Argentina-based APOLO Biotech has been named the winner of the inaugural World Food Prize Foundation’s Innovate for Impact Challenge, securing a $50,000 award following a ten-month global competition designed to accelerate transformative solutions in sustainable agriculture and food security.

The Challenge, first announced at the 2024 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, drew nearly 400 early-stage startups from 65 countries, each developing technologies aimed at strengthening climate resilience, improving resource efficiency, and reducing environmental pressures across agricultural value chains. APOLO Biotech, co-founded by Matias Badano, is pioneering the use of RNA-based biological treatments that help crops withstand climate stress and reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides—an approach gaining momentum among growers and policymakers seeking alternatives to chemical-intensive farming. The award was presented by Karsten Temme, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Pivot Bio.

Vet Konect Ltd of Nigeria was recognized as the first runner-up and awarded $10,000 for its work leveraging mobile connectivity and artificial intelligence to expand access to animal health services and livestock insurance for smallholder farmers, addressing the persistent gaps created by distance and infrastructure limitations across rural Africa.

The third-place prize of $5,000 was awarded to India’s Capsber Agriscience, represented by Co-founder and Managing Director Manoj Kumar Rupa, for developing a next-generation microbiome platform that enhances soil biology to reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, aligning with the growing global shift toward regenerative farming practices. All three finalists presented their innovations live at the 2025 Borlaug Dialogue before a panel evaluating novelty, scalability, feasibility, environmental alignment, and global applicability of their solutions.

“APOLO Biotech truly represents what the Innovate for Impact Challenge is all about—bold thinking, creative problem-solving, and a deep commitment to making a difference,” said Mashal Husain, President of the World Food Prize Foundation. “Their innovation is a powerful reminder that one idea can ignite real change and inspire a more sustainable future for us all.” World Food Prize Foundation CEO Gov.

Tom Vilsack underscored the broader significance of the Challenge, noting that empowering early-stage agtech companies is essential for shaping resilient global food systems at a time of climate risk, resource scarcity, and rising population demands. “Innovation is the key to solving today’s agricultural challenges and securing a sustainable future for global food systems,” Vilsack said. “By supporting startups to break new ground, we are cultivating the next generation of visionaries who will help feed the world and protect our planet.”

Beyond financial support, the Innovate for Impact Challenge intends to serve as a launchpad, connecting emerging founders with global research institutions, investors, corporate partners, and policymakers. In doing so, the program aims to accelerate the transition from promising prototypes to scalable solutions capable of reshaping agriculture at the level of smallholder communities, commercial farms, and national food systems. As climate volatility intensifies and public and private sectors search for credible pathways to lower-emission, higher-efficiency agriculture, initiatives such as this are positioning early-stage innovators like APOLO Biotech, Vet Konect, and Capsber Agriscience to play a pivotal role in the future of global food production.