AGBC Munich 2017 – Wednesday, 27th September 2017 - Monthly Meeting
Innovations for Zero Hunger with Bernhard Kowatsch
The United Nations World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator – a Munich “hidden champion” that is driving innovative business models and technologies to reach the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030
Guest Speaker: Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of the Innovation Accelerator at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Munich. Website: http://innovation.wfp.org/
When: Wednesday, 27th September 2017
Time: Registration starts 1830; meeting starts at 1900, dinner buffet around 2030.
Where: Marriott Hotel, Berlinerstrasse 93, 80805 Munich
Cost: EUR 25.00 for members, Eur 35.00 for guests (incl. Dinner buffet)
Sign-Up: Events tab on the new AGBC Munich Community Platform at www.agbc-munich.com
As a result of climate change and emergencies such as natural catastrophes or conflicts, millions of people are food insecure. New innovative business models and technologies are needed to reach the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030.
To highlight recent trends in exponential technologies, Bernhard Kowatsch will provide illustrative examples and current applications of such innovations in developing countries, including blockchain and hydroponics. Since 2015, such global innovation projects have been supported by the UN World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator based in Munich. The Innovation Accelerator offers a fast paced and collaborative environment, bringing together WFP staff, expert advisors, and external innovators from academia, other not-for-profit organizations, the private sector, and start-ups.
The Innovation Accelerator’s aim is to accelerate disruptive innovations to reach a world without hunger. The accelerator supports entrepreneurs and startups working towards ending hunger by applying a human-centered design and a lean startup approach. Since its inception two years ago, the Innovation Accelerator has supported more than 25 startups/projects, including innovations in developing countries using blockchain, big data, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles plus new agricultural approaches such as the MIT Food Computer.
Bernhard Kowatsch is Head of the Innovation Accelerator at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), accelerating social innovations, startups & investments for zero hunger innovations. Previously, Bernhard co-founded the ShareTheMeal app, built up WFP’s Business Innovation team and worked as Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for global tech and industrial goods companies.