“As we collectively help to stop the spread of the virus by staying home, let’s use our skills and the power of technology to drive, develop and fast-track innovations that ensure people have enough food on the table – today and tomorrow,” managing director at Oribi Village Incubator in Cape Town, Ellen Fischat, said. 

“Let’s treat the next three weeks as a period of growth, disruption and innovation, not as one of stagnation. This mindset will help us come out of this crisis stronger, as individuals and as a nation.” 

Three innovation organisations – Oribi Village Incubator, the Wakanda Food Accelerator and the Southern Africa Food of the University of Stellenbosch - are calling "food sector disruptors" to work together, yet separately, to find "disruptive ways to eradicate risks of accelerated food insecurity in the context of the Covid-19 crisis".

Fischat said the innovators have developed an entrepreneurship and innovation challenge called the #BridgingTheGaps challenge, to proactively address and reshape how South Africans produce, distribute, process, and consume food.

“In this 21-day challenge we are calling all innovators and food sector actors to work together. We will do so remotely, finding disruptive ways to eradicate risks of accelerated food insecurity, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 crisis,” said Fischat.

On March 23, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown from March 26 until midnight on April 16. In an address broadcast live on television, Ramaphosa said all people in South Africa would be compelled to stay at home, save for essential services such as health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel and those in security services such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel and soldiers.

On Sunday, health minister Zweli Mkhize announced the country's second death and confirmed South Africa had 1280 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

Fischat said the 21-day challenge was the perfect opportunity for small-scale producers, logistics and market access players, chefs, restaurants, food sellers and processors, food technicians, civil society players and everyone else to put their ideas into practice.

#BridgingTheGaps food innovation challenge comprises weekly content brainstorm sessions between participants and partners.

“In the first week, the Southern Africa Food Labs will provide insights into the current state of the South African food system, and in the second week, Oribi Village will discuss essential social business strategy shifts related to the Covid-19 context,” she said, adding the sessions would take place virtually.

In the third week, the Wakanda Food Accelerator will provide all participants with practical advice on how to define, develop, implement and scale their proposed solutions.

The submissions will subsequently be evaluated and assessed on social impact, feasibility, viability, scalability, sustainability and creativity. 

“Two winning ideas will each take home six months’ worth of paid-for incubator and accelerator support, to be used to develop and implement their solution, as well as six months of co-working space in Cape Town or Johannesburg,” Fischat said.

In addition, the two winners will be allowed to pitch their solution to local and international investors in November 2020 and attend the Design Thinking Workshop, which revolves around food security innovation.

“The aim of the #BridgingTheGaps challenge is to use the lockdown to save our country from a potential food security disaster. Digital technology enables us to come together even if we can’t be in the same room, helping us to be the change we want to see in the world.”

African News Agency (ANA)