GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (RFD-TV)— The World Trade Organization (WTO) spotlighted student-driven solutions to global food insecurity during its recent hackathon, drawing entries from more than ten countries.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala opened the event by stressing that “trade and food security are inseparable,” calling the competition a sign of what young people expect from the organization.
The top prize went to Global Grains, a team from the European University Institute and Graduate Institute in Geneva, for proposing a “Harvest-to-Market Facilitation Pathway” to reduce post-harvest losses in Africa through better storage and trade channels.
Singapore’s Spice Pacific team earned second place with a plan to convert food lost in trade into sustainable biofuels, while China’s Agro-Strategos took third for recommendations to strengthen WTO rules during food trade disruptions.
WTO ambassadors from five nations served as jury members, underscoring the global scope of the contest. CropLife International provided the monetary awards.
