Lineage introduces global challenge to combat food waste

USA – Temperature-controlled warehouse company, Lineage, has announced its Food Chain Innovation Challenge.

This global competition seeks to address the pressing issue of food waste, particularly postharvest losses, by inviting students and startups to develop and pitch innovative solutions.

The challenge will take place at three major events: London on November 14, Amsterdam on November 19, and San Francisco, also on November 19.

Participants are encouraged to present ideas that could help different regions, from developed to emerging markets, reduce postharvest food spoilage.

“According to the UN Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, the latest data from 2022 shows 1.05 billion tons of food went to waste – an amount sufficient to nourish billions,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, president and CEO of Lineage.

“This reality is stark, especially considering that over 783 million individuals globally suffer from undernourishment. By reducing food waste, we can significantly enhance global food security and address hunger.”

Lehmkuhl emphasized Lineage’s commitment to innovation in the global food supply chain.

 “Through our Food Chain Innovation Challenge, we are seeking to cultivate solutions that not only tackle food waste but also advance sustainable development. We are eager to witness the emergence of these new ideas and their evolution into practical, impactful strategies.”

Participants will pitch their ideas to a panel of esteemed judges, focusing on one of four areas: reducing food waste, innovative food preservation techniques, access to nutritious food, and data-driven insights and analytics.

Winners from each regional event will receive a cash prize, and an overall winner will be chosen from the regional winners in December.

The grand prize includes entry into an incubator program designed to help them further develop their business skills and scale their solutions effectively.

Lehmkuhl stressed the importance of affordable and scalable methods to mitigate postharvest food spoilage, thereby enhancing food security, quality, safety, and market access.

“At Lineage, we are dedicated to spearheading innovation across the global food supply chain,” he noted.

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