This share prices have a 15 minute delay and are shown in the local time of the market in which the quote is displayed.
The future of food, the types of food we are eating and ensuring that there is enough food for the growing population are challenges that we are currently facing.
With the aim of supporting innovation to solve these problems relevant to society, Banco Santander and Oxentia Foundation are launching the Santander X Global Challenge | Food for the Future to seek out startups and scaleups with innovative and scalable solutions.
Also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture.
Winners
Winning Startups
Novel patent process to extract natural oils and chemicals from used coffee grounds. They create sustainable and local alternatives to palm oil and its derivatives for use in food and cosmetics products. Our process has been built with scalability and sustainability in mind.
Non-toxic fungi-bactericides for agricultural use. Its broad-spectrum does not cause microbial resistance, enhances plant growth, does not affect biological diversity, and can be applied in virtually any crop at any time in the growing cycle.
Zero-residue and edible coatings to protect fruits and vegetables from spoilage and decay. Their products are made of a glucose-based biopolymer that is functionalized with naturally occurring antimicrobials.
Winning Scaleups
B2B platform of healthy and sustainable ingredients obtained through fermentation of food by-products optimised by AI. The SCP obtained is included in food matrices to provide nutrients and technological properties of great interest while reducing food waste in a Circular Economy approach.
Robotics and AI to make farming more efficient, sustainable, and profitable. Their robots autonomously monitor and treat each crop plant. This allows farmers to act only when it’s required or only target weeds that are a problem, reducing chemical use.
A scalable 3D printing solution to produce meat analogs from vegetable (Plant-Based), deconstructed meat (Meat-Based) or lab grown cells (Cell-Based). FOOD to DATA – DATA to FOOD process patented by COCUUS to generate a technology that produces, for instance, vegan bacon at a rate of 1.000.000 kg/y.
Honorable Mentions
Indoor vertical farming solutions to produce plants (or stages of plant growth) in a fully controlled environment, using 95% less water and 0% pesticides.
What are we looking for?
Who is this aimed at?
Technology-based startups and scaleups from 11 countries, that present solutions to address food scarcity, access to healthy and sustainable food or the implementation of innovative technologies that improve efficiency in the food manufacturing, packaging and distribution process.
Startup category: legally incorporated in one of the participating countries, with a maximum annual income of $300,000, with $100,000 to $1 million capital raised or 25 employees maximum.
Scaleup category: legally incorporated for at least two years in one of the participating countries, with an annual income over $300,000, more than $1 million capital raised or over 25 employees.
Awards
€120.000 for 6 winners
- €30,000 for the three winning startups
(€10,000 each) - €90,000 for the three winning scaleups
(€30,000 each)
Access to Santander X 100
The winners will become part of Santander X 100, the prime community of Santander X's most outstanding entrepreneurial projects, which gives them access to the resources they need to grow: mentoring and training, capital, customers, talent, networking opportunities and other valuable resources.
Other benefits
The six winning solutions will be promoted on Banco Santander's social media and official channels.
Winners will get the chance to present their solutions to Fintech Station, Banco Santander's open innovation team.
How are the winners selected?
Our commitment
Banco Santander
Banco Santander, leaders in responsible banking, are firmly committed to progress as well as inclusive and sustainable growth. Their pioneering and long-standing commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and employment through Santander Universities, which has been operating in this area for over 25 years, sets Banco Santander apart from the world's other financial institutions. Since its inception, the bank has allocated over €2.1 billion and supported more than 790,000 students, business professionals, and entrepreneurial projects through agreements with over 1,000 universities and institutions in 15 countries.
Oxentia Foundation
Oxentia grew out of Oxford University's technology transfer company, Oxford University Innovation, with the aim of providing specialised innovation management services to public and private sector customers throughout the world. Oxentia's approach builds on Oxford's strong tradition of globally supporting early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs to promote innovative projects that impact the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The Oxentia Foundation was created to support Oxentia's goal of addressing global inequalities through innovation and entrepreneurship activities.
