Tesco and WWF announce Innovation Connections accelerator programme winners
Tesco and WWF have announced the five startups that have won funding and the chance to test and scale their solutions in the former’s supply chain, with the aim of cutting the environmental impact of the average shopping basket and supporting a resilient and sustainable UK food system.
Innovation Connections is a new accelerator programme created by the aforementioned pair.
In the final on 6th May, a group of finalists pitched head to head in front of a panel of experts from Tesco and WWF, with five projects each awarded funding of up to £150,000.
The winners are:
AgriSound & AM Fresh (Tesco fruit supplier)– technology that uses bioacoustics to monitor pollinators and pest levels on farm to help farmers protect biodiversity and increase produce yields.
ai & Hilton (Tesco meat and fish supplier) – a monitoring system that uses birdsong as a science-based biodiversity indicator in grassland farming.
CCm, Andermatt, Farm Carbon Toolkit & Branston (Tesco potato supplier)– a demonstration of low carbon fertilisers to reduce the carbon footprint of potato production.
Farm Carbon Toolkit & Produce World (Tesco produce supplier) – carbon footprint software for horticultural growers to analyse and reduce their emissions and increase carbon sequestration on farm, whilst also identifying cost savings and efficiencies.
Future by Insects & Hilton (Tesco meat and fish supplier)– creation of circular fish feed using food waste to grow microalgae to feed fish.
Giles Bolton, Responsible Sourcing Director at Tesco, and judging panel member, says: “To create a food system that provides healthy, sustainable and affordable food for all, the whole sector needs to find ways to innovate fast.”
“The quality of the joint pitches at our Innovation Connections event was extremely high and showed the breadth of innovation that is already going on in our food system. We’re delighted to be announcing five worthy winners and seeing the impact they can make by supporting them to scale up in our supply chain.”
David Edwards, Director of Food Strategy at WWF and also on the judging panel, comments: “In a climate and nature crisis, we urgently need to find more sustainable ways to grow enough affordable food for everyone.”
“The winning projects represent huge potential to help create a food system that restores nature and protects our climate. We look forward to seeing the results of the pilots and hope they will demonstrate how innovative ideas can be scaled up to make a positive impact in the supply chain.”
