WFF Indonesia Youth Chapter holds Youth Innovation Challenge

On 8 November 2025, the World Food Forum (WFF) Indonesia Youth Chapter successfully organized the Youth Innovation Challenge, a national competition designed to empower young people in contributing solutions to agrifood systems challenges in Indonesia. The initiative was implemented in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Country Office in Indonesia, Pijar Foundation and FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. From over 230 proposals, 18 finalists (12 early-stage start-ups and six policy papers) were selected for an offline pitching session. 

Competition finalists engaged with agribusiness practitioners in Bogor ahead of the pitch competition. Wiko Susanto, CEO of Fishnack Pangasius, a fish-skin snack enterprise, shared best practices for a circular business and emphasized the importance of minimizing food waste. He encouraged the finalists to start their businesses without waiting for perfect conditions. The finalists also took a farm tour of Mitra Tani Farm, a zero-waste livestock farm that transforms animal waste into organic fertilizer for grass cultivation and biogas to generate electricity for the farm and the local community. 

The 12 start-ups showcased solutions for technological innovation and inclusive access to capital for farmers. Throughout the competition, finalists received intensive mentorship from practitioners to improve their pitches, which they presented at the Indonesia Food Symposium.  

The competition consisted of two main tracks: Youth Start-Up Challenge (YSC) for  agripreneurship and innovation and the Policy Paper Competition for policy recommendations.  

The YSC was divided based on startup maturity: Pre-seed and Seed. 

Seed winners

• Acronesia, led by Jusrian Saubara Orpa Yanda, Muhammad Alfian  and Robbie Sughara, is an artificial intelligence (AI) based platform that supports farmers in agricultural management providing recommendations and reporting. 
• Becak Babel, led by Adi Indra Saputra, Siti Hodijah  and M. Narifal. Their system promotes circular waste management. They utilize organic waste from agriculture and food waste; integrating organic fertilizer from Fly Ash and Bottom Ash (FABA) with Black Soldier Fly (BSF) maggot cultivation for animal feed.
• IJO, led by Ryan Dewangaa and Ivanna Theressa, produces seaweed-based fertilizers and bio stimulants that improve crop yield and quality. 

Pre-seed winners 

• Dyenco (Dynamic Eco Creation), led by Nabila Elfira, Hafizha Alya and Lusianawati, is a circular economy based agro-waste management platform focused on utilizing cocoa pod waste. Cocoa waste is processed into natural dyes and eco-friendly products
• HUMATERA, led by Bunga Carlita Hartono, has developed a circular vertical farming system that integrates compost pipes as nutrient sources, automated irrigation and an integrated planting system.
• MySalak, led by Maulana R. Mustapa, Fitriana D. Sari and Dimas Takeda Wukir TW, delivers an internet of things and AI-based smart farming system to help salak farmers control fruit fly infestations. The solution detects trapped fruit flies, analyzes environmental factors and provides real-time recommendations. 

Policy Paper Competition

• Rifaldi Majid proposed a sustainable and inclusive agricultural financing model based on waqf – an agricultural model that addresses the capital access limitations of smallholder farmers.
• Husein Muhammad explored how circular food governance can be advanced through the Free Nutritious Meal Programme.
• Farah Mutia Rachman highlighted the integration of digital food audits, sensory mapping and consumer character development within the Free Nutritious Meal Programme to improve food quality and consumption behavior.
• Beckham Napitupulu proposed circular fiscal policies through progressive tax disincentives and performance-based incentives for the HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant, Catering) sector to address food loss and waste.

The pitch session was followed by a Townhall Muda Dialogue, a youth-led discussion featuring speakers from the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs and FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Panelists emphasized the importance of youth inclusion in food policy.

The competition underscored the importance of creating space for youth voices and expressed the hope that it would serve not only as a contest, but as a strategic platform where youth, government, academia and practitioners can collaborate and engage in dialogue. The Chapter remains committed to supporting initiatives that amplify youth voices and connect stakeholders to advance sustainable agrifood systems transformation.