In the wise words of Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup, the big question of our time when it comes to innovation is not “Can it be built?” but “Should it be built?”. Many large Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies are going about the process of screening and testing ideas to develop, inefficiently. This article talks about the latest techniques in growth hacking and how to implement them digitally in the COVID climate.

John Mbindyo, CEO of FreshBox and a FoodTech22 Alumnus, has developed a localized food storage solution to tackle the issue of food loss in Africa. With the knowledge that the amount of food lost in Africa could feed 300 million people annually, John has created refrigerated units that can conveniently fit in vendor spaces at local markets in Kenya, allowing for the storage of local fruits and vegetables. He is now seeking to expand his initiative rapidly and is inviting supporters to join him in his mission. Will you be one of them?

Currently about 1/3rd of our Food is being wasted - by 2030 The United Nations has set a sustainability goal to half this. TotalCtrl, is an innovative food waste prevention software company, working towards making this goal a reality. They help customers prevent food waste from happening, track their food from farm to fork, and help chefs and the hotel managers better communicate and manage their food requirements.

Fruit is one of the most valuable food products we grow- yet excessive fruit waste has become a large issue in our world. Not to worry, serial founder, Sean Sears, is developing Clever Foods to help fight food waste and produce a product that has the potential to strengthen human health. Interested in hearing more of how Sean is changing the fruit industry?

Did you know you can create food from CO2?! Sara Howard of NovoNutrients is developing a product that does just that! They take carbon dioxide from industry that would otherwise enter the atmosphere and, using their process, turn it into consumable food. They’re currently producing protein that can replace fishmeal in aquafeed and are exploring how it can be used in cattle feed and in food products.

The agriculture industry has many unknowns - one of these is the welfare of animals as they’re transported. Transport Genie is uncovering the mysteries of the journey with their specialised sensors that track humidity and temperature to ensure the animals are happy and in good conditions as they’re being transported.

Healthy chocolate? Pranav Sharma is aiming to create just that with his novel functional chocolate brand - Awsum. They’ve combined Ayurveda inspired ingredients with premium dark chocolate, to launch products that taste delicious and also help enrich your health, reduce stress and enhance your sleep.

Did you know that an estimated 142 tonnes of eggs are wasted by a medium-sized supplier per year? Tummi Yummi is taking action to change this by redirecting eggs that are too small for a normal egg carton and turning them into new products good for your gut! Read more here.