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Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge for Last-Mile Vendors
Deadline: Check official website
24 viewsKey Details
Deadline
Check official website
Hosting Country
India
Funding
Fully Funded
Region
Asia
Added on
17 Jul 2026
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Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge for Last-Mile Vendors
About
Are you ready to revolutionize the agricultural landscape and make a lasting impact on food security? The Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge is a remarkable initiative designed to tackle one of the most pressing issues in modern agriculture: post-harvest food loss. This challenge calls upon visionary organizations to develop and pilot innovative, scalable, and affordable cold chain solutions specifically tailored for last-mile fruit and vegetable vendors across India. By participating, you aren't just building a product; you are creating a lifeline for small-scale entrepreneurs whose livelihoods depend on the freshness of their produce.
This competition is about more than just technology; it is about human-centric design and sustainable economic growth. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) seeks solutions that can withstand the rigors of the "last mile" where refrigeration is often a luxury. Whether your innovation involves passive cooling, solar-powered storage, or smart logistics software, this is your chance to transform the supply chain and empower thousands of vendors. Join a global movement to reduce waste, increase income for local sellers, and build a more resilient food system for the future!
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Eligibility
- Open to legally registered organizations including startups, SMEs, and research institutions.
- Applicants must be based in one of the ADB member countries listed in the guidelines.
- Solutions must specifically target last-mile vendors of fruits and vegetables in the Indian market.
- Proposed innovations must demonstrate scalability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability.
- Teams should possess the technical capacity to execute a localized pilot program within India.
- Preference is given to solutions that address the specific socio-economic challenges of Indian street vendors.
Benefits
- Receive up to $50,000 for pilot testing and implementation of your innovative solution.
- Gain unprecedented access to technical mentorship from industry experts and ADB specialists.
- Benefit from high-profile exposure at international forums and within the ADB network.
- Collaborate directly with last-mile vendors to refine your product in a real-world market setting.
- Potential for long-term scaling opportunities through the Asian Development Bank's vast regional projects.
- Opportunity to contribute to climate goals by reducing waste and energy consumption in the food chain.
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How to Apply
- Visit the official ADB Challenge Portal to review the detailed problem statement.
- Register your organization on the platform to access the application dashboard.
- Prepare a comprehensive technical proposal outlining your cold chain solution and its impact.
- Detail your plan for the pilot phase, including budget allocation and expected milestones.
- Submit all required documentation before the September 4th deadline.
- Participate in the evaluation rounds and, if shortlisted, prepare for a pitch presentation.
- Give it your best shot—your innovation could be the key to ending food waste!
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