Welcome to AgPrize 2020!
What is AgPrize 2020?
Do you love finding innovative solutions to the world’s problems? Are you passionate about agriculture, technology, or food science?
If so, we want to see your solutions to some of the agri-food industry’s key operational problems! These are real-world problems that require creative, outside-the-box solutions. The strongest submissions are eligible for a cash prize.
Starting soon, we’ll be rolling out a question every week, and we’ll be counting on you to find solutions! That’s the essence of AgPrize.
Solutions must be submitted within 12 weeks of the problem posting date. The winning solution to each problem will be eligible for a prize of $2020!
What are the challenge questions?
We will be regularly releasing new challenge questions. They will be framed as short videos.
Why are we doing this?
AgPrize 2020 will help to generate opportunities to resolve longstanding challenges in agriculture, while building a culture of innovation and encouraging Canadians to think about where the food on their table comes from.
Challenge Questions
#1: Building a Better Heat Lamp
Heat lamps are important in the barn, but they use a lot of energy and can pose a fire risk. Can you make a better heat lamp/heat source — one that is safer, more efficient, and cost-effective?
Submission Deadline: July 6, 2020
#2: Getting Equipment Across a Stream
How to you get heavy equipment across a stream, at different points along the watercourse? The stream is about 15′ wide. We’re challenging you to find a way across that is environmentally sound, safe, durable, and cheap.
Submission Deadline: July 6, 2020
#3: Getting Your Product to Market
Tamara’s farm sells to buyers across a wide geographical area. How can she get everyone to come together to make her distribution system more efficient?
Submission Deadline: July 6, 2020
#4: Communicating with Customers
The dairy industry has a great story to tell, but communicating effectively with consumers remains a challenge. Visit Glen McNeil’s farm, and help him connect with the hearts and minds of Canadians!
Submission Deadline: July 6, 2020
#5: Recyclable Maple Syrup Tubing
Ontario’s maple syrup producers need to find a home for their used sap tubing. The tubing is technically recyclable, but it’s difficult to do so profitably. Collection times aren’t easily synchronized, and there are no obvious products that can be made from retired tubing. We want to hear your solutions to this problem!
Submission Deadline: July 22, 2020
#6: Reuseable Bunker Cover
Currently farmers are using non-reuseable bunker covers to store their feed in. This process is wasteful and can be costly. We need you to find a creative solution for this problem!
Stay tuned – more questions coming soon!
We’ll be rolling out a question every week, and we’ll be counting on you to find solutions!
FAQs
I don’t live in Huron County. Can I still participate?
Yes! There are no geographical limits on AgPrize participation.
Where is Huron County?
Huron County is located in rural Southwestern Ontario, about 2.5 hours due west of Toronto. We have great farmland, charming small towns, a beautiful coastline, and are an easy drive from Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, or London.
I’m not a farmer. Can I still participate?
Of course! The best solutions are cooked up when you have people of different backgrounds looking at a problem.
Okay then, who is eligible?
Anyone can enter. Submissions can be made individually or by a team of up to five people. Please indicate the composition of the team at the time of your expression of interest.
What sort of solutions are you looking for?
We’re looking for creative solutions to the challenge questions. All submissions must propose a technically feasible, economically viable solution to your chosen challenge question. We ask that you provide both an original concept and a working prototype or scale model of your solution.
How do I participate?
- Once a challenge question is posted, it is “live” for 12 weeks. Any solutions to that question must be submitted by the close of that 12-week window.
- When you see a problem you’re interested in solving, please register using the [contact form or email], indicating the problem you’d like to solve, as well as your name and contact information.
- We will confirm your registration and contact you to discuss AgPrize and answer any questions you may have.
Think you’ve got what it takes to be an AgPrize Winner?
Enter here!
Questions?
Please reach out if you have any additional AgPrize qusetions that are not answered above.
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Canada
Phone
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