“The Radicle Carbon and Soil Challenge by UPL” is a newly established competition focusing on food tech and ag tech startups that contribute to the preservation of soil. Two start-ups will share the $1.25M prize for their solutions that “positively impact and reduce the carbon footprint and improve soil health of the food value chain”.
The competition is being run by Radicle Growth, a company-building platform for early-stage food and ag technologies, in partnership with UPL, a global provider of sustainable agriculture products and solutions.
“At UPL we strongly believe in the power of open collaboration to connect people and problems with game-changing technologies and solutions. That is why we are launching The Radicle Carbon and Soil Challenge in partnership with Radicle Growth, to pool the best ideas, innovators, start-ups and scientists that will help protect and preserve one of our most valuable natural assets: soil,” said Jai Shroff, Global CEO of UPL Ltd.
The Challenge presents a great funding opportunity for food and ag tech startups, providing a platform for the exploration of disruptive and innovative technologies across the entire food value chain. Areas covered includes soil health, digital tools, supply chain tech, biologicals, plant nutrition, fintech, carbon markets, MRV, new business models, and livestock management.
$1 million in funding will be awarded to a food or ag tech winner with $250,000 for the second-place finisher that will be used to accelerate these startups’ growth.
Selection of the winners will be made during a “Pitch Day” that will be held in San Francisco in March 2022. Industry experts will judge 4-6 finalists chosen from the global applicant pool. The winners will also receive advice from both UPL and Radicle senior executives to help accelerate their company’s business and technical efforts in food and agricultural technology.
“Feeding our growing population is of utmost importance and our farmers do an incredible job at this – the challenge is mitigating the environmental impact that producing food leaves. We are excited to work collaboratively with UPL to find and fund the entrepreneurs who are solving this problem,” Kirk Haney, Managing Partner, Radicle Growth, said.
Food and ag tech startups and tech companies can learn more about the Challenge and submit an early application at https://radicle.vc/carbon-soil-early-applicant-form/
