to scale their ventures*.

To apply and know more: https://www.maricoinnovationfoundation.org/mif-awards/

Welcoming New Members on the platform

ThinkAg welcomes The National Collateral Management Services Limited (NCML) as a member on the network. NCMSL had recently presented their perspective on Value Chain Finance AgClinic event from the collateral management point of view. The National Collateral Management Services Limited (NCML) is the country’s leading organisation providing a bouquet of commodity based services under a single umbrella. With the joining of NCMSL, the ThinkAg network stands strong today with corporates from across the value chain in India.

Coming up this month a closed door discussion with leading organisations working with FPOs and leading startups to discuss synergies. Watch this space for more.