Apply for FAO’s 2025 Data for Farm Value Global Challenge – Big Cash Prizes For Young Changemakers Worldwide

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Data for Farm Value Global Challenge: In a bid to foster inclusivity and innovation in the agrifood sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the University of Helsinki’s Viikki Food Design Factory, has launched the Data for Farm Value Global Challenge. This global initiative aims to empower startups that leverage farm-level data to uplift smallholder farmers—a demographic often excluded from the benefits of the data-driven economy.

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Table of Contents

Challenge Vision & Objectives

Smallholder farmers play a critical role in generating agricultural data, yet they frequently do not reap its rewards. This challenge encourages startups to design scalable, equitable business models that treat data as a valuable asset—rightfully recognizing farmers as contributors. The goal? Equip smallholder farmers with tools and frameworks that allow them to benefit financially and intellectually from the data they create.

What Innovations Are Being Invited?

FAO is calling for startups that propose novel solutions including:

Digital tools to standardize and structure farm-level data into usable and interoperable formats.
Inclusive business models compensating farmers for their data contributions as data producers.
Mechanisms to integrate farm data into supply chains, sustainability reporting, and market-access platforms.
Transparent systems that allow farmers to sell or trade their data while retaining ownership.
Solutions that link farm-level insights with broader public and private sustainability initiatives.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants must be registered startups satisfying the following criteria:

At least two team members, dedicating half their working hours to the solution.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 3 and 7 (Proof of Concept to approved prototype).
Financially: pre‑seed to Series A, with annual revenue not exceeding €500,000.
Geographically: Open to startups based anywhere in the world.
Logistically: Able to attend two in-person events—FAO’s Science & Innovation Forum in Rome (October 16, 2025) and, if selected as finalists, the Y Science event during Slush in Helsinki (November 18–20, 2025).
All communications and submissions must be in English.

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Why This Challenge Matters

The challenge seeks to turn the tide on the imbalance of data wealth in the agrifood sector. By rewarding innovation that prioritizes fairness, transparency, and sustainability, FAO and its partner aim to strengthen the role of smallholder farmers in digital agriculture—ensuring they benefit from and participate in value-generation across the ecosystem.

What Do Selected Startups Gain?

Participation comes with a robust suite of perks:

Workshops on pitching, market fit, and data-driven business modeling.
Networking access to key stakeholders—across UN agencies, academia, and the private sector.
Pitch opportunities:
- Top 10 startups will pitch at FAO’s Science & Innovation Forum during its 80th-anniversary World Food Forum in Rome.
- The top 4 finalists will pitch at Y Science, a high-profile event set during Slush in Helsinki.
Finalists receive a free ticket to Slush, plus a €5,000 cash prize for the ultimate winner.
Access to the Data Refinery, an initiative providing:
- FAO and partner data sets
- One-on-one mentoring with digital agriculture experts
- Workshops on pricing, business modeling, and data monetization

Timeline & Key Dates

Application Deadline: August 25, 2025, at 9:00 AM CEST.
Mid‑September 2025: Finalists notified; online workshops begin.
October 16, 2025: Pitches at FAO’s Science & Innovation Forum in Rome.
October 20 – November 15, 2025: One-on-one pitch training for finalists.
November 18–19, 2025: Y Science pre-event and pitch finals during Slush in Helsinki.
November 20, 2025: Networking and investor engagement at Slush.
2026: Induction into the Data Refinery cohort for ongoing support and development.

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Closing Thoughts

The Data for Farm Value Global Challenge is a forward-thinking platform that bridges technological innovation with social equity. By empowering startups to craft fair, scalable solutions that include smallholder farmers as value beneficiaries, FAO and the University of Helsinki lay the groundwork for a more inclusive agrifood future.

If you’re leading an agri-tech startup with data at its core, and committed to building equitable systems, this initiative is a call to action. Apply before August 25, 2025, and gain global visibility, expert mentoring, and the chance to reshape data ownership in farming.