Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Four innovations with the potential to transform sustainable food production and curb food loss and waste emerged as winners of this year’s UAE FoodTech Challenge.
Akorn Technology, Permia Sensing, HyveGeo, and Flybox topped the global competition, securing not only the $2 million prize pool but also the opportunity to scale their solutions and create meaningful impact across food systems worldwide.
Anthony Zografos, CEO and Founder of Akorn Technology, referred to the honour as an “extremely meaningful” validation of their work’s value. “But we've always known that our innovative technology could address one of the biggest challenges in the world—food loss,” he said.
Based in California, US, Akorn Technology addresses food waste through natural, edible coatings that redefine how fresh produce reaches tables worldwide.
Its patented coatings keep fruits and vegetables fresh and flavourful for a longer period, helping growers and retailers reduce supply chain losses by up to half while enhancing nutritional value for consumers.
Zografos highlighted the practical, business-oriented strategy behind the concept. "We want to address food loss while making money for our customers,” he said. "I think the committee realised that Akorn provides one of the quickest routes to observable outcomes, with instant advantages for the UAE and the Global South."
Akorn intends to set up a production facility and research programme in the UAE, with pilot production expected in 12 to 18 months. To test its ideas and deliver treated, premium fresh food to the Emirates, the company has partnered with producers in South Africa and Southeast Asia.
"We're excited to get started, and it feels great to be a winner," Zografos said. "We're prepared to proceed right away."
Another winner, HyveGeo, seeks to create sustainable agricultural systems for dry and climate-vulnerable areas.
The startup’s CEO, Abdulaziz Redha, said the UAE FoodTech Challenge has pushed them to design solutions that respond to operational realities. “It put to test our presumptions about scalability, deployment speed, and integration with current waste, land, and agricultural systems,” he told Aletihad.
HyveGeo cultivates microalgae in deserts to tackle climate change and boost food security. By harnessing sunlight, arid land, and wastewater, they seek to transform barren landscapes into fertile ecosystems while capturing gigaton-scale CO₂.
Redha said aligning its idea with situations on the ground is critical in developing systems that must operate in harsh, resource-constrained environments over the long term. The UAE, he stressed, is the ideal starting point for a solution that can make a difference in several desert areas across the globe.
The UAE FoodTech Challenge positions the nation as a global testbed for practical, scalable food security solutions. Its structure requires participants to go beyond theory, ensuring innovations are viable from the outset and capable of performing in real-world conditions.
Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and Co-Chair of the FoodTech Challenge, said winning the UAE FoodTech Challenge is a validation of execution, not just an idea. It offers a clear pathway that sees innovations move from pilot projects into practical applications.
To help winners develop their solutions, the UAE's world-class innovation ecosystem and vast partner network provide support. Besides the cash prize, the startups will have the opportunity to meet investors, benefit from coaching and market-entry advice, and access research facilities.
"The most recent winners now join an expanding group of previous recipients who have started more than 50 pilot projects in the UAE and other markets and raised over $48 million in follow-on funding,” Al Mokarrab said.
