Ten projects awarded for their innovation to reach zero hunger in Latin America and The Caribbean
BOGOTA - The Innovation Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean (HZero) - managed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Colombia - celebrated the conclusion of a programme that supported 10 innovative projects from six countries in the region. Together, these projects are making a positive impact on the lives of over 85,000 people and contributing to Zero Hunger.
The winning projects from Colombia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Peru, developed innovative and disruptive solutions to combat hunger in the region. Their approaches range from the use of blockchain, the transformation of recyclable materials, to the revitalization of ancestral knowledge.
"Levels of food insecurity in the region are a challenge, which is why we must find disruptive solutions to overcome this important issue. WFP is committed to fostering local innovation ecosystems so that, together with social entrepreneurs and community innovators, we can transform the lives of those who need it most," said Carlo Scaramella, WFP Representative and Country Director.
During the event, known in the innovation world as Demo Day, project participants shared their experiences in the HZero Accelerator programme, their future perspectives, and the impact their work is having on the lives of people in the region.
The 10 winning projects of the HZero Accelerator programme are: Afo Acuaponia (Colombia), Agros (Peru), Bancalimentos (Colombia), CliMapp (WFP internal project in Colombia and Ecuador), Enparalelo (Cuba), Ento Piruw (Peru), La Divina Papaya (Ecuador), Nutrivida (Costa Rica), Pilotas Resilientes (WFP internal project in Guatemala), and Siembraco (Colombia).
The HZero Accelerator programme was developed in collaboration with innovation ecosystem partners, the public and private sectors, and academia, including Impact Hub Medellín, CIAT, IFAD, iNNpulsa, Tetra Pak, Sodexo, and the Alpina Foundation.
Over 200 projects applied to the HZero Accelerator programme when the regional call for proposals was made, with the goal of accelerating the growth of innovative and disruptive projects that contribute to Zero Hunger.
In October 2022, 21 projects were selected to participate in the programme's first phase: An innovation bootcamp and a Pitch event. Subsequently, the top 10 projects were chosen to participate in the next acceleration phase, receiving personalized technical support, up to US$50,000 each, mentorship, and access to the WFP network.
At the Demo Day in Bogota, key actors in the innovation ecosystem, such as Andrés Campos, Executive - Vice Presidency of Capital and Digital Economy for iNNpulsa; Paula Delgadillo, Director of Projects in Colombia for SVX Social Ventures Connection; and Beatriz Ospina, International Membership Leader and Impact Programmes Coordinator for Latimpacto, discussed impact investment to ensure the region gets to Zero Hunger.
The HZero Hub is part of WFP's global innovation network, which has positively impacted the lives of over 22 million people worldwide in 2022. To learn more about the HZero Hub, visit https://innovation4nutrition.org/acelera-hzero/ or contact hzero.lac@wfp.org
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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