About the Program
In partnership with Posner Foundation, the program's third iteration will support nine startups across Latin America to reduce food waste and enhance food security. It will focus on startups that empower consumers, improve food center efficiency, and address food loss in regional production and distribution.
The Food Waste Challenge
One-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted each year, valued at USD 940 billion. This creates economic loss for farmers and raises consumer prices, heightening food insecurity for vulnerable groups.
Almost a quarter of all the meat consumed globally comes from Latin America; despite that, 60.6% of the region’s population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022. The main reason for food losses in these regions is due to poor infrastructure and logistics, which translates into 223 kg of food waste per person annually.
Food waste is expected to increase, with Latin America playing a critical role in global food production. Urgent action is needed to address these inefficiencies, improve food systems, and reduce waste to enhance food security, mitigate environmental impact, and ensure a more sustainable future.
Who should apply?
We are looking for startups that:
Empower and inform consumers: Provide tools that reduce food waste (shopping assistance, kitchen tech, shelf-life extension, smart home devices).
Enable food centers: Offer solutions for waste tracking, demand planning, and inventory management.
Minimize production & distribution loss: Develop ambient/freshness monitoring technologies and sustainable biotech to protect food and crops.
Optimize food waste diversion: Repurpose scraps, leftovers, or still-edible food to divert it from disposal.
Eligibility
Eligibility requirements include:
Have legal incorporation and operations as a for-profit entity in at least one Latin American country.
Have a market-based solution that tackles food loss and/or food waste challenges in Latin America.
Have at least one full-time founder based in Latin America.
Be in compliance under local fiscal and business law.
Have a minimum viable product (MVP) and raised less than USD 1M in equity.
Have meaningful customer or business validation (not limited to revenue; it can also be successful pilot studies, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships).