HungerTech Innovation Challenge to focus on developing tech models that increase equitable food distribution, environmental sustainability and economic viability INDIANAPOLIS — AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the state’s agbioscience economy, released new secondary research today identifying the need for market-driven technologies that ensure increased and equitable food distribution to eliminate hunger. The study was conducted by Purdue University student, Tushar Sonvani, to inform the scope of the 2024 HungerTech Innovation Challenge that tasks innovators with creating and implementing tech-enabled business solutions that connect food supply with food demand. A winning solution will receive $25,000 to help accelerate commercialization of their solution. “Combatting food insecurity requires a portfolio of solutions, and it’s clear that innovation presents tremendous opportunity to unlock new ability to better connect food supply with food demand,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. Entitled Addressing [...]

INDIANAPOLIS (July 21, 2022) — AgriNovus Indiana, a non-profit focused on growing the agbioscience economy, today announced Bloomington, Ind.-based Civic Champs won its HungerTech Innovation Challenge, scoring the company $25,000 to help advance their tech-enabled food security product. In partnership with Elevance Health, the HungerTech Innovation Challenge sought innovators to develop new technologies and profitable business models to improve access to nutrition, simplify online transactions and unlock free delivery for food-insecure Americans served by the more than $100 billion annual Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). “The technologies, business models and delivery systems that teams concepted in the HungerTech Innovation Challenge offer an inspiring view into how technology and innovation can connect food supply to those in need,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “We look forward to working with the Civic Champs team to advance their technology, [...]

INDIANAPOLIS (May 17, 2022) — AgriNovus Indiana, a non-profit focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, launched a challenge today to inspire innovation that better serves food insecure people participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), an approximately $100 billion federal program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In partnership with Anthem, the HungerTech Innovation Challenge creates an opportunity for companies, entrepreneurs, students and innovators to compete for a $25,000 grand prize by developing new technologies and models to enable SNAP recipients to purchase groceries online and receive the products regardless of location. “Food deserts have long been defined by proximity to a retail grocer; our ambition with the HungerTech Innovation Challenge is to inspire the creation of new technologies and systems that make physical location no longer a barrier,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus. [...]