Water and Energy for Food Announces the Winners of The Second Iraq Call for Innovations

August 11, 2024 - The U.S. Agency for International Development in Iraq (USAID), and Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) is pleased to announce the nine new winners of the Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) Iraq Call for Innovations. Implemented through WE4F’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Innovation Hub, these nine small- and medium-sized enterprises will benefit from support that will help them grow their businesses. The cumulative award amount of $2.13 million covers financial, technical, and investment assistance.

“We congratulate the winners of the second Iraq Call for Innovations under the USAID-funded WE4F initiative. The nine local enterprises promote modern solutions to ensure food security by conserving water and improving climate adaptation in Iraq. The new program enables local farmers to access new technologies that will help them increase local production and reduce costs. USAID is proud of its partnership with SIDA to empower Iraqi innovators and help them compete in the regional and international markets,” said USAID/Iraq’s Acting Mission Director, Ms. Erin Mone-Marquez.

Climate change is causing food shortages, water scarcity, and displacement across the country. To tackle these challenges, the MENA Regional Innovation Hub supports promising and innovative companies and organizations working to produce more food while using less water and more sustainable resources. Therefore, the entrepreneurs brought a diverse range of innovations to the table, such as improved irrigation, digital solutions, and optimized food production and processing.

Each innovation has the potential to help farmers grow more food and conserve Iraq’s scarce resources, ultimately advancing the country’s transition to a greener economy and enhancing food security. Learn more about the Iraq Call for Innovations winners and their solutions:

• Al-Raka’ez Al Handasiyah: Uses smart fish farming technology to control the environment.
• Al-Reef Mushroom: Produces, stores, and distributes two types of local mushrooms to the Iraqi market.
• Cultivision: Provides real-time crop insights for farmers and optimizes irrigation through satellite technology.
• Faraday: Designs affordable, efficient, and diversified energy resources for farmers.
• Kasho Company: Provides smallholder farmers with sunflower seeds, helping them use their crops to produce high-quality sunflower oil by using the cold-press technology.
• LORK: Produces low-cost hydroponic systems for livestock feed production.
• RAG: Provides precision irrigation systems, greenhouses, and organic fertilizers.
• Ras Al-Ain Sky: Offers financial services that help farmers access agricultural services and technologies.
• ZHANY: Produces dried fruits, gluten-free flours, eco-friendly tableware and castings from locally sourced organic produce.

WE4F is a joint international initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Netherlands, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). To learn more, visit we4f.org and follow WE4F on Twitter @WE4FGCD.

The WE4F Middle East and North Africa Regional Innovation Hub (a consortium of Berytech, Cewas, Chemonics Egypt and the International Water Management Institute) supports innovators in 10 countries across the region to produce more food while using less water and energy. Together with investors and partners, the MENA Regional Innovation Hub works to scale mid-to-later stage enterprises that have an environmental and social impact in the water-energy-food nexus.

The United States government, through USAID, is a steadfast partner of Iraq, helping enhance social and economic stability for all citizens. USAID is working with the Iraqi Government, international institutions, and local partners to develop national climate strategies, improve the management of water resources, and empower women, youth, and minorities.