Community Challenge 2022

2022-05-09
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Do you have ideas on how to address global challenges? Would you like to develop your ideas on solutions or technologies into entrepreneurial concepts? Are you wondering if your social innovation ideas are feasible and if you have thought of everything? Or maybe you have not had the chance or dared to show it to other people, yet?

Then join this community challenge for Germany alumni and present your social innovation idea to the community members. By participating in the challenge you can prove your concept, receive feedback, network, win prizes and maybe even turn your ideas into action. The challenge for 2022 is related to SDG 2 “Zero Hunger” and has been formulated by community members as follows:

Can your idea contribute to ecofriendly intensifications of agricultural systems?

The increased production of food, feed, bioenergy, and biomaterials is achieved by the expansion of agricultural land and the intensification of agricultural management. Due to the conversion of natural ecosystems and the increasing use of pesticides and fertilizers, these processes are recognized as important causes of biodiversity loss.

We are in search of ideas that help to achieve a stable food provision for a growing population, and at the same time, preserve the immense variety of life on earth, which is vital to the health of our planet.

The proposed solutions could for example tackle the problem described above by

aiming for a more efficient use of natural resources and processes;
improving nutrient recycling techniques; or
innovatiing agro-ecological methods for enhancing the diversity and the health of soils, crops, and livestock. e.g.: multi- or intercropping techniques, mulching, agroforestry etc..

How it works?

1. Submit your concept

2. Pitch your idea

3. Best ideas are voted

4. Winners receive entrepreneurial mentorship

Who is eligible to participate?

Germany alumni from all sectors/industries are eligible to participate. However, the challenge is addressed primarily at professionals from areas such as (organic) agriculture and/or health and nutrition. Ideas from both individuals and teams are welcome. Please note also, that you have to be a to participate in the pitch in case your idea is selected.

Why a social innovation challenge?

Germany alumni are young graduates, experienced professionals, executives, or researchers – the variety of their areas of expertise and skills is impressive. They are also engaged citizens wanting to contribute to a better future. With this social innovation challenge we want to tap into this vast resource of knowledge within the community of Germany alumni and support the development of ideas that can have a positive impact on societies and our environment.

Prof Dr Paula ORMANDO

Prof. Dr. Paula Ormando started working as a food researcher at the Food Technology Institute (INTA) in 2005. She obtained a Master’s degree in Thermal Technology and received a Ph.D. in Engineering applied to Nonthermal Technology at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. Her field of expertise is a simulation of Sous vide pasteurization and High-Pressure processing. She performed her research at the Institute of Fluid Mechanics (LSTM) at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.

Her current position as a Head of the Thermal Technology Group in the Food Processing Area (INTA), focussed on food processing projects such as spelt wholemeal flours, starch, and milk pasteurization with social impact to provide safe food with nutritional and health benefits to low-income farmers. Her research interests also include organic bakery production and estimation of the shelf-life of powdered milk through modeling experimental data. She also teaches food and environmental microbiology at the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE) and collaborates as a volunteer with the Nonthermal Processing Division at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) in the USA.

Dr Niaz M. POPAL

Dr Niaz Mohammad Popal is a medical doctor, he was trained as a pediatrician with a strong clinical background. Today he has more than 15 years of experience in the public health sector. He received his Medical degree in Kabul and received his Master’s degree from the Global Health Institute of the Heidelberg University, Germany. Niaz Mohammad is a research-oriented person, involved in the development of technical and policy documents, he led the establishments of the first ever in-service training program for new-born care. His academic interests are quality improvement, nutrition and accreditation.

Niaz Mohammad was involved in several research programmes. His current position with Management Science for Health is as senior adviser for quality improvement and accreditation. He will be developing a training program, leading the development process of standards, and provide support for the creation of a regulatory structure for accreditation at the national level.

Dr Mazi SANDA

Dr Mazi Sanda obtained his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Agricultural Entomology at the University of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon and the University of Bremen, Germany. He is an Alexander von Humboldt fellow and coordinator of the partnership between the University of Ngaoundéré and the Universityof Bremen. Mazi gives lectures on topics such as biology, apiculture, organic agriculture, and environmental sciences. He is a national consultant of the Cameroon Biosecurity Project at the Ministry of Environment.

Furthermore, Mazi is the scientific director of Fondjomekwet e.V. His research interests are: pollination ecology, organic agriculture, food security and nutrition, bee biodiversity and conservation, bee health, population genetics, beekeeping, as well as ecotoxicology. Mazi is the head of service, research, cooperation, and income generating revenue at the University of Ngaoundéré.

Questions?

In case you have any questions, feel free to contact one of the alumni team members behind the challenge or drop us a line at info(at)alumniportal-deutschland.org.