WAITRO Innovation Award 2021 Finalists Announced
Five Innovative Ideas on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture compete for US$25,000
The finalists for the 2021 edition of the WAITRO Innovation Award (WIA) have been chosen. Inspired by this year’s topic: Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, five teams presented innovative ideas to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger, and will compete in the final for US$25,000 seed-funding to kick-start their projects.
A high level Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) evaluated the applications and took into consideration the Impact, Feasibility, Level of Innovation and Technical Quality, Team Strength and International Collaboration to choose the finalist projects.
Nominees for WAITRO Innovation Award 2021
- Sustainable Farming Under Climate Change – Adoption of Climate Resilient Crop
Project Lead: Dr. Amna Jrrar
Organizations: Royal Scientific Society and Aarhus University
- Green Technology Botanical Pesticide for Sustainable Food Production and Maintained Ecosystems to Strengthen Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change
Project Lead: Dr. Yenny Meliana
Organizations: BRIN, Ministry of Agriculture-Malawi and University of Yaounde
- Development of Urban Agriculture Through Vertical Hydroponic Cultivation with Grey Water Treated with Slanted Soil System
Project Lead: Rouzbeh Abbaszadeh
Organizations: IROST and RUCT-BRIN
- Strengthening Food Sustainability in Southeast Asia by Utilization of Local Tuber of Amorphophallus Muelleri Blume
Project Lead: Achmat Sarifudin
Organizations: RCAT-BRIN and TISTR
- SMARTinFOOD: Insect-based Food Sources to Supplement Nutrient Deficiencies in Vulnerable Areas
Project Lead: Montse Jorba Rafart
Organizations: LEITAT, FIIRO, CSIR and TISTR
Finding the right partner isn’t easy. Using SAIRA is.
The innovators built their project teams on SAIRA, WAITRO’s Open Innovation Platform. SAIRA enables innovators around the globe to find international partners and project opportunities. SAIRA is the perfect platform to match people, ideas and collaboration needs. It’s free of charge and open to WAITRO members and non-WAITRO members.
Pitch Training for Researchers – How to Sell Ideas
On November 4th, 2021, the applicants had the opportunity to join a Capacity Development with the international pitch trainer Dirk Lehmann. In the three-hour workshop, the participants could develop their rhetorical and presentation skills, and learn how to raise funds and get the attention that research projects need.
What’s next? Pitch Event and Awarding
In January 2022, the finalists will pitch their projects live to an audience of investors and business advisors. The Pitch Event will include keynote presentations on agriculture and investment. After the event, the WAITRO Secretariat in consultation with the evaluation committee will determine the winners. Up to two projects will win the WIA 2021 and will each receive US$25,000.
The WAITRO Innovation Award
In January 2022, the finalists will pitch their projects live to an audience of investors and business advisors. The Pitch Event will include keynote presentations on agriculture and investment. After the event, the WAITRO Secretariat in consultation with the evaluation committee will determine the winners. Up to two projects will win the WIA 2021 and will each receive US$25,000.
Congratulations to all the projects involved!
About the Author: Karla Garcia
