Climate-Smart Agriculture Challenge opens to nurture innovation

Agrifood investment and innovation platform SVG Ventures|THRIVE and energy-company Shell have partnered to launch the Climate-Smart Agriculture Challenge, an initiative focused on identifying and supporting innovators who are driving the global transformation to decarbonize the agricultural sector.

Eligible participants in the Climate-Smart Agricultural Challenge will propose novel technologies and solutions with the potential to meaningfully reduce emissions in the agricultural sector.

Relevant technology solutions include:

• Solutions that promote carbon sequestration and avoid emissions while improving soil health;
• Solutions to improve farm connectivity through advanced farm management systems to provide access to carbon markets and carbon financing; and
• Solutions that measure and quantify soil carbon, soil health, and greenhouse gas emissions.

You can get involved in the challenge here.

Shell plans to leverage THRIVE’s expansive global ecosystem of startups and corporate partners during the competition, and the challenge finalists will pitch their ideas to a panel of THRIVE and Shell experts in March 2023. At least one winner will be selected and receive up to $100,000 in seed funding toward developing a proof of concept of their solution.

In addition to initial seed funding, winners will be joining the Shell GameChanger accelerator in 2023. The winners of this challenge will also gain brand recognition through THRIVE media channels, and selected applicants will be given placement in the award-winning THRIVE Accelerator Program in 2024. In addition, Shell will explore opportunities for relevant participants to pilot their technology within Shell operations.

Decarbonization of the agricultural sector is critical given its position at the nexus of food security, energy use, and climate. Research within the agricultural sector is a focus of Shell’s nature-based solutions business, which works to invest in, protect, and enhance natural ecosystems that capture carbon dioxide emissions, benefit local communities, and improve biodiversity. More sustainable agricultural practices and farming techniques that store carbon in soil can deliver emission reductions and have the potential to generate high quality carbon offsets credits.

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