Applications for the UNU INRA INFoCAT Innovation Agriculture Challenge now open.

May 16, 2024 oppor4u 0 Comments

Applications for the 2024 UNU INRA INFoCAT Innovation Agriculture Challenge are now open. The United Nations University, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, is launching the Innovate for Clean Agricultural Technologies (INFoCAT) project. This initiative, sponsored by IDRC under the Clean Energy for Development: A Call for Action program, is in partnership with Enda Energie and UNU INRA.

The INFoCAT Innovation Challenge aims to support agritech innovators who utilize low-cost clean energy solutions. The goal is to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy technologies to smallholder women and youth farmers in Ghana, Senegal, and Cote D’Ivoire. By doing so, it aims to enhance agricultural productivity and income.

Objectives: UNU INRA INFoCAT Innovation Agriculture Challenge

The objectives of the Innovation Challenge are as follows:

1. Support the development and expansion of affordable, labor-saving, clean energy agricultural technology solutions to save time and reduce drudgery.
2. Assist clean energy agriculture technology start-ups, with a particular focus on women-led enterprises. Where possible, refine and expand their products to meet the needs of smallholder rural farmers.
3. Create opportunities for mentorship, networking, and training.

Eligibility: UNU INRA INFoCAT Innovation Agriculture Challenge

To be eligible for the challenge, innovators or enterprises must be based in Ghana.
They must complete an application form, providing business details and a comprehensive description of their innovation.
The agritech technology must be powered by clean energy and demonstrate energy efficiency. It should cater to the needs of small to medium-scale rural farmers in priority crop areas such as rice, maize, cassava, and groundnut.
The technology should also require less manual labor and time, be cost-effective, commercially viable, easy to operate, and scalable.
Additionally, it should offer a solution that reduces CO2 emissions.
Teamwork is highly recommended, with a focus on including members from diverse backgrounds. The team must also demonstrate gender intersectionality by including women.
Preference will be given to female and young innovators.
The innovation must be capable of providing clean energy that can be utilized for agricultural technologies and other purposes. This will be a significant advantage.
Proof of a functional prototype is required (Please note that there is potential for new technology that has not yet been developed).

Funding: UNU INRA INFoCAT Innovation Agriculture Challenge

Initial grant: USD 3,000 – 7,400 (available for approximately 10 innovations/teams/enterprises)
Business expansion grant support: USD 30,000 – 37,000 (1 innovation/team)