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The future of food, the types of food we are eating and ensuring that there is enough food for the growing population are challenges that we are currently facing.
With the aim of supporting innovation to solve these problems relevant to society, Banco Santander and Oxentia Foundation are launching the Santander X Global Challenge | Food for the Future to seek out startups and scaleups with innovative and scalable solutions.
Also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture.
Winners
Winning Startups
Revive Eco
Novel patent process to extract natural oils and chemicals from used coffee grounds. They create sustainable and local alternatives to palm oil and its derivatives for use in food and cosmetics products. Our process has been built with scalability and sustainability in mind.
ClearLeaf inc
Non-toxic fungi-bactericides for agricultural use. Its broad-spectrum does not cause microbial resistance, enhances plant growth, does not affect biological diversity, and can be applied in virtually any crop at any time in the growing cycle.
Nat4Bio
Zero-residue and edible coatings to protect fruits and vegetables from spoilage and decay. Their products are made of a glucose-based biopolymer that is functionalized with naturally occurring antimicrobials.
Winning Scaleups
MOA FoodTech
B2B platform of healthy and sustainable ingredients obtained through fermentation of food by-products optimised by AI. The SCP obtained is included in food matrices to provide nutrients and technological properties of great interest while reducing food waste in a Circular Economy approach.
Small Robot Co
Robotics and AI to make farming more efficient, sustainable, and profitable. Their robots autonomously monitor and treat each crop plant. This allows farmers to act only when it’s required or only target weeds that are a problem, reducing chemical use.
Cocuus System Iberica
A scalable 3D printing solution to produce meat analogs from vegetable (Plant-Based), deconstructed meat (Meat-Based) or lab grown cells (Cell-Based). FOOD to DATA – DATA to FOOD process patented by COCUUS to generate a technology that produces, for instance, vegan bacon at a rate of 1.000.000 kg/y.
Honorable Mentions
Urban Crop Solutions
Indoor vertical farming solutions to produce plants (or stages of plant growth) in a fully controlled environment, using 95% less water and 0% pesticides.
What are we looking for?
How can your solutions help address food security issues?
Solutions that address the increasing world population and general shortage of food. This may include transforming agriculture, producing alternative proteins, avoiding produce damage and waste.
How can your solution help improve the quality of food and people’s health?
Solutions which focus on the health and environmental benefits of the food we consume. This can include the increase in plant-based foods and the linked benefits on the environment, but also utilizing medical properties in food, as well as nutrition education and solutions to improve diet and preserve our health.
How can your solution improve food technology and production?
Harnessing technology to innovate the food industry. From home preparation devices and gadgets to better inform customers, to technology used in manufacturing, packaging and distribution.
Solutions should address challenges such as climate change, impact of conflict and covid-19 on food production and security, nutrition (particularly for children) and can focus on agriculture, supply chains, vertical farming, alternative proteins etc.
Who is this aimed at?
Technology-based startups and scaleups from 11 countries, that present solutions to address food scarcity, access to healthy and sustainable food or the implementation of innovative technologies that improve efficiency in the food manufacturing, packaging and distribution process.
Startup category: legally incorporated in one of the participating countries, with a maximum annual income of $300,000, with $100,000 to $1 million capital raised or 25 employees maximum.
Scaleup category: legally incorporated for at least two years in one of the participating countries, with an annual income over $300,000, more than $1 million capital raised or over 25 employees.
Awards
€120.000 for 6 winners
- €30,000 for the three winning startups
(€10,000 each) - €90,000 for the three winning scaleups
(€30,000 each)
Access to Santander X 100
The winners will become part of Santander X 100, the prime community of Santander X's most outstanding entrepreneurial projects, which gives them access to the resources they need to grow: mentoring and training, capital, customers, talent, networking opportunities and other valuable resources.
Other benefits
The six winning solutions will be promoted on Banco Santander's social media and official channels.
Winners will get the chance to present their solutions to Fintech Station, Banco Santander's open innovation team.
How are the winners selected?
Deadline for applications: 17 November 2022.
Entrepreneurship and innovation experts evaluate and choose the top 20 startups and scaleups.
The 20 finalists present their solutions to a jury integrated by international leading experts in entrepreneurship, investment, innovation and bank executives.
The 6 winning teams are announced and celebrated at an online event
- -Three startups
- -Three scaleups
Our commitment
Banco Santander
Banco Santander, leaders in responsible banking, are firmly committed to progress as well as inclusive and sustainable growth. Their pioneering and long-standing commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and employment through Santander Universities, which has been operating in this area for over 25 years, sets Banco Santander apart from the world's other financial institutions. Since its inception, the bank has allocated over €2.1 billion and supported more than 790,000 students, business professionals, and entrepreneurial projects through agreements with over 1,000 universities and institutions in 15 countries.
Oxentia Foundation
Oxentia grew out of Oxford University's technology transfer company, Oxford University Innovation, with the aim of providing specialised innovation management services to public and private sector customers throughout the world. Oxentia's approach builds on Oxford's strong tradition of globally supporting early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs to promote innovative projects that impact the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The Oxentia Foundation was created to support Oxentia's goal of addressing global inequalities through innovation and entrepreneurship activities.