Nigerian agri-tech start-up, among World Food Prize finalists
Nigerian agri-tech start-up, among World Food Prize finalists
A Nigerian agri-tech start-up, Vet Konect Ltd has emerged as one of the three finalists for the inaugural World Food Prize ‘Innovate for Impact Challenge’ competition.
Vet Konect Ltd, alongside Argentina’s APOLO Biotech and India’s Capsber Agriscience, were selected from nearly 400 applications after a 10-month global competition, according to a statement from World Food Prize.
The three finalists pitched their concepts live to a panel of judges at the 2025 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Iowa, U.S.
Vet Konect Ltd, which emerged the first runner up, was represented by Terese Shadrach Akpem, Founder and CEO, and presented with 10,000 dollars prize.
Vet Konect Ltd. was recognised for their pioneering work on reimagining animal care across Africa.
They leverage mobile connectivity and artificial intelligence to provide animal health coverage and social protection for livestock farmers regardless of the barriers of distance.
In 2024, the start-up was selected along 37 other global change agents by the World Food Prize as ‘Top AgriFood Pioneers’ for their collective work in transforming global food systems.
APOLO Biotech was named as the winner of the global competition and Matias Badano, Co-founder and CEO, and won 50,000 prize.
APOLO Biotech uses RNA technology to address the pressing challenges of climate change impact on agriculture and the need to reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides.
Third place went to Capsber Agriscience and its Co-founder and Managing Director Manoj Kumar Rupa, received the 5,000 dollars award.
Capsber Agriscience was acknowledged for its contributions revolutionizing agriculture through a next-generation microbiome platform that eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers by harnessing nature’s own biological intelligence.
The Challenge aims to identify and support early-stage, tech-driven startups whose transformative solutions address the critical challenges of global food security and sustainability.
It received nearly 400 applicants from 65 countries, all in their early stages of funding and development, from validated concepts to pre-Series A funding.
Read Also: Uniting to end violence against women and girls
Unveiled in 2024, the Innovate for Impact Challenge invites forward-thinking entrepreneurs from around the globe to present transformative, scalable ideas with the potential for worldwide impact.
The three finalists all pitched their ideas live at the Borlaug Dialogue in front of a panel of judges.
The judging criteria considered the novelty and significance of the solution, its viability and demand within the agricultural industry, its alignment with environmental and social goals and its ability to expand and adapt across diverse contexts.
Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation, Tom Vilsack said: “Innovation is the key to solving today’s agricultural challenges and securing a sustainable future for global food systems”.
“By empowering startups to break new ground, we are cultivating the next generation of visionaries who will help feed the world and protect our planet.”Vilsack said
The Innovate for Impact Challenge not only accelerates innovation in agriculture but also fosters a global community of problem-solvers committed to building resilient, sustainable food systems for the future.
