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Low-dairy mozzarella team from New Zealand winner of QING Innovation Track

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September 24, 2021

Five teams from Kenya, Peru, Nepal and New Zealand made it out of thirty-five teams to the finals with their innovative projects on Climate Adaptation in Food Systems. On September 22 they pitched their ideas to a jury, followed by an inspiring panel discussion on hurdles and future opportunities with representatives from industry and NGO’s.

Winner: Team The Melt

Congratulations to team The Melt from New Zealand for winning the QING Innovation Track! They will get the chance to showcase their project at the #Act4Food at ‘Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition’ event. This is an official side-event at the youth event hosted by the Italian Government just prior to Pre-COP26.

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Team The Melt, based at Riddet Institute, is developing a low-dairy mozzarella cheese using dairy protein but with oils from plants. Dairy is a major industry in New Zealand, but also contributing to a quarter of all emissions in New Zealand. There is a growing demand for food products with a smaller foot-print. The low-dairy mozzarella of this team contributes by being more sustainable, but will still be delicious with a good melt. The Other Champions

Congratulations also to the other four teams in the finals: Teams Agriceng.Cloud, Higher Himalaya, Hydropan and Berry-bot. They all did a phantastic job, which made it a difficult decision for the jury. 

Team Agriceng.Cloud, Kenya

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Team Higher Himalaya, Nepal

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Team Hydropan, Kenya

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Team Berry-bot, Peru

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Jury

  • Dhanush Dinesh, Head of Partnership and Outreach@CCAFS
  • Bram de Vrught, Business Manager@QING
  • Ivo Demmers, Head of Programme Food Security and Valuing Water@WUR

Panel

  • Sebastian Wanjala Oggema, Project Manager@SNV/CRAFT, Kenya
  • Geraldine Francia, Team Advisor@Berry-bot, Peru
  • Amos Palfreyman, Projectleader@Food HQ and Partnerships Manager@Sprout
  • Phil Taylor, Science Fellow and Global Open Innovation Lead@Bayer Crop Science
  • Anita Scott, Director@DFE Pharma (NZ) Limited
  • Bidyanath Bhurtel, Country Director@ICCO, Nepal

QING mentors

  • Martin Ruiter: Team The Melt
  • Lars Haarmeijer: Team Agriceng.cloud
  • Tanika Scherbinski: Team Higher Himalaya and Team Hydropan
  • Peter Aleven: Team Berry-Bot

Moderators

  • Mirjam Troost: WUR Student Challenges
  • Clark Halpern: CSAYN
  • Thomas Westhoff: IAAS