Lineage announces a grand prize of $50,000 for the Food Chain Innovation Challenge

Lineage, Inc., (NASDAQ: LINE) (the “Company”), the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, today announced additional details of its flagship competition, the Food Chain Innovation Challenge, including members of the judging panels as well as the grand prize.

The challenge of creating impactful solutions for food waste comes at a critical time, as the severely food-insecure population is expected to hit nearly a billion people by 2028. Lineage’s global competition invites students and startups to pitch their innovative technologies or data solutions that address postharvest food waste.

The Food Chain Innovation Challenge will take place in three major locations: London on November 14, and Amsterdam and San Francisco both on November 19. Students, startups and other relevant candidates interested in participating can submit their applications online until September 30.

During each event, participants will present solutions aimed at mitigating food waste to an esteemed regional judging panel. Judges will select a regional winner, who will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize and a spot in the grand final event on December 2. One winner will then be chosen to receive the $50,000 grand prize and an invite into a six-month, executive-led incubator program tailored to their unique business goals.

London

The London event will take place on November 14, 2024, at The Science Museum. Lineage’s Regional Vice President, Claire Walters, will join a panel of distinguished judges including Simon Millard, Director of Food at FareShare; Harriet Lamb, CEO of WRAP; and Paul Randle, from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leaders at Cambridge University. To support the aspiring innovators, ReLondon and FoodCycle are also partnering with the Food Chain Innovation Challenge to provide valuable insights and coaching as applicants refine their pitches.

Greg Lehmkuhl, President and CEO of Lineage said: “Lineage is constantly looking at how we improve the global management of food storage, transportation and distribution. Beyond our own operational improvements, the Food Chain Innovation Challenge is a platform for us to support the industry's most promising talent and innovations. By collaborating, we can develop solutions that not only address food waste but also promote sustainable practices for the long term.”

Jeff Rivera, Global Chief Operations Officer at Lineage added: “Despite producing enough food to feed the planet, hundreds of millions of people face food insecurity every day. At Lineage, we're dedicated to transforming the food supply chain to eliminate waste and feed the world. The Food Chain Innovation Challenge exemplifies this mission, and we’re excited to highlight new solutions and innovations while supporting these entrepreneurs' journeys to turn their ideas into reality.”

Simon Millard, Director of Food at UK charity FareShare, said: “At FareShare we believe that no good food should go to waste, so it gives me great pride to be a judge at Lineage’s Food Chain Innovation Challenge this year, which is supporting the need for new innovations and technologies to reduce food waste. It’s simply not acceptable that so much food waste occurs when so many people suffer food insecurity. As the problem of food waste continues across the UK, now more than ever we need clever people and smart organisations to step up and help. This is going to be vitally important in helping to deliver food safely and responsibly to those most in need, and I can’t wait to see what some of our most brilliant minds are doing to tackle this most urgent of needs.”

At the events, participants will be asked to pitch their existing ideas across four specific areas: reducing food waste, food preservation techniques, access to nutritious food and data-driven insights and analytics.

If you're interested in participating, apply here. For a glimpse into the 2023 Hackathon, the predecessor to The Food Chain Innovation Challenge held in Amsterdam, watch this video. Also, hear insights from last year's winner to get inspired and understand the impact of winning this prestigious challenge.

Photos courtesy of Lineage.