Innovate For Food Security National Demo Day

On November 22nd, 2024, we marked an incredible milestone with the National Demo Day for the Innovate for Food Security Program—a celebration of young innovators reshaping agriculture and food security in the face of climate change.

This program has been a transformative journey for university students and recent graduates across various institutions. Over the past months, participants have progressed through ideations, boot camps, mentorship sessions, and pitch events—all designed to help them refine their ideas and bring innovative solutions to life. Out of many brilliant participants, 12 made it to the final demo day, where they showcased their solutions to an audience of peers, mentors, and stakeholders.

Why This Program Matters

At its heart, the Innovate for Food Security Program focuses on two critical objectives:

1. Creating sustainable entrepreneurial ventures that address the effects of climate change on food security.
2. Increasing youth participation in income-generating opportunities within the agricultural value chain.

Celebrating the Winners

While every participant presented impactful ideas, four ventures stood out for their innovative and practical solutions and received grants to scale their projects:

1. Revive Fruit Juice: This venture aims to replace sugary and unhealthy beverages with nutritious, ready-to-drink options. It provides an affordable and healthier alternative to expensive beverages.
2. Zoe Fresh Bites: Producing organic, diabetic-friendly snacks made with locally sourced ingredients, Zeo Fresh Bites addresses the growing demand for health-conscious, sustainable options.
3. Maffy Juice Products: Tackling the issue of fruit waste (200–300kg of pods per tree), low coffee consumption in local markets, and limited coffee-flavoured healthy beverages, this venture is producing Tamarind and Coffee Blend juice.
4. Perisseia Company Limited: Focusing on eco-friendly and socially responsible skincare, Perisseia offers With Love Cosmetics—a line of organic skin products made from cow ghee. This venture addresses the growing demand for natural, sustainable beauty solutions.

Ongoing Support for All Innovators

Our commitment doesn’t end with the Demo Day. We believe in the power of mentorship and are dedicated to providing continued support to all the innovators who participated in this program—whether or not they received a grant.

A Journey of Innovation and Impact

This Demo Day is not the end of the road but rather a significant milestone in the ongoing journey to transform food security. It showcased the remarkable potential of young innovators to tackle global challenges head-on.

We’re inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of all participants who dared to dream big and put in the work to make their visions a reality. Their solutions remind us of the power of youth-driven innovation to address some of the most pressing issues of our time.