We are media partners with the World Bank 2020 Innovation Challenge focused on supporting agriculture and food security risk financing in Southern Africa.
To better inform public sector policy decisions in a region hampered by extreme weather and crop disease, the World Bank’s Agriculture Observatory and Draper University have teamed up to present three agriculture innovation online challenges. The call is open to innovators, startups, the public, students, and agriculture specialists.
Challenge 1: Alternative Methods for Measuring Weather Variables
Weather data is essential for the development of risk finance mechanisms and other key tools to strengthen the financial resilience of farmers to climatic shocks. This includes measurements of excess rainfall and rainfall deficit, among other variables.
Challenge 2: Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases
Predicting or Monitoring Animal and/or Plant Pests or Disease Outbreaks
Pathogens are expanding in new areas never affected before, exacting significant economic cost on the livestock and crop sector. Prevention and early warning for rapid response are essential. To better understand how cases affect global economies and food prices around the world, read this insight from Gro Intelligence.
Challenge 3: Agriculture Data
Bring your Own Agriculture Data
Objective, transparent, accessible, and accurate data is essential to develop high quality, affordable risk financing instruments (such as insurance) or agriculture information systems. With the expansion of novel data collection techniques, non-traditional methods of data collection can leap-frog traditional methods such as yield collection and expand the scope and availability of risk financing instruments for farmers.
Challenge winners will get the opportunity to pitch to experts from internationally-renowned institutions in a Shark Tank format. They will also have their ideas showcased in a World Bank report on agriculture innovations and get an all expenses paid trip to participate in an award ceremony in Washington, D.C, where they will receive additional prizes and have the chance to connect with potential partners.
Submissions must be in before 2nd April, 2020.
