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Lineage Launches Global Food Chain Innovation Challenge to Tackle Food Waste

Lineage, a global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, has launched the Food Chain Innovation Challenge, a pioneering global competition aimed at combating food waste, especially postharvest losses. This initiative invites students and startups to present innovative solutions addressing one of the world's critical issues: food waste reduction.

The challenge will bring together talented minds at three major events across the globe: London, UK, on 14th November; Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 19th November; and San Francisco, USA, also on 19th November. Participants are encouraged to develop solutions that can be implemented in various regions worldwide, from developed to emerging markets, to reduce postharvest food spoilage through cost-effective and scalable methods. The goal is to enhance food security, quality, safety, and market access.

Each regional event will award a cash prize to the winners. Additionally, an overall winner will be selected from the regional champions and announced in December. The grand prize winner will gain entry into an incubator programme designed to help them refine their business development skills and scale their solution effectively.

Participants will pitch their ideas to a panel of esteemed judges, focusing on one of four key areas:

  • Reducing food waste: Develop technologies and strategies to minimise food loss from farm to market.
  • Innovative food preservation techniques: Propose new methods to extend food shelf life and reduce spoilage.
  • Access to nutritious food: Improve food distribution logistics to increase the availability of nutritious foods in underserved areas.
  • Data-driven insights and analytics: Utilise analytics and IoT to optimise supply chains and reduce waste.

This challenge aims to empower regions worldwide with practical solutions to mitigate food waste and enhance the global food system.

“According to the UN Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, the latest data from 2022, shows 1.05 billion tonnes of food went to waste – an amount sufficient to nourish billions. This reality is stark, especially considering that over 783 million individuals globally suffer from undernourishment.  By reducing food waste, we can significantly enhance global food security and address hunger,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and CEO of Lineage, “At Lineage, we are dedicated to spearheading innovation across the global food supply chain. Through our Food Chain Innovation Challenge, we are seeking to cultivate solutions that not only tackle food waste but also advance sustainable development. We are eager to witness the emergence of these new ideas and their evolution into practical, impactful strategies.'"