Innovate the way coffee in Colombia is harvested

Pilot contract, expert coaching, investment Deadline passed

Get in the Ring, the National Coffee Growers Federation of Colombia and Connect Bogota are looking for solutions that can make the process of selective coffee harvesting in Colombia more efficient.

 

Coffee growing represents around 23% of the agricultural GDP in Colombia, and over 7% of overall exports. It embodies the greatest source of rural employment, generating around 730,000 direct jobs, which equals 25% of agricultural sector jobs. The work of the National Coffee Growers Federation of Colombia revolves around the coffee growers and their families, ensuring Colombian Coffee is grown in a sustainable way, strengthening common interests within coffee-growing communities. This all while positioning Colombian Coffee as the best coffee in the world with high quality brands like Juan Valdez and Café de Colombia. The Federation represents more than 560.000 families dedicated to growing coffee.

The deadline for this Challenge has passed, please check out our other Challenges

THE CHALLENGE

The distinctive quality of a cup of Colombian coffee is defined by different aspects, but mainly by its taste and aroma. What is the secret? Selective harvesting is what makes the Colombian coffee different from the rest of the world. It is a careful process of manual harvesting in which thousands of coffee growers and pickers select the ripe beans one by one. The labor cost of selective harvesting accounts for about 50% of the total production costs, putting the crop profit at risk. It’s important that the profitability and the social and economic sustainability of Colombian coffee is ensured. To do so, it’s necessary to adopt and develop new technologies that reduce the production cost.

Can you make the coffee harvesting process more efficient and profitable? And while doing this, still allowing the selection of ripe berries to be done at a low cost, without affecting the structure of the coffee plant and taking into account the conditions of the Colombian coffee production? Then we’re looking for you!

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

  • Pilot project to prove that your solution works

  • Expert coaching by locals involved in the harvesting process

  • Potential investment if needed for implementation

REQUIREMENTS

You should:

  • have a working prototype or demonstrator;

  • have minimal impact on the tree and crop structure;

  • focus only on collecting adult beans, with a maximum of 5% of green beans in the harvested mass.

More background information

CONNECT BOGOTA

Connect Bogotá Region accelerates innovation. Connect works for Bogotá and Cundinamarca to become one of the most innovative regions of Latin America, a 'City of Knowledge' where Economic development is based on creativity, innovation, science, technology, among many others, as generators of added value and wealth. At present, Connect has a network of 54 partners that make its operation possible: 30 companies and organizations and 24 universities are betting that the road to the development and competitiveness of the Region City is innovation.

    TIMELINE

    SEPTEMBER 29TH

    APPLICATION DEADLINE


    The National Coffee Growers Federation of Colombia will select the most innovative and promising companies they wish to work with.
    DECEMBER

    MEETINGS


    Selected startups will be invited to Bogota in December to talk business.
    EARLY 2018

    PILOT PROJECT START


    The best startup(s) will be awarded with a pilot project that is planned to start early 2018.
    Deadline passed

    The deadline for this Challenge has passed, please check out our other Challenges