[cid:image001.png@01D757CA.A65D1F50] World Food Forum launches ‘Startup Innovation Awards’ in partnership with the Extreme Tech Challenge Date: 22 July 2021, Rome - The World Food Forum <http://www.world-food-forum.org> powered by Global Youth, today announced a partnership with the Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) to launch an international competition - the World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards - to support and showcase innovating entrepreneurs who harness the power of technology to drive the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems in support of ending world hunger. At the XTC Global Finals on 22 July, Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Young Sohn, Co-Founder of XTC, jointly announced the partnership, underlining their commitment to supporting innovation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “The Extreme Tech Challenge AgTech, Food & Water competition category directly addresses FAO’s mission to defeat hunger worldwide and to achieve high-quality food security for all,” said Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of FAO. “We are thrilled to join XTC in this partnership and to leverage their extraordinary pool of transformative startups to make a material impact in both of our organizations’ sustained efforts to tackle this global challenge.” The WFF Startup Innovation Awards will identify and elevate contestants who entered in the 2021 Extreme Tech Challenge and who are building companies that demonstrate potential to transform agri-food systems, aligned to one of four categories: Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life. With the WFF Startup Innovation Awards, shortlisted startups will receive global recognition and visibility, connections to potential funding, and networking opportunities with global entities such as governments, United Nations agencies and private corporations. The WFF Startup Innovation Awards will culminate on October 2, 2021, with the announcement of a winner in each of the four categories. An overall WFF Startup Innovator of the Year Award will also be awarded. Learn more about the ‘WFF Startup Innovation Awards’ here - www.world-food-forum.org<http://www.world-food-forum.org> About WFF The World Food Forum is an independent global network of partners, created for and led by FAO’s Youth Committee, to spark a movement to transform our agri-food systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Aligned with the core principles of the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit<https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit>, WFF aims to serve as a platform to engage and harness the passion of youth, galvanize action and identify solutions to the growing challenges facing agri-food systems. About XTC Extreme Tech Challenge is the world’s largest competition for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges. XTC is non-profit organization supported by leading corporations, venture capitalists, foundations, policymakers, universities and tech conferences. XTC is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs creating innovations to help build a sustainable future for humanity and our planet. Related Links www.world-food-forum.org<http://www.world-food-forum.org> www.extremetechchallenge.org<http://www.extremetechchallenge.org> www.fao.org<http://www.fao.org> Want to learn more or join in the movement? * Media queries should be sent to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> * Visit the Website<http://www.world-food-forum.org/> * Follow the WFF on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/TheWorldFoodForum>, Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/world_food_forum/>, LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/75547854/admin/>, Twitter<https://twitter.com/World_FoodForum>, Tiktok<https://www.tiktok.com/@worldfoodforum?>, and YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzurmXSkC4CJXyK58fGSmQ>