Call for Applications: Data for Farm Value Global Challenge 2025 in Helsinki

Are you an innovative startup with a mission to empower smallholder farmers through data? The Data for Farm Value Global Challenge, jointly launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the University of Helsinki’s Viikki Food Design Factory, is now accepting applications!

This global challenge invites startups to submit scalable, data-driven solutions that unlock value for farmers and drive sustainability across agrifood systems. Selected startups will have the opportunity to pitch on international stages, access valuable data from FAO and partners, and gain mentorship from global experts.

 What is the Challenge?

The Data for Farm Value Global Challenge is designed to identify and support pioneering startups that harness farm-level data to create inclusive, fair, and impactful solutions for smallholder farmers. Startups should propose digital innovations and business models that ensure farmers are compensated and empowered as data contributors.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: August 25, 2025

• FAO Science and Innovation Forum (Rome): October 13–17, 2025

• Pitching Day at FAO SIF: October 16, 2025

• Y Science & Slush (Helsinki): November 19–20, 2025

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be a registered company with at least 2 team members working 50% of their time on the solution

• Have a Technology Readiness Level between 3 and 9 (Proof of Concept to Market-Ready Product)

• Be pre-seed to Series A funded with an annual revenue under €500,000

• Be based anywhere in the world

• Be available and funded to travel to Rome and, if selected, Helsinki

• Submit all materials in English

What We’re Looking For

Startups should propose solutions that:

• Structure and render farm-level data in useful and accessible formats

• Develop fair business models that compensate farmers for their data

• Integrate farm data into supply chain, sustainability, or market platforms

• Enable farmer-owned data monetization through transparent mechanisms

• Link farm-level data with public/private sustainability initiatives

What You’ll Gain

Participants will benefit from:

• Workshops on pitching, business modeling, and data monetization

• 1:1 Office Hours with FAO’s digital agriculture and data experts

• Networking with the agrifood ecosystem across public, private, and academic sectors

• Pitch opportunity at the FAO SIF in Rome (10 startups)

• Final pitch at Y Science @ Slush in Helsinki (Top 4 startups)

• Free Slush ticket for finalists

• €5,000 cash prize for the pitching competition winner

• Access to the Data Refinery platform powered by FAO and Viikki Food Design Factory

• Visibility through FAO’s global platforms and events

Message from the Organizers

“To the visionary changemakers rising to the Data for Farm Value Challenge: your innovations hold the power to rewrite the rules of the agrifood economy. By placing smallholder farmers at the center of the data revolution, you’re not only driving digital transformation, you’re shaping a future that is fairer, smarter, and more sustainable for all.”
— Vincent Martin, FAO Director of Innovation

“Now is the time to mobilize agri-data expertise to create impactful solutions and business models. Data must serve farmers, not just systems.”
— Laura Forsman, Viikki Food Design Factory Manager

Apply Now

Submit your application by August 25, 2025, to be part of this transformative global initiative and pitch your solution on an international stage.

Apply here
For inquiries:

• digital-innovation@fao.org

• viikkifooddesignfactory@helsinki.fi
  (Please use subject line: “Data for Farm Value”)

Let your innovation unlock value and drive change where it matters most — on the farm.

For more opportunities, visit opportunitiesforyouth.org.