Berytech has announced that applications are now open for the RMF AgriApp Hackathon. This first edition is taking place online on the 27-28-29-30-31 of October 2020.
The RMF AgriApp Hackathon, organized by Berytech and the René Moawad Foundation (RMF) with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Lebanon, is focusing on digitizing the agri-food supply chain by developing a mobile application that compiles the agricultural knowledge, develops the know-how of the farmers for an improved productivity and enhances the farmers competitiveness to reach local and international markets.
The e-hackathon is an exciting opportunity to find a solution to this major challenge set by farming and agricultural distribution industry experts.
Throughout the online hackathon, participants will receive the assistance of product design, technical, user experience/interface, industry and business experts.
Three winning teams will be selected to win a prize of 6,000$ each to help them create their MVP and the chance to join the Agrytech Accelerator Program
5-Day Online Event
The RMF AgriApp Hackathon will be an engaging 5-day online event, bringing together app and software developers, web developers, data scientists, artificial intelligence experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, UI/UX experts, business experts, marketing specialists, and young professionals, from various background.
During these five days, participants will discover real challenges facing the agri-food sector in Lebanon, learn how to transform their idea into a valid business solution through intensive online workshops, prototype their solution within 30 hours, and then pitch it to a panel of judges to have the chance to win different prizes.
Challenges
The agriculture sector can no longer be considered traditional and conservative. A global shift is happening from traditional to modern farming, which is digital, technological and innovative. Berytech, in partnership with RMF is proposing a technological innovation that is aligned with the rapid growth of the global smart agriculture market and which consists of the use of technology and more specifically, in the development of a mobile application for smart farming, globally widespread in the agriculture industry.
Berytech and RMF have been working with experts as well as the public and private sectors to identify a list of challenges within the agri-food value chain. These challenges could inspire participants to innovate in the sector.
- Challenge #1: Phone application challenges:
- Existing apps have data that is not up to date.
- Data on a phone application should be specific, accurate and up to date.
- Existing apps are not user friendly especially for farmers that are not tech oriented
- Challenge #2: Data Base and communication challenges:
- The lack of data on needs in different countries of export vs. quantities exported in addition to standards
- The lack of data on consumer preferences in each country, worldwide trends and new varieties
- Farmers and exporters do not have clear visibility on cooling units and machinery available for sharing and their cost.
- The lack of Farmers registers specifying practices used for each batch and scientific criteria that may give the exporter insight on their conformity
- The limitation in applying accountability in case of product nonconformity after export because of lack of traceability
- The lack of access of the farmers to standards, guidelines and norms that help them comply with export recommendations or GGAP.
- The lack of anticipation on weather impact and potential disease and pests with appropriate guidance for farmers
- The lack of guidance on the right seeds and plants for the farmers to choose for their farms.
The round tables included representatives from Berytech, RMF, Robinson Agri, Karma Group, University of Balamand, Ainata Cherry, Saikaly Farm, the House of Lilies, Olea, Khoury Agriculture, Farmers Valley, Lama Foods, Debbane Freres, Fairtrade Organization, Jarjoura’s avocado, Lebanese University, Choueiry Food Farm, Unifert, and Arcenciel.
How It Works
Participants are encouraged to apply if they are an app/software developer, web developer, data scientist, artificial intelligence expert, innovator, entrepreneur, UI/UX expert, business expert, marketing specialist, or a young professional who has an innovative solution to digitize the food value chain.
Participants can apply with their own idea on how to enhance the agricultural knowledge, develop the know-how of the farmers for an improved productivity and enhance the farmers competitiveness to reach local and international markets, through a mobile application, or hack one of the preset challenges.
A team of at least 2 members (3 or more recommended) working on digital solutions tackling different challenges in the food supply chain from the farmer to the consumer. Teams should have at least one software developer and are encouraged to have a member with a business background and another member with a UX/UI background.
On the first day, participants will attend a virtual introduction session to help them understand the process and the activities during the 4-day event.
On the second day, they will attend a virtual business workshop as well as a technical session to help them shape their idea and understand the User Experience and User Interface to help them when developing their application.
On the third day, they will attend technical workshops online to help them with their software solutions.
On the fourth day and up until the last day in the afternoon, they will be given the time and support to work on their solutions and develop their prototypes.
Finally, on the last day, they get to pitch their idea to a jury who will then announce the top 3 winners. The prizes are $6,000 each to support the team develop their MVP and get the chance to benefit from enrolment in the Agrytech Program at Berytech.
Learn more and apply to the RMF AgriApp Hackathon.
Agrytech Accelerator Program
Berytech is catalyzing agri-food innovations through a yearly three-phase program that allows entrepreneurs grow their startup from an idea into a scalable business.
With the support of The Kingdom of The Netherlands, Berytech designed and developed the Agrytech program to make sure Lebanon has the most competitive companies innovating in the agri-food sector. Learn more about the Agrytech Accelerator Program.
