Youth Hackathon for Green Low-Carbon Agriculture 2023

With the stroke of a pen or the tap of a keyboard, history can be made; revolutions can be sparked. And such is the case with the imminent Youth Hackathon for Green Low-Carbon Agriculture (#YouthforGLCA) for the year 2023. The coveted #YouthforGLCA serves as a fertile ground for the brightest minds to sow the seeds of innovation and harvest solutions geared towards making agriculture more sustainable, tackling carbon emissions, and promoting carbon sequestration. The motto of this vanguard initiative is simple yet profound: “New Technology, New Pattern, New Service.”

Global Youth Hackathon	#YouthforGLCA 2023 invites global youth to innovate in green, low-carbon agriculture.
Agricultural Carbon Solutions	The event focuses on carbon emissions reduction, sequestration in agriculture.
Partnership	FAO, CAAS, CIAR, and YPARD are collaborating to organize the event.
Past Successes	The 2022 edition saw participation from 21 countries, with 15 teams advancing to the finals.
Benefits	Winners receive cash prizes, certificates, networking opportunities, and mentorship.
Further Opportunities	Participants can get referrals for graduate studies and internships at CAAS and CIAR.
Selection Criteria	Projects are judged on creativity, scalability, sustainability, business model, and use of open data.
How to Apply	Teams can apply by emailing ciar@caas.cn by July 20, 2023, with inclusivity encouraged.

The #YouthforGLCA is the fruit of a collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations China Office, the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the Center for International Agricultural Research of CAAS, and the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD). A testament to the success of this union was the 2022 Youth Hackathon, which centred around Reducing Food Loss and Waste. The event drew participation from 21 countries, with each participant bringing forward an array of creative proposals. After three rigorous selection rounds, 15 teams spanning 8 countries emerged as the front-runners.

Benefits of Participating

Participation in the #YouthforGLCA is more than an opportunity; it’s a springboard for growth. Beyond the potential of garnering a substantial cash prize and a certificate from esteemed bodies such as the FAO and CAAS, there are a myriad of reasons to take part. For one, it offers an all-encompassing experience of independent innovation and entrepreneurship in collaboration with like-minded partners.

Additionally, the hackathon serves as a networking hive, facilitating interactions with other innovative teams, UN agencies, CAAS, and partners in the agricultural field – all potential collaborators for future endeavours. Furthermore, the invaluable feedback and insights gleaned from industry experts and mentors provide a new strategic perspective on sustainable agriculture and carbon mitigation under emerging paradigms.

Cultural diversity is also celebrated within this lively workspace, fostering an environment that welcomes and thrives on perspectives from various cultural backgrounds. Finally, participation in the hackathon could open doors to educational opportunities such as graduate or Ph.D. degrees in CAAS, with preferential access to internships within the Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR).

Eligibility

An invitation to the hackathon is extended to all young professionals, with an ideal age bracket of 18 to 40 years, irrespective of nationality. The hackathon is a global initiative, and participants from economies across the world are encouraged to take part.

Selection Criteria

To ensure a level playing field and a fair selection process, proposals will be judged based on the following criteria:

1. Creativity and innovation
2. Feasibility and scalability
3. Sustainability
4. Business model
5. Use of open data
6. Technical difficulties
7. Design and user experience
8. Demonstrable effectiveness upon application

Application

Aspiring participants are urged to complete their application as a team and forward the requested materials to ciar@caas.cn (cc to ypardchina@outlook.com) under the subject title “Submission: 2023 Youth Hackathon Competition” before the deadline of July 20, 2023, 23:59 (GMT+8, Beijing Time). It’s important to note that the inclusion of diverse team members is strongly encouraged in line with the organisers’ commitment to providing equal opportunities for everyone, including women, in key roles.

For more comprehensive details, please visit the YouthforGLCA’s webpage.

Don’t let the sands of time slip through your fingers. With the deadline set at July 20, 2023, the stage is set for the next generation of agricultural trailblazers. Apply now and play your part in revolutionising the agricultural sector for a greener, more sustainable future.

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