The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, alongside Sri Lanka's Ministry of Education and Hatton National Bank, has unveiled a nationwide competition inviting university students to develop solutions for agricultural and food system challenges.
The World Food Day 2026 Youth Innovation Challenge seeks to mobilize the creative potential of Sri Lankan university students to address persistent obstacles in the country's agrifood sector. According to the FAO, the initiative aims to transform student ideas into practical, scalable solutions that enhance efficiency, resilience and sustainability across agricultural systems while supporting national development goals.
The competition will operate through multiple stages, beginning with a nationwide call for concept notes from multidisciplinary teams at state and private universities. Following evaluation, approximately 25 teams will advance to an online pitching round, from which ten finalists will be selected to develop working prototypes. These teams will receive mentorship from technical experts and industry partners before presenting their innovations during national World Food Day celebrations on October 16.
Sri Lanka's agrifood systems confront numerous interconnected challenges, including significant post-harvest losses, climate-related stresses, inefficient water management, pest and disease pressures, weak market connections, fisheries spoilage and constraints affecting affordable aquaculture. The FAO and its partners contend that universities possess substantial research, engineering and technological expertise capable of addressing these issues through innovation.
The initiative brings together support from multiple government ministries including Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment, Health and Science and Technology, alongside technical collaborators such as IEEE, the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission and the National Innovation Agency. Top-performing teams will present before judges and potential investors, with the leading three teams receiving cash prizes and all finalists gaining recognition and networking opportunities with government bodies, academic institutions and the private sector.
