Cameroonian agritech startup AgricFresh has been named among the top 10 semi-finalists in the 2026 Innovate for Impact Challenge, a global competition organized by the World Food Prize Foundation to recognize early-stage agricultural technology companies developing solutions to improve food security, sustainability and resilient food systems.
The recognition places AgricFresh among just 10 startups selected from more than 1,500 applicants worldwide, highlighting the growing role African innovation is playing in solving global agricultural challenges. The achievement is also a major milestone for Cameroon, demonstrating that locally developed solutions can compete on the international stage while addressing some of agriculture’s biggest problems.
The Innovate for Impact Challenge is a $50,000 competition that celebrates entrepreneurs developing scalable technologies to reduce food loss, improve productivity, strengthen food safety and build climate-resilient food systems.
According to Mashal Husain, President of the World Food Prize Foundation, “Each year, the Innovate for Impact Challenge demonstrates the extraordinary ingenuity of entrepreneurs who are redefining what’s possible for global agriculture and food security.”
She added that this year’s semi-finalists “are transforming scientific breakthroughs into practical solutions with the potential for impact at scale,” noting that their work reflects “the bold thinking and collaborative spirit needed to nourish a growing world.”
Helping Farmers Reduce Losses and Increase Incomes
AgricFresh earned its place in the global top 10 through its solar-powered, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled cold storage system designed to reduce post-harvest losses while improving market access for smallholder farmers.
Based in Foumbot in Cameroon’s West Region, the company was co-founded by Moses Afopezi and Justin Etogo, with Afopezi serving as Chief Executive Officer. The startup addresses one of the country’s most pressing agricultural challenges, where an estimated 30 to 40 percent of perishable produce, including tomatoes, cabbages and pineapples, is lost before reaching consumers.
To tackle this problem, AgricFresh has developed a flexible pay-as-you-store cold storage solution powered entirely by solar energy. The technology extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables from as little as five days to more than 21 days, with the broader system capable of preserving produce for up to 30 days. This gives farmers more time to find buyers, reduce waste and improve the value of their harvests.
Beyond cold storage, the company has also built a digital platform that connects farmers directly with buyers, allowing them to negotiate fair prices and access markets more efficiently.
Describing the innovation, the company said: “Our innovative, IoT solar-powered mobile cold storage solution, based in Foumbot, West Region, Cameroon, is transforming the way farmers preserve and market their perishable produce.”
It added that its web application enables farmers “to easily find buyers, negotiate fair prices, and sell their produce at their convenience,” creating a more efficient link between producers and the market.
Recognition Highlights Africa’s Growing AgTech Innovation
AgricFresh joins nine other startups from around the world developing innovations across biotechnology, artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, food safety, climate-smart production systems and circular economy solutions.
The recognition reflects increasing global confidence in African entrepreneurs developing technologies with both commercial potential and measurable social impact.
“The caliber of innovation represented by this year’s semi-finalists is remarkable,” Husain said. “These entrepreneurs are tackling complex global challenges with solutions that combine scientific excellence, commercial potential and measurable social impact.”
The competition will now move to its next stage, where three finalists will be selected to present their businesses during the World Food Prize Foundation’s Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, from October 20 to 22, 2026. The finalists will pitch before an international panel of experts from agriculture, science, investment and entrepreneurship.
Now in its second year, the Innovate for Impact Challenge continues to showcase entrepreneurs whose innovations have the potential to reshape agriculture and contribute to a more food-secure future. Last year, Nigeria’s Vet Konect reached the competition’s top three finalists, and AgricFresh’s selection this year further reinforces Africa’s growing influence in developing practical solutions to global food challenges.
