Four Startups Advancing Global Food Security Win The UAE FoodTech Challenge 2026

The UAE FoodTech Challenge, a global competition supporting tech-driven agri-food solutions for arid and climate-challenged environments, announced its four winning startups for 2026 during this year's Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.  

The winning startups—HyveGeo, Permia Sensing, Flybox, and Akorn Technology—emerged from an initial applicant pool of 1,215 submissions spanning 113 countries. After advancing through competitive selection rounds, 10 finalists presented their work to an international panel of judges comprising experts in food systems, sustainability, investment, and international development. 

Now in its third edition, the UAE FoodTech Challenge is a global competition supporting early-stage, technology-driven innovations aimed at transforming food systems in arid, high-heat, and increasingly complex environments. It is delivered by the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court of the UAE, which oversees global partnerships and development initiatives, and Tamkeen, a UAE-based company supporting innovation and sustainable economic growth in partnership with ne’ma, the UAE’s national food loss and waste initiative; Silal, a UAE-based agtech company; the Gates Foundation, a global philanthropic organization advancing food system resilience; and the Clinton Global Initiative, which mobilizes leaders to drive solutions to global challenges, among other strategic partners. 

In a statement, Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and co-chair of the FoodTech Challenge, said, "Building resilient and secure food systems is central to the UAE's long-term vision for a prosperous future. The latest winners of the UAE FoodTech Challenge now join a growing community of past awardees, who have since raised over $48 million in follow-on funding and launched more than 50 pilot projects across the UAE and other markets. As they begin this next phase of their journey, support from our network of partners and UAE's world-class innovation ecosystem will serve as a launchpad for their solutions, enabling them to contribute to more resilient and sustainable food systems in the UAE, the global south, and worldwide." 

Fatema Almulla, Senior Specialist Development, International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, added, "The UAE plays a leading role in international development, with agricultural innovation central to its global engagement. Through the UAE FoodTech Challenge, winning startups are embedded within a proven development ecosystem; where advanced technologies, policy leadership, and global expertise come together to accelerate solutions from pilot to scale. This is how innovation is translated into measurable impact, from the UAE to climate-vulnerable regions worldwide." 

Shelly Sundberg, Deputy Director of Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems at the Gates Foundation, said, "The UAE FoodTech Challenge plays an important role in advancing practical, scalable, and accessible solutions that can strengthen food security across underserved and climate-vulnerable populations. At the Gates Foundation, we are proud to support initiatives that translate innovation into real-world impact, helping food systems reduce loss, improve sustainability, and expand access to safe, affordable and nutritious food. These are essential to building more resilient food systems in the face of climate and economic pressures." 

Khuloud Nowais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of the ne'ma steering committee, commented, "Seeing the caliber of this year's winners and the diversity of their solutions has been truly inspiring. As a judge, it has been encouraging to witness the growing sophistication of solutions that address food loss and waste challenges. At ne'ma, we are proud to support initiatives that turn ideas into actionable, lasting impact for food systems."

The four winners of the UAE FoodTech Challenge this year represent two key areas of sustainable food systems: climate-smart food production and food loss and waste reduction.

The awarded startups in climate-smart food production include Permia Sensing and HyveGeo. Permia Sensing uses artificial intelligence (AI), bioacoustic sensors, and drone imaging to monitor tree health, enabling early detection of stress, pests, and dehydration, and is being deployed across more than 15,000 hectares of palm farms in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, HyveGeo converts agricultural waste into microbe-enriched biochar that improves soil health. Already used by farmers and landscape managers across the UAE, the solution helps turn desert soil into fertile land, and plans to scale research and pilots across the Global South. 

As for food loss and waste reduction, startups building in this category include Akorn Technology and Flybox. Akorn Technology develops a natural, edible coating that extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, reducing post-harvest losses. The technology, which is already being used in Egypt and Ghana, will now be adapted for the UAE and other arid markets. Flybox, on the other hand, uses black soldier fly larvae to transform agricultural waste into protein and fertilizer, reducing landfill waste. Operating in Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria, its container-based, off-grid system is set to launch in the UAE, with plans to scale through local waste management partnerships. 

The four winning teams will collectively share a $2 million prize pool and receive invitations to scale their innovations within the UAE. Winners also gain access to comprehensive in-kind support, including pilot opportunities, research facility access, market-entry guidance, mentorship, and investor introductions through an extensive network of local and international partners.

Pictured in the lead image are the winners of the UAE FoodTech Challenge's third edition. Courtesy of FTC.