Nigerian agriculture startup, ‘Zebra CropBank’, has clinched two prestigious awards at the United Nations (FAO) World Food Forum held in Rome. The event, hosted at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), gathered innovators, investors, and experts committed to supporting impactful businesses in the global food systems.
Zebra CropBank, founded by serial social entrepreneur Buffy Okeke-Ojiudu, emerged victorious by winning the coveted ‘Global Startup Innovation Award’ in the ‘Better Production’ category and was further honored with the title of ‘WORLD FOOD FORUM INNOVATION OF THE YEAR.’ The accolades recognize the startup’s outstanding contributions to revolutionizing post-harvest services for farmers.
The FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol, kicked off the event, emphasizing the crucial role of climate action and innovative solutions in ensuring widespread access to healthy food. Zebra CropBank, among 8 finalists, stood out after a rigorous competition that began with over 400 innovative agri-focused companies from 69 countries.
Zebra CropBank’s winning concept revolves around a post-harvest service platform designed to empower farmers in storing and monetizing their produce.
The startup’s network of electronic warehouses promises to enhance food and agriculture supply chains, providing income-generating opportunities for farmers, particularly in local and remote areas of Africa.
Buffy Okeke-Ojiudu, expressing his excitement, said, “Our company, ‘Zebra CropBank,’ was awarded the prestigious United Nations (FAO) World Food Forum – ‘Global Startup Innovation Award’ in the ‘Better Production’ category. To have our solutions validated on a global scale is beyond exciting, and winning the #1 overall award is a testament to the impact we aspire to make on a global level.”
