The $1 million Milken-Motsepe AgriTech Competition is Now Open

The $1 million Milken-Motsepe AgriTech  Competition is Now Open. The Milken Institute and Motsepe Foundation Launch Technology Prize Program to Propel Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Africa. 

The Grand prize for the winning team is is $1 million and $1 million in additional prizes.

Why AgriTech?

AgriTech can allow for tremendous progress in crop yields, farm productivity, plant and animal health, sustainability, waste reduction, and scalability

Agriculture is by far the most important economic activity in Africa, employing about two-thirds of the continent’s working population. Yet agricultural productivity growth in Africa is about half that seen in other developing economies. Only 3 percent of smallholder farmers are actively using any form of digitive service. Innovative, affordable integration of technology is needed to close the digital divide, increasing farm productivity, decreasing food loss, and bringing value to farmers.

Agricultural technology (AgriTech) is essential for this growth. AgriTech can allow for tremendous progress in crop yields, farm productivity, plant and animal health, sustainability, waste reduction, and scalability. AgriTech is a fast-growing industry ripe for innovative business models and opportunities. It is good for business and needed for people.

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech was developed through rigorous and inclusive consultations with more than 50 experts from a variety of disciplines, representing academia, industry and government, to define the competition guidelines and evaluation metrics. Field testing will take place in Africa and solutions should have the potential to be applied globally.

Many entrepreneurs lack the information and tools they need to bring their invention to life. In addition to the chance to win cash prizes, the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize program provides a rich set of opportunities for entrepreneurs.

How to Enter

Teams have until December 8, 2021 to register and submit designs and business models. An independent panel of expert judges will select up to 25 teams to each receive $10,000 to develop small-scale prototypes over the ensuing six months.

In the final round, teams will demonstrate their entries in field tests which will be evaluated by their ability to:

• Increase net economic value to the farmer
• Increase productivity at harvest and/or decrease post-harvest loss
• Reduce costs for farmers
• Provide a viable and sustainable business model
• Be implemented by small and medium-sized farms
• Develop or integrate innovative technologies
• The judges will award a $1 million Grand Prize, with additional prize money distributed among Second and Third Place winners, a prize for the most creative use of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and a People’s Choice Prize.
• Registration is free, and in addition to the prize money, teams will benefit from access to networking, training, and other resources. To register for the prize, or to learn more, visit www.milkenmotsepeprize.org.