4 Startups Win $2M to Fight Food Waste in UAE

Over 1,200 startups from 113 countries competed for a chance to solve one of the world's biggest challenges: feeding people in hot, dry climates without wasting precious resources.

At Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, four winners emerged from the UAE FoodTech Challenge, each bringing a game-changing solution to the table. The prize includes $2 million in funding plus access to mentors, investors, and real opportunities to test their ideas across the UAE.

Permia Sensing uses AI-powered drones and special sensors that listen to trees to detect stress, pests, and water problems before farmers can see them. The technology already monitors 15,000 hectares of palm farms in Sri Lanka and will soon adapt to UAE conditions, where palm trees hold cultural and agricultural importance.

HyveGeo takes agricultural waste and transforms it into biochar, a carbon-rich material packed with beneficial microbes that improve soil health. Already active in UAE projects, the startup plans to expand research and launch new pilots across the Global South, where poor soil quality limits food production.

Akorn Technology created an edible coating for fruits and vegetables that acts like an invisible shield. The coating slows ripening and reduces moisture loss, keeping produce fresh significantly longer without refrigeration. After successful launches in Egypt and Ghana, Akorn will now test its solution under the UAE's extreme heat conditions.

Flybox converts food scraps and farm waste into protein-rich animal feed and fertilizer using black soldier fly larvae housed in shipping containers. The system is already operational in parts of Africa and will expand to the UAE through partnerships with local organizations and a new research center at the University of Sharjah.

"These startups join a growing group who have raised funding and launched projects in the UAE and beyond," said Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and Co-Chair of the FoodTech Challenge. The competition supports the UAE's long-term food security goals by bringing practical solutions to one of the world's harshest agricultural environments.

The Ripple Effect: What makes these innovations powerful is their dual benefit. They don't just reduce waste or improve food security in isolation. Permia's tree monitoring conserves water while protecting crops. HyveGeo's biochar captures carbon while enriching desert soil. Akorn's coating cuts food loss while reducing energy needed for refrigeration. Flybox's larvae system eliminates waste while creating valuable nutrition. Each solution creates multiple wins for farmers, communities, and the planet.

Larry Kotch, CEO of Flybox, emphasized the weight of winning. "Our technology manages organic waste while producing animal feed. The dual impact is what made us stand out." HyveGeo CEO Abdulaziz bin Redha added that the UAE serves as an ideal launchpad for desert-ready agricultural technology that addresses both soil health and water efficiency.

These four startups prove that the answers to climate and food challenges already exist, and now they have the support to scale them where they're needed most.