AgriTech4Tunisia Innovation Challenge: Call for Applications Now Open!

NFP, in relation to the NL-CGIAR Strategic Partnership, are excited to share that the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform and partners are launching the AgriTech4Tunisia Innovation Challenge to support early-stage practical, scalable agri-tech solutions in one of the region’s most dynamic ecosystems.

Tunisia is home to a fast-growing innovation ecosystem, with more than 800 active startups, an expanding investment community network, and a digital landscape strengthened by the national Startup Act. At the same time, the agriculture sector employing over 15% of the workforce and contributing nearly 10% of GDP, faces interlocked challenges related to water scarcity and resource stress, low productivity, and market vulnerability. These needs informed the project design and priority areas, and further refined during a Consultation Workshop held in Tunis in May 2025, where 100 public and private sector experts highlighted the importance of linking research, technology, and entrepreneurship to advance accessible, affordable, and market-ready agricultural solutions.

Who can apply?

This program targets national and international innovators developing early-stage agri-tech ventures that have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), ideally validated with end-users. Teams should be actively fundraising at the pre-seed or seed stage. Solutions must meet market needs, benefit smallholder farmers and value chain actors, and address at least one of the project’s priority areas:

• Sustainable water management, smart irrigation, and non-conventional water solutions
• Precision agriculture and input optimization
• Climate-smart agriculture services and tools
• Post-harvest solutions and improved market access
• Agri-finance and insurance inclusion tools
• Strengthening agricultural value chains and circular economy solutions
• Digital extension services and capacity-building technologies

Read more about the eligibility criteria

What's in store?

A cohort of 20 innovation teams will join a fully funded, 4-day bootcamp in Tunisia, including on-farm visits for direct engagement with farmers and value-chain actors, business mentorship, pitch training, and networking with project partners, agribusinesses, and ecosystem players. Teams will strengthen their business model, master their understanding of Tunisia’s agricultural context, and identify strategic partnerships to advance their innovations into the next phase – the accelerator program.

Ten teams will then join a 3-month accelerator program, combining tailored business training and technical assistance. The focus is to provide specific technical and business interventions that address the gaps identified in the bootcamp phase, preparing them for the Demo Day. Teams will complete the accelerator with clear validation priorities, a pilot plan, an evidence-based pitch deck, a compelling investor teaser, and new connections with experts, scientific partners, investors, and agribusinesses through B2B facilitation to support future pilots, deployment, and fundraising.

The program concludes with the Demo Day, a networking space where teams pitch their solutions to scientists, industry experts, agribusinesses, and investors. Graduating teams will benefit from post-program support with exclusive access to networking events and opportunity alerts, facilitated connections to partners, and access to CGIAR’s innovation platforms and scientific infrastructure.

Call to action

If you are building an early-stage agri-tech solution that fits the program’s scope, apply now to join the AgriTech4Tunisia Innovation Challenge!

For questions, contact info@agritechchallenge.org or send a message on the WhatsApp community.

If you are an agribusiness, research center, ecosystem builder, or investor interested in contributing to this program, reach out to innovations@cgiar.org

The AgriTech4Tunisia Innovation Challenge is part of the CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program/Accelerator. It is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT through the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP), and implemented in collaboration with CGIAR Centers - International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and local institutions – L’Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles (IRESA). Endorsed by Tunisia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries. This project is supported by a network of national, regional, and international partners: L’Ecole Supérieure des Industries Alimentaires de Tunis (ESIAT), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies - Bari (CIHEAM_ Bari), Il Centro Nazionale Agritech (Fondazione Agritech), Almacube, E4Impact, the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean area (PRIMA), the Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (BUSINESSMED), the Climate Resilient Africa Fund (CRAF), and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD).

This project benefits from the involvement of Sistema Italia, drawing on public and private sector expertise in international cooperation and technology transfer. It complements broader regional initiatives, particularly the “Supporting the Italy–Tunisia Strategic Partnership on Food Security – TANdem Italy–Tunisia (TANIT)”, a project implemented by CIHEAM Bari and a flagship component of Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa.