Creativity, Ingenuity and Innovation took centre stage at the finals of the KIC Agritech Challenge Classic Final Pitch held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Organised by Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) and the Mastercard Foundation, the 3-day event saw 64 teams pitch several business ideas aimed at providing solutions to several challenges confronting the agricultural sector.

The pitches showcased business ideas on sustainable agricultural production, technological application, mechanisation, seed breeding, nutrition, agro-processing, and recycling using agricultural raw materials, as well as green businesses focused on eco-friendly packaging, among others.

The AgriTech Challenge Classic is a 7-month annual training program aimed at developing the interest and building the mindset of students and young graduates to ultimately drive systemic change in Ghana’s agriculture sector.

The participating universities for this year’s challenge include Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Development Studies (UDS), University of Ghana (UG), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Takoradi Technical University (TTU), Ho Technical University (HTU), Koforidua Technical University (KTU), SD Dombo University of Business &  Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS).

Others are the University of Energy and Natural Resource (UENR), Kwadaso Agricultural College (KAC), Ejura Agricultural College and Mechanisation Center ( EACMC), Ohawu Agricultural College (OAC), Damongo Agricultural College (DAC), CKT University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMSTED).

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director for the Kosmos Innovation Center, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, re-iterated the commitment of the centre to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana’s agricultural sector through initiatives such as the Agritech Challenge program.

“At KIC we remain committed to supporting youth with a passion for agriculture and agribusiness. AgriTech innovations are vital to providing green solutions focused on climate action and sustainable food systems, and we support young people to bring their business ideas to reality,” he said.

Before the finals, there was a series of zonal pitches across the Northern, Middle and Southern belts of Ghana.

Through the program, participants were trained in core areas, including business strategy, product development, marketing, personal discovery and team effectiveness.

There were also market research tours where agritech participants met with industry actors within the agricultural value chain.

The winners of the competition will progress to the AgriTech Challenge Pro which is a five-month training program, where the teams will receive further training and mentoring to develop their business solutions and become investor-ready.  

Each of the teams in the AgriTech Pro will also receive $2000 to develop their Most Viable Product ( MVP). At the end of the pro, teams will be selected to receive further funding for business growth.

The  38 AgriTech Challenge Classic winners joined an additional 22 start-up teams that are joining the AgriTech Challenge Pro program from the external recruitment process.

The start-ups include: AGE Engineering and Trading; Citra Bloom Pest Care; Danny Machinery; EcoBroma Ghana;  Golden Cycle; Green Hair Innovation; Green Tech EnviroGroup: Growth Line Farm-Tech; Helicimush; Leafluxe Textiles; Marthos Aqua Feed; MelDak Agro; Milkyway; Millbles; Mushplus Agri-Foods; Nature's Novelties; Order Siaw Manufacturing; PestiTech; Regal Jnelp Innovations; Soyy Foods; Tomafresh; WeediFert and Zenags Organics.

 The winners from the 2024 KIC AgriTech Challenge Classic program are: Tomavi Wines (UDS);  Earth-Allies (UENR); Eco-Power Solutions (BTU); EverFresh Agro (UENR); HydroGo Innovations (UDS); WaxFarm (UDS);  GardPath Technologies (UDS); ProPeel (KNUST); Azucarvia (UDS);  and GreeNovate Solutions (TTU).

Other winners also include Cogam Stainless Charcoal (KAC); PureLube (UDS);  AgriEase (UENR); AgroStars (HTU); SolarTech Incubators (DAC); FDM Green Innovations (UCC); Peli Natural Glow (TTU); Bana Up (KNUST); CassaClean Solution (AAMUSTED); and Solar Smoke Pro (UG).

Teams Puregrain Agro (UENR); Flameforge (UDS); Phoenicis Foods (UDS); EcoFert (HTU); Soyko Agro Foods (UCC); Besia Beauty (UENR); Biowax Ghana (UCC); Eggstraordinary Foods (KAC);  Earthchar Innovation (DAC); and Peanut Brittle (UCC) also were selected to be part of the next phase of the competition.

The following teams also progressed to the 2025 AgriTech Challenge Pro: EcoLeap (CKT-UTAS); Bigfoot (KTU); Velho Carbons (KTU);  Nutri Nut (UDS); LeatherNova (UDS); BioSpace GH (EACMC); GrainGuard (OAC); and MMTS NutriFoods (SDD-UBIDS).

Through the AgriTech Challenge, KIC and its partners aim to provide the youth with the right exposure to the agriculture value chain, and networking opportunities to build and grow viable solutions to agricultural challenges confronting Ghana and beyond.

Under the Initiative for Youth in Agricultural Transformation ( IYAT), KIC and the Mastercard Foundation aim to reach 211,180 young people equipping them with capacity building and skills training in entrepreneurship.