Centre provides funding to 28 innovators of ‘Tomato Grand Challenge’

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with Innovation Cell, Ministry of Education had initiated a hackathon titled Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) by inviting innovative ideas at various levels of the tomato value chain. The Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) launched on 30.06.2023 was met with enthusiastic response from students, research scholars, faculty members, industry individuals, start-ups and professionals.

A total of 1,376 ideas were received from innovators across India. After rigorous rounds of evaluation, 28 ideas have been provided funding for prototype development and mentorship, said Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs while interacting with media persons here.

India, the second-largest producer of tomatoes globally, produces an impressive 20 million metric tons annually. However, adverse weather conditions like excessive rains or sudden heat spells etc. impact productions and availability resulting in extreme price fluctuations. These challenges directly affect farmers' incomes, disrupt supply chains, and lead to significant wastage. The Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) has been initiated to find innovative and scalable solutions to address these critical issues and stabilize the tomato supply chain.

The Grand Challenge aimed to harness the talent of India’s young innovators and researchers to address systemic challenges in tomato production, processing and distribution. These challenges are:

• Pre-Production: Limited access to climate-resilient seeds and poor agronomic practices.

• Post-Harvest Loss: Lack of cold storage facilities and improper handling resulting in spoilage.

• Processing & Value Addition: Inadequate infrastructure for processing surplus tomatoes.

• Supply Chain: Fragmented supply chains and middlemen dominance causing inefficiencies and price volatility.

• Market Access & Demand Forecasting: Inconsistent access and lack of demand forecasting tools leading to price crashes and wastage.

• Technological Adoption: Limited awareness and use of modern agricultural technologies like precision farming and IoT-based monitoring.

• Packaging and Transportation: The need for innovative, cost-effective solutions to improve shelf life and reduce losses.]

A total of 1,376 ideas were received from innovators across India. 423 ideas were shortlisted in Round 1 after rigorous evaluation. 29 ideas progressed to Round 2, with 28 projects receiving funding and mentorship. The projects underwent periodic monitoring, short visits, and reviews by TGC Evaluation Committee of AICTE and DoCA. Multiple rounds of evaluation by panel of experts culminated in final evaluations on 14th-15th October 2024, where projects were judged on their relevance, scalability, and innovation.
The Tomato Grand Challenge has created a significant impact, leading to many IP in process of filing, including 14 patents, 4 design registrations/ Trademark and 10 publications. Some of the key outcomes were:

• The development of innovative packaging and transportation solutions to enhance shelf life and minimize post-harvest losses.

• Creation of processed products that extend usability, reducing wastage and ensuring year-round availability.

The solutions from the Tomato Grand Challenge promise to revolutionize the tomato value chain, enhancing resilience, reducing wastage, and increasing profitability for stakeholders. This initiative sets a benchmark for addressing challenges across other agricultural commodities in India.

The Tomato Grand Challenge stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. By bringing together academia, industry, and government, it has paved the way for sustainable, impactful solutions to India’s agricultural challenges. The outcomes of this initiative will benefit both the farmers and consumers of tomato.