Youth Hackathon for Green Low-Carbon Agriculture 2023

The 2023 Youth Hackathon for Green Low-Carbon Agriculture (#YouthforGLCA) aims to bring forth the creativity and problem-solving nature of young people to provide solutions for global agricultural green development, as well as agricultural carbon emissions reduction and carbon sequestration by adopting innovative and inclusive methods with the sense of “New Technology, New Pattern, and New Service.” To promote and advocate sustainable and green agriculture, all young people are encouraged to contribute wisdom and solutions towards a green low-carbon agriculture society, by the given deadline.

This is a joint effort of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) China Office, the Department of International Cooperation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the Center for International Agricultural Research of CAAS, and the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD). Last year, 2022 Youth Hackathon for Reducing Food Loss and Waste was organized, where the Hackathon has attracted creative proposals from 21 countries. After three rounds of selection, 15 teams from 8 countries made it to the final.

The 2023 Youth Hackathon places stress on the following three dimensions, namely the “environmental protection technology, green market, and ecological society”, encouraging young people, from 3-tracks of “New Technology, New Pattern, and New Service,” to focus on the potentiality of energy conservation and emission reduction, as well as the decrease of carbon and the enhancement of sink in the whole agricultural value chain of forestation, herding, fishing and comprehensive third industries.

The 2023 Youth Hackathon is open to all young professionals, team members would ideally be between 18 and 40 years old, of any nationality, with participating economies across the world. Current students may have their mentors as part of the project team. However, the application form must highlight their mentor’s role in the project. Please be noted that all proposals and presentations shall be conducted in English. The Hackathon will be divided into three stages to achieve practical and feasible innovative solutions: preliminary selection, training session, and final competition.

1. Preliminary Selection
   1. Participating teams set their topics, build their teams, and submit all application materials.
   2. The committee will evaluate the applications and shortlist them in accordance with the theme of “New Technology (Low-Carbon Technology), New Pattern (Green Market), New Service (Ecological Society).”
2. Training Session

The organizers will provide training to shortlisted teams, including:

1. Public training: recommendations of relevant experts to each team according to the technology/core product involved in the project.
2. Customized training: training on PowerPoint preparation and presentation skills to each team so they may conduct presentations more professionally.
3. Final Competition: The Final competition will be conducted online and offline due to the epidemic prevention measures. Each team should have a complete and refined presentation and be able to defend their proposal, to participate in the final competition.

 Awards and benefits for the Participants

• A generous cash prize and a certificate provided by the FAO and CAAS.
• Comprehensive experience of an independent innovation and entrepreneurship activity along with partners who share the same values.
• Networking with other teams, UN agencies, CAAS, and partners in the field for future collaboration.
• Feedback and support from industry experts and mentors and gaining valuable insight and ideas on strategic thinking on sustainable agriculture and carbon mitigation under the new paradigm.
• Inspiring workspace where perspectives from different cultural backgrounds are welcomed.
• Referral to pursuing educational opportunities for graduate or Ph.D. degrees in CAAS, and preferential access to internships within the Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR).