Six get awards for innovations in urban food systems

July 04, 2021 00:00:00

Participants at the concluding ceremony of the 'Food Frontiers: Urban Food Systems Innovation Challenge Competition-2021' held virtually recently

Six entrepreneurs were awarded for their creative innovations in a contest titled 'Food Frontiers: Urban Food Systems Innovation Challenge Competition-2021'.

Food Frontiers is an innovation challenge for young entrepreneurs to exploit disruptive innovation in urban food system.

The awardees are Jackfruit 360 Degree, Inspira, Dr. Recycle BD, Ghost Kitchen Bangladesh, Green Gain, and Ipage. They were awarded at the closing ceremony of the competition held virtually in the capital recently. They will receive a total of $26,000 for implementing their business ideas, says a statement.

These young entrepreneurs will now work towards motivating consumption of safe food and ensuring sustainable development of environment by ensuring smooth market management through application of their creative innovative models.

The competition was organised by the SUN Business Network (SBN) Bangladesh in association with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and World Food Programme (WFP) as co-convenors and the Ministry of Industries and Stellar Value Partners as its accelerators.

Dr. Ruhul Amin Talukder, Additional Secretary of Agriculture Ministry, attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest, and Md. Golam Yahiya, Additional Secretary (Planning) of Ministry of Industries, presided over it.

Md. Abdul Kayowm Sarker, Chairman (Additional Secretary), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), Ministry of Food; Dr. S M Mustafizur Rahman, Line Director of National Nutrition Service under Institution of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN); Dr. Rudaba Khondker, Country Director of GAIN Bangladesh; Ali Mushtaq Butt, Commercial Counsellor of Denmark Embassy in Dhaka; Dr. Nadia Binte Amir, Chief Executive of Research and Computing Services; among others, spoke.

Dr. Ashek Mahfuz, Portfolio Lead of GAIN Bangladesh, delivered the welcome address.

The competition was organised as part of a campaign to promote consumption of safe, nutritious and healthy food in urban areas.

Initially, 85 entrepreneurs took part in the competition. Six were finally selected for the awards, based on effectiveness of their business model.

The competition is aimed at increasing the capacity of young entrepreneurs to bring innovation in urban food system and make it sustainable.

The National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh (NASCIB) and Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative are working as strategic partners of this campaign.