The FoodTech Challenge (FTC) has announced 42 innovative early-stage startups as semifinalists for their technology-driven solutions aimed at transforming global food systems. This year’s competition is organized by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, ne’ma (the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Initiative), and Silal, a prominent UAE agri-food company. This third iteration of the FTC offers its largest cash prize to date and was initially announced at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in 2024.

In an effort to foster innovation, the UAE’s arid desert climate is utilized as an ideal launchpad for pioneering solutions that can be adapted to similar environments worldwide. The judges evaluated over 1 200 entries from 113 countries, marking an 80 percent increase in applications compared to the previous edition. The submissions included groundbreaking ideas such as lab-grown dairy products, regenerative seaweed farming, AI-powered crop monitoring, and biodegradable hydrogels.

Out of the semifinalist cohort, 16 percent of the startups are from the UAE, with 40 percent featuring at least one female co-founder and 33 percent being led or co-led by youth entrepreneurs. The selected startups represent a diverse range of countries, including the United States, Israel, India, Malaysia, and several others across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and Secretary-General of the ne’ma Committee, stated that the shortlisted companies provide innovative solutions in vital areas like smart packaging technologies, urban farming, and AI-powered analytics. She highlighted that 45 percent of these solutions are geared towards reducing food loss and waste.

Salmeen al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of Silal, remarked that the entries in this edition demonstrate innovative and scalable approaches. He emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting these projects through advisory services and market access, which is crucial for fostering innovation in the food and agriculture sectors.

In the upcoming phase of the competition, the selected startups will undergo a series of interviews and pitches, ultimately leading to the selection of a final top 10 shortlist. The finale judges for this year’s FTC include Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court of the UAE and Co-Chair of FTC, and Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and Co-Chair of FTC, along with representatives from the Gates Foundation, ne’ma initiative, Silal, and various international organizations focused on development and agricultural research.

The FTC was launched under the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051, utilizing the country’s resource-scarce environment to promote scalable innovations. With an estimated two billion more people to feed by 2050, the competition aligns with the UAE’s broader vision for food security by identifying and supporting solutions related to the food-water-energy nexus, aiming to halve food loss and waste, and accelerate replicable global solutions.

Previous winners of the FTC have seen notable success, with iyris (formerly Red Sea Farms) raising over $34 million since its victory and expanding its technologies across Silal farms in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, Orbisk completed a €8.3 million funding round in December 2024. To date, FTC winners have collectively raised $60 million for their solutions following their participation in the challenge.