Nigerian ‘Zebra CropBank,’ an agri-tech startup founded by serial social entrepreneur, Buffy Okeke-Ojiudu, has emerged as a standout at the United Nations World Food Forum in Rome, Iltaly.
The startup secured the esteemed ‘Global Startup Innovation Award’ in the ‘Better Production’ category and clinched the prestigious title of ‘World Food Forum Innovation Of The Year.’
The event, hosted at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), brought together a global community of innovators, investors, and experts committed to advancing impactful solutions within the realm of food systems.
FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol, opened the event by emphasising the critical role of climate action and innovation in ensuring equitable access to nutritious food worldwide.
Zebra CropBank, selected from a competitive pool of over 400 agri-focused companies across 69 countries, outshone the competition as one of the final eight contestants.
At the core of Zebra CropBank’s success was its revolutionary post-harvest service platform, providing farmers with the means to store and monetise their produce.
The startup’s network of electronic warehouses holds promise for transforming food and agriculture supply chains, offering income opportunities for farmers, particularly in local and remote areas of Africa.
Buffy Okeke-Ojiudu expressed his excitement, stating, “Receiving the ‘Global Startup Innovation Award’ in the ‘Better Production’ category was a thrilling acknowledgment for Zebra CropBank. To then be honoured with the ‘WORLD FOOD FORUM INNOVATION OF THE YEAR’ underscores the global impact we aspire to make in reshaping the agricultural landscape.”
