Mar 15, 2023

Program seeks Climate Smart Agriculture technological solutions

The application deadline for a global International Fresh Produce Association program seeking innovative technological solutions in Climate Smart Agriculture is nearing.

The Fresh Field Catalyst Program is a six-month accelerator seeking solutions to produce and floral industry challenges including labor shortages, the climate crisis, and water and resource scarcity.

The program, in its second year, is recruiting 10 to 12 startup companies at the scale-up phase, along with corporations interested in entering the produce market.

The application deadline is March 20.

Companies from multiple areas are invited to apply, including those in the plant nutrition/inputs space, those developing crop genetics and resiliency technologies, and startups making tools for reducing emissions and enabling climate-smart agriculture. Companies developing technologies for reducing post-harvest losses and waste are also encouraged to apply, according to the IFPA’s website.

Companies need to be in the late stage of trials or have a product in the market and receiving revenue, according to the IFPA. Products should be ready to launch, generate revenue and scale within two years.

Products can be in any market outside agriculture or in row crops and/or the produce industry outside the U.S.

U.S. companies with sales in the produce industry do not qualify.

The selection process will wrap up April 10.

More information is available online.

2022 participants included SoundAg, Provision, Morphix Technologies, Clarifruit and Vitiport.