FREE OPTIONS

Info Session - The Fall Armyworm Tech Prize

Wed May 2, 18:00 - Wed May 2, 20:00

Impact Hub Joburg

ABOUT

The Problem

TheFall armyworm(FAW) poses a serious threat to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. It is now on the precipice of devastating food supplies across the continent, exacerbating global poverty and hunger.
About FAW:
·         Attacks more than 80 different plant species
·         Agriculture experts estimate the pest may cause over $13 billion in losses for crops like maize, sorghum, rice, and sugarcane
·         Can fly up to 1,600 kilometers (nearly 1,000 miles) in 30 hours meaning it can easily migrate to surrounding farms and countries;
·         Has ravaged vegetation in over 20 African countries.
To avoid the spread and reduce the risk of future humanitarian crisis, smallholder famers need improved access to immediate, accurate and actionable information on how to mitigate, identify and combat FAW.Smallholder farmers need to gain useful advice and make informed decisions.
The Fall Armyworm Tech Prize 2018 is seeking innovative digital tools and approaches that provide timely, context-specific information to enable smallholder farmers and those who support them to identify, treat, and track incidences of FAW in Africa.
 
"the Fall Armyworm Tech Prize", aims to find innovators with digital tools and approaches that provide timely, context-specific information that enable smallholder farmers and those in the agriculture industry to identify, treat and track incidences of fall armyworm in Africa. The Fall Armyworm is a threat to food security in Sub-Saharan Africa and devastating food supplies and exacerbating global poverty and hunger. Given the spread and the outbreak, interventions are needed with information on how to respond and prevent the pest needs to be transmitted efficiently.

Africacommunications Group will host an event on the 2nd of May to drive awareness on the Fall Armyworm Tech Prize and identify innovators. The event would take place to inform innovators about the Prize and get these innovators to apply for the Prize. The Prize is looking for individuals, groups, organisations and companies globally, and especially innovators from Sub-Saharan Africa; the Prize has partnered with USAID and thus as the ongoing commitment to Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment we are particularly encouraging women to compete. 
 
There is a totalling of $400 000 of prizes for the Fall Armyworm Tech Prize.
 
- One grand prize if $150 000 to the most viable solution
- Two significant awards of $75 000 to the most promising solutions
- Two up and comer awards $50 000 to early stage developments that show the most potential.
 

Go to fallarmywormtech.challenges.org for details to learn more about FAW and how to apply for the prize.

 
 

DIRECTIONS

Info Session - The Fall Armyworm Tech Prize
Impact Hub Joburg
9 Walters St, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
Get Directions