The World Food Forum

Announcing the 2026 Startup Innovation Awards semi-finalists

Announcing the 2026 Startup Innovation Awards semi-finalists
28/05/2026

The World Food Forum (WFF) Startup Innovation Awards (SIA), powered by MassChallenge Switzerland, is a global competition that supports and showcases young innovators and entrepreneurs leveraging technology to accelerate the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SIA works with the generous support of Seeding the Future Foundation and Smart Solutions for Agri-food Innovation Hub (SS4AF).

This year, there is an additional award for Excellence in Applied AI offered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) that recognizes the innovative use of applied intelligence across the 2026 categories.

Now in its sixth edition, SIA received 801 applications from 111 countries across four award categories:

  • Digital Innovation in Food Processing: Celebrates innovations transforming how raw food materials are processed, preserved and packaged using data-driven insights, smart equipment and digital platforms.
  • Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security: Recognizes technologies and practices that promote sustainable water management, strengthen resilience to climate change, and support the long-term sustainability of agrifood systems.
  • Empowering Women in Agrifood Systems: Spotlights startups developing inclusive innovations that strengthen women’s participation and leadership in agrifood systems by improving access to finance and markets, skills, entrepreneurship training and leveraging digital tools.
  • Fighting Malnutrition & Enhancing Food Security: Focuses on startups developing scalable, inclusive solutions that improve nutrition education, increase access to nutritious food, strengthen local agrifood systems and leverage sustainable and digital innovations across agrifood value chains.

Following a rigorous evaluation by 67 expert reviewers from around the world, 47 semi-finalists have been selected. Their solutions represent a diverse portfolio of promising, high-impact innovations for sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems transformation.

 

Meet the 2026 semi-finalists

Digital Innovation in Food Processing Award
Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security Award
Empowering Women in Agrifood Systems Award
Fighting Malnutrition & Enhancing Food Security Award

Of the 47 semi-finalists, 12 pre-finalists will be selected to attend the MassChallenge Switzerland Accelerator Bootcamp in Lausanne, Switzerland. There, they will access in-person networking, expert-led workshops, mentorship and market guidance to accelerate their growth.

In addition to the four categories, selected startups will also be eligible for two special awards. The Excellence in Applied AI Award, presented by Extreme Tech Challenge, will recognize the most innovative application of artificial Intelligence across all2026 categories. The Startup of Year Award 2026, supported by Seeding The Future Foundation, will be presented to the startup that demonstrates exceptional innovation, scalability and potential to transform agrifood systems.

Stay tuned to learn more about the next stages of the Startup Innovation Awards 2026.

Tags: innovation lab
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