Berkeley-based agri-tech startup Akorn Technology, Inc. has been named one of the four winners of the UAE FoodTech Challenge 2026, announced during the live finale at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, one of the world’s largest sustainability gatherings. Selected from 1,215 submissions across 113 countries, Akorn is the first U.S. company to win the challenge, which highlights innovative solutions that reduce food loss and waste, particularly in arid and climate-stressed regions.
Founded in 2019, Akorn Technology develops natural, edible coatings for fruits and vegetables that extend shelf life, maintain color, slow ripening, and preserve taste and nutritional quality. The solution combines vegetable protein, wax, and vegetable oil, helping producers and retailers reduce losses across the supply chain—from harvest to consumption—while increasing grower revenues and lowering environmental impact.
The UAE FoodTech Challenge, now in its third edition, aims to identify and scale the world’s most promising agri-tech innovations. Akorn Technology will share a $2 million prize package and gain access to technical support, pilot opportunities, market access, and incubation and acceleration services through the UAE’s innovation ecosystem.
CEO Anthony Zografos said, “It is an incredible honor to be a winner of the UAE FoodTech Challenge. This recognition validates the potential of our technology to tackle one of the world’s biggest challenges—food loss. With the funding and ecosystem support, we plan to establish research and production capabilities in the UAE and begin pilot production within the next 12–18 months, while expanding testing in South Africa and Southeast Asia.”
Akorn Technology joins fellow winners Permia Sensing, HyveGeo, and Flybox, whose operations span Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East. Previous FoodTech Challenge winners have gone on to raise over $48 million in follow-on funding, launch more than 50 pilot projects, and successfully adapt their technologies for UAE conditions before scaling globally.
With its innovative edible coating solution, Akorn Technology is poised to enhance food security, reduce post-harvest losses, and support more resilient global supply chains, particularly in challenging climatic environments.
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