The 2022 APEC App Challenge Calls for Sustainable Agri-Food Solutions

Issued by the APEC Secretariat

Singapore, 31 March 2022

The annual APEC App Challenge is now inviting talented software developers and designers from the 21 APEC member economies to create digital solutions for sustainable agri-food businesses, bringing forward ideas and innovation that promote growth among the region’s eco-friendly small and micro-agricultural farms and potential entrepreneurs focused on sustainable agri-food businesses. 

“Food security and safety, and sustainable agriculture, are key among APEC priorities because we must ensure that people are well-nourished and do not go hungry,” said Dr Rebecca Sta Maria, the APEC Secretariat’s Executive Director. “Encouraging young talent to develop and promote sustainable agriculture and food businesses will boost APEC’s effort to strengthen food security.”

The 2022 APEC App Challenge promotes this year’s theme of “Open, Connect, Balance.”, which aims to promote long-term growth that is resilient, inclusive, balanced, and sustainable. 

“In this context, this is the first year the APEC App Challenge will address issues impacting sustainable agriculture and the food sector, focusing on business practice,” said John Karr, Senior Director for Technology Programs at The Asia Foundation. “Thailand is leading the way on this issue and qualified teams are invited to join this process and bring their best ideas to Bangkok between 19 to 22 May, when we undertake this exciting activity

After two years of online editions this will be the first in-person APEC App Challenge event since 2019, when the competition took place in Chile.

Solutions should aim to support producers or potential entrepreneurs of agricultural products selected from the following categories: foods that have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition, such as yogurt and/or enriched foods; plant-based protein or plant-based meat; foods that have distinctive nutritional needs; and organic foods.

Eligible teams must be comprised of one or two individuals, all of whom should be citizens or residents of APEC member economies. Teams should also be composed of members from the same APEC economy. Interested developers and designers should submit their registration before the deadline of 10 April 2022. 

Each team’s project will be judged against its impact on the target audience, completeness and overall quality, scalability, innovation, and uniqueness. 

The first-prize winner, who will get USD4,000, will be announced at the upcoming APEC Ministers’ Responsible for Trade Meeting. Second- and third-prize winners will each go home with USD3,000 and USD2,000 respectively.

“Every year, the APEC App Challenge showcases the incredible tech talent emerging across our region—and harnesses developers’ commitment to address some of the most pressing issues we face,” said Scott Beaumont, President of Google Asia Pacific. “It’s especially good to see this year’s challenge focus on advancing sustainable agriculture, one of the sectors where we’re seeing technology play a critical role in the response to climate change.”

This year will mark the sixth edition of this initiative, supported by APEC 2022 Thailand, the APEC Secretariat, The Asia Foundation and Google. The organizers are continuously evaluating the in-person event and will shift to an online modality depending on pandemic mitigation requirements as stipulated by the event organizers.

For more information about the details of this year’s challenge and eligibility criteria visit this page or browse through our Devpost page. Follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #APECAppChallenge. 

For further details, please contact:

The Asia Foundation at tech@asiafoundation.org
Masyitha Baziad +65 9751 2146 at mb@apec.org
Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at mc@apec.org