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Themes for the Sustainable Food Innovation Challenge 2024

Why these themes?

These themes represent some of the most pressing problems currently afflicting our food ecosystem. We need the best and brightest minds to create innovative solutions to address these problems.

Teams participating in the challenge need to select one theme to work on. Each theme is supported by a couple of problem statements. Your solution should address at least one of the problem statements, if not more. You have also been provided with resource materials that can help you understand the problem from different perspectives and get started

​1. Improve soil health to improve quality of food and protect biodiversity

Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture. 40% of all land in the world is used for food production and more than half of it relies on use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides hardens and acidifies soil, pollutes air and water, lowers nutrients values and is harmful to all forms of biodiversity.


Problem Statement

  • How can more food production be transitioned to chemical free methods?
  • How can food security be maintained without chemically intensive production?
  • How can farmers be educated on improving soil health?
  • How can technology be used to improve soil health?

Resources to get you started

​2. Stronger supply chains for small growers and producers of chemical-free and traditional food

80% of all farms in the world are small holder farms but, 70% of all the food comes from a handful of large industrialised growers and producers. Small scale producers include farmers, pastoralists, fishing and forest communities and artisans who work at a small scale with small revenues. They are keepers of traditional techniques and products, using little or no chemicals or technology. Their livelihoods are dependent on this work but, they face significant access barriers to large markets and buyers.

Problem Statement

  • How can small growers and producers access large urban markets?
  • How can large institutional buyers (like food processing companies, hotels and restaurants) develop and support small growers?
  • How should supply chains look like for small growers and producers ?
  • How can technology be used to improve market access for small producers and growers?

Resources to get you started

​3. In light of climate change,  new education and curriculum for food professionals

Every year, thousands of students in India graduate with a degree or diploma in culinary arts, agricultural sciences, nutrition, hospitality management and other related fields. While these fields are distinct, they all have food education at their core and one of the main goals has been to enable students with the knowledge and skills to become employable in the industry. In light of climate change and the central role of food systems, future professionals in food and farming have a new and important role, as change leaders for sustainable food practices.

Problem Statement

  • What should young people learn about food as part of their education?
  • What should the future curriculum of your institute look like?
  • What skills should industry and employers of food professionals look for while hiring?

Resources to get you started

​4. Sustainable food and agri packaging

The global food packaging industry is massive and growing rapidly to the tune of US$ 500 billion over the next few years. It accounts for nearly 35% of the global packaging industry. It also accounts for 50% of the plastic derived from fossil fuels. While it is meant to keep fresh food safe, stable and clean, the environmental and health impact is enormous. Mostly designed as single use, non-biodegradable and difficult to recycle, it generates waste, pollutes water, air and is also harmful to humans, animals and sea life. It is estimated that every year, 1 million tonnes of plastic ends up in oceans.

Problem Statement

  • How can food and agri businesses transition to plastic free packaging?
  • How can businesses minimise packaging and reduce food waste?
  • How can consumer become more aware and take responsibility to reduce the effects of food packaging?
  • How can we reduce packaging in food delivery?


Resources to get you started

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