USA Pavilion at Milan EXPO Innovation Programs
The innovation program of the USA Pavilion at Milan EXPO 2015
World fairs have always been about innovation. Milan Expo 2015, with the theme of "Feeding the Future, Energy for Life", was no exception. As part of U.S. participation in the Expo, the USA Pavilion's "Feeding the Accelerator" program is explored new possibilities in farming, food distribution, nutrition, community building and knowledge sharing.
Through a competition that began in March, the USA Pavilion selected 10 start-up companies to collaborate with participating partners AtelierSlice (led by Savinien Caracostea, Jan Åman, and Johan Jorgensen) and Microsoft, in conjunction with Illy, PepsiCo, FedEx, and Copernico, to find solutions to the challenge of feeding a growing population in a sustainable and healthy way.
The 10 chosen startups interacted virtually with corporate sponsored mentors two months before coming to the Expo in September to pitch their ideas and meet with potential partners and investors. According to USA Pavilion Commissioner General Ambassador Douglas T. Hickey, "The selected teams will play an essential role in uncovering the ideas and people needed to address the global challenge of feeding more than nine billion people by 2050."
Some of the 10 selected start-ups represent diverse approaches to the challenge of a sustainable future:
PNAT found new ways of farming through modular floating greenhouses that will allow for intensive cultivation and water purification using solar energy.
ICE DREAMS established a revolutionary way to produce artisanal Italian gelato that substitutes traditional ingredients such as milk, eggs, and artificial additives, requiring only water.
FOODTRACE designed new tools for the wholesale marketplace to help farmers and artisans sell their products more efficiently through a cloud-based software platform.
KALULU developed shorter supply chains that connect farmers directly to local consumers, reducing carbon footprints, and increasing farmer engagement in their community.
GNITIA provided a highly accurate location specific weather forecast technology which improves farmers' everyday decision-making in remote areas of West Africa via SMS.
MINTSCRAPS built an online platform to help food-centered businesses manage organic waste with analytical data to help save thousands of dollars in monthly food purchasing and waste disposal costs.
In previewing U.S. participation in the Expo a year ago, Secretary Kerry asserted that "Innovation is the lifeblood of the United States. As a global leader in advancing food security, we're eager to seize the opportunity to get involved in a major way." "Feeding the Accelerator" is one of many ways we are showcasing innovation at the USA Pavilion in Milan, with the goal of building a more food-secure future.
