Kerala’s Farmers Fresh Zone (FarmersFZ) has been selected as one of the twelve global agri-food start-ups to join the accelerator program launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Operating under the Kerala Startup Mission, this multichannel marketplace platform based in Kochi is among the two Indian start-ups that have been chosen for this initiative. The primary objective of this program is to support the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Pradeep PS, the CEO of AgriTech D2C, a startup founded in 2016, has received an invitation to attend a forthcoming UN event in Rome. This event recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of AgriTech D2C, as acknowledged by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), for their Sustainable Way of Doing Business model. The model emphasizes the reduction of carbon emissions and the mitigation of food waste by implementing Farm-to-Fork principles as a service (SaaS). By advocating for regional production and consumption, AgriTech D2C has gained prominence, and Pradeep PS will be representing the company at this prestigious event.
According to Pradeep, the UN programme will provide FarmersFZ with the platform to present its model before countries across continents.
“The model would require alterations based on the nature of the markets in each economy. For that we need funds, which will come through the Accelerator,” he said.
FarmersFZ is a pioneering platform that serves as a direct link between rural farmers and urban consumers in Kerala. Their primary objective is to deliver fresh, top-notch vegetables that are free from pesticides to consumers within a remarkable 24-hour window from the time of harvest, providing an exceptional farm-to-table experience. With an impressive user base exceeding 300,000 consumers and a strong network comprising over 2,000 farmers, FarmersFZ has successfully bridged the gap between agriculture and urban markets. This impactful initiative receives support from the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), the esteemed agency responsible for fostering entrepreneurship development and incubation activities within the state.