African entrepreneurs and researchers have emerged as standout leaders in the just-announced list of winners and finalists for the 2024 Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge.
Organized by the Seeding The Future Foundation in partnership with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), the annual competition awards over USD 1 million to food system innovations that promise to make nutritious, safe, and sustainable food more accessible to all.
This year’s recognition announced on May 1st, 2025, includes eight Seed Grant recipients, six Growth Grant finalists, and four Seeding The Future Grand Prize finalists. Projects from Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa mark Africa’s most significant representation yet.
At the Forefront of Early-Stage Innovation
Five of the eight USD 25,000 Seed Grant winners are African-led or Africa-focused. These projects stood out for their feasibility, innovation, and impact on food security.
- Alpha Omega Foundation (Cameroon)-A solar-powered Ultrasonic Locus Repellent device provides chemical-free pest control for smallholder farmers.
- Baobaby (Togo)-Produces affordable, nutritious baby food from local grains and trains women in regenerative agriculture.
- BIO PLANET TMC Ltd. ( Benin)-Converts organic waste into high-quality fertilizer to support healthier soils and crops in West Africa.
- MAMLO FOODS Ltd. (Kenya)-Establishes micro-factories for peanut processing in western Kenya, creating jobs and reducing post-harvest losses.
- NaSARRI (NARO) (Uganda)-Champion climate-resilient varieties of greengram and sorghum along with biodynamic manures to improve rural nutrition.
Global Seed Grant winners with African ties include:
- Safi International Technologies (Canada) – Solar milk pasteurization solution for Rwandan dairy farmers.
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA) – Cold-press oil extraction using Kalahari melon in Namibia.
- Vexxel (USA) – Biodegradable capsules for precision agrochemical delivery.
Growth Grant Finalists: African Startups Scaling Up
Four of the six USD 100,000 Growth Grant finalists hail from Africa:
- CSIR–SARI ( Ghana)-Developing a rapid testing system for identifying aflatoxin-resistant groundnut varieties.
- Munakyalo Agrofresh (Uganda)-Uses solar-powered IoT cold rooms to preserve fruits and vegetables in rural markets.
- Smartel (Rwanda)-Builds affordable hydroponic farming systems for urban and peri-urban households.
- Toothpick Company Ltd.(Kenya)– Bioherbicide that increases crop yield while replacing synthetic chemicals.
Others include:
- SOS: Sea-Land Symbiosis (Dominican Republic) – Closed-loop aquaculture and agriculture model.
- Yayasan Kopernik (Indonesia) – Revitalizes indigenous farming practices for resilience in climate-vulnerable regions.
Grand Prize Finalists: Africa Competing at the Highest Level
Africa is strongly represented among the four Seeding The Future Grand Prize finalists, which offer USD 250,000 awards to transformative solutions.
- ABALOBI (South Africa)-Digital tools empower small-scale fishers to access fair markets and improve traceability in marine food systems.
- Agro Supply (Uganda)-Ensures access to safe, aflatoxin-free maize and fortified flours via a transparent, localized supply chain.
The other Grand Prize finalists:
- Oorja Development Solutions (India) – Bundles solar-powered irrigation with training and farm services.
- Savory Institute (USA/Kenya) – Works with Maasai conservancies to regenerate rangelands and local food ecosystems.
Africa’s Role in Global Food Systems Innovation
The strong presence of African innovations across all three award tiers is a reflection of the continent’s dynamic response to food insecurity, malnutrition, and climate risk. These homegrown solutions are not only addressing local challenges but also contributing globally relevant models for resilient food systems.
Bernhard van Lengerich, founder of the Seeding The Future Foundation, praised all the entrants:
“This year’s awardees exemplify the power of entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity to transform food systems in ways that benefit both people and the planet.”
Final winners of the Growth and Grand Prizes will be announced in June 2025. Until then, the seeds planted by African innovators continue to take root—offering a vision of food systems that are not just sustainable, but equitable and regenerative.
About Seeding The Future Foundation
A private, non-profit organization supporting innovative solutions that transform global food systems to benefit both people and the planet.
About the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)
Since 1939, IFT has connected the global food science community to advance innovation and address the world’s greatest food challenges.
