Tesco and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have launched Innovation Connections, an accelerator program pairing start-ups with suppliers to expedite sustainable innovation and ensure food security in the UK.

The program will ensure that promising sustainability innovations are adopted at scale in food supply chains by identifying suppliers who can help scale up new ideas and technologies. Eight finalists have been selected this year.   

“To deliver affordable, healthy and sustainable food for all, the entire food sector must innovate fast. That’s why, as well as driving improvements in our operations, Tesco is collaborating with innovative suppliers and start-ups,” says Ken Murphy, CEO, Tesco Group.

Innovation finalists
Innovation Connections is part of a long-term partnership between Tesco and WWF, which aims to halve the environmental impact of the average shopping basket. 

This month, the Innovation Creations’ finalists who will wrestle it out for the top spot are AgriSound & AM Fresh, Aurea & Adrian Scripps, Chirrup.ai & Hilton, CCm, Andermatt FCT & Branston, FCT & ProduceWorld, Future by Insects & Hilton, Harbro & Muller and InsPro & Prepworld.

“More than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions are driven by how we produce and consume food, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s possible for farms to produce enough nutritious food and sustain farmers’ livelihoods at the same time as protecting and restoring the natural resources they depend on,” says Tanya Steele, CEO, WWF.Applicants have been paired with long-term Tesco suppliers.

“We hope the launch of this new accelerator program with Tesco will bring innovative solutions a step closer and help us achieve our goal of halving the environmental impacts of the average UK shopping basket,” Steele concludes.

Promise for the future
Applicants have been paired with long-term Tesco suppliers to pitch scale-up projects that apply their ideas in the real world of food supply chains. Winners will work with Tesco’s supplier partners to pilot and scale their innovation and will each receive up to £150,000 (US$184,871) in funding support.

Tesco is also calling on the UK government to do more to unlock innovation in UK food supply chains and support innovations to market readiness, not just at the seed funding stage.

The company urges the government to set timelines and processes for updating outdated regulations that hinder the scaling-up of late-stage innovations such as insect protein in animal feed or sustainable low-carbon fertilizers. It would embrace the creation of incentives for businesses and consumers who are early adopters of new food system innovations.

“We also need government support to help the food industry scale proven innovations. The upcoming Food Strategy white paper is a great opportunity to transform our food system and enhance food security. We hope the paper will set out a process to updat outdated regulations that hinder the scaling-up of much-needed innovations,” Murphy explains.