Food Connection Challenge harvests first results
The Food Connection Challenge (FCC) has generated much interest with Ghanaian food entrepreneurs, since postharvest losses are a serious threat for many producers and entrepreneurs in Ghanaian value chains. The FCC is an initiative of Crosswise Works and BoP Innovation Center, realized with a grant of the Food & Business Knowledge Platform. The FCC aims to reduce postharvest losses experienced by entrepreneurs and producers in Ghana, through sharing Dutch knowledge and technology and adapting these to the local context.
From 20 applying Ghanaian companies, ranging from pineapple producers, over groundnut processors, to tilapia breeders, six were selected.
A group of agrifood experts from Wageningen University & Research centre, TNO, the Food & Business Knowledge Platform, the Postharvest Network and the Netherlands-African Business Council (NABC) assisted in the selection procedure. All these organizations are enthusiastic about the concept of the challenge and indicated to stay involved in the FCC. “The Food Connection Challenge is a good opportunity to combine pertinent business challenges to commercially viable solutions. This is why I am curious about the outcomes of the competition”, says Mackenzie Masaki, head of agribusiness at the NABC.
The six selected companies all produce different products. Groital Company for example, produces fresh pineapple and Flosell Ltd. produces fresh tilapia and tilapia fingerlings. Other selected companies are TUDRIDEP (soybean & maize processing), Edanso Ltd. (groundnuts), Gifts Food Culture (groundnut paste) and Unique Quality Product Enterprise (processing of Fonio grains).
Next steps
In the coming weeks, the six selected Ghanaian companies will be presented to Dutch companies producing agro-technology (think of processing machinery or storage facilities) that can fit their postharvest challenges.
The following step is to make a match between the Ghanaian and Dutch companies. With the support of Dutch students, they will work together in small teams on solutions for the postharvest challenges. The winners will be selected in November and awarded with the opportunity to implement their solution in the field.
For Dutch companies this is a great opportunity to get a better understanding of the Ghanaian market and to get in touch with real Ghanaian entrepreneurs. Also, they will get support in making their products and technology adapted to the Ghanian context, making their products ready for the market of the future.
Dutch companies or students wanting to compete in this challenge together with Ghanaian companies can contact Niek van Dijk, ; for more details on how to apply as a student, please download the flyer (PDF).
