The Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development (CURAD) is an innovative, autonomous agribusiness incubator established in 2012 by Makerere University, NUCAFE, and NARO, with support from DANIDA under the FARA-UniBRAIN Programme.

As a public–private partnership initiative, CURAD supports farmers, farmer organizations, agro-entrepreneurs, students, graduates, start-ups, and SMEs to transform ideas into competitive agribusiness enterprises. We are driven by a vision to produce innovative young entrepreneurs and agribusiness leaders who champion productivity, profitability, and job creation in the agricultural sector.

Become agents of change in agrifood systems.

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  • Become agents of change in agrifood systems.

The World Food Forum (WFF), hosted by FAO, advances agrifood systems transformation through youth action, science and innovation, and investment. Within this framework, WFF https://youth.world-food-forum.org/en, coordinated by the Office of Youth and Women (OYW), empowers young people to become agents of change in agrifood systems.


A key component of this work is the https://youth.world-food-forum.org/innovation-lab/enYouth which identifies, supports and helps scale youth-led innovations with the potential to drive agrifood systems transformation. As part of this programme, the sixth edition of the https://youth.world-food-forum.org/innovation-lab/startup-innovation-awards/en(SIA) has recently been launched. The Awards are a global competition designed to spotlight youth-led startups that are leveraging technology and innovation to address some of the most pressing challenges facing agrifood systems. Applications are currently open; https://youth.world-food-forum.org/innovation-lab/startup-innovation-awards/en, and will be accepted until 1 April 2026.


To further strengthen this initiative, OYW and FAO’s Liaison Office in Geneva (LOG) are collaborating with https://www.linkedin.com/company/masschallenge-switzerland/posts/?feedView=all, a global startup accelerator that supports early-stage entrepreneurs through equity-free acceleration programmes, providing access to mentorship, corporate partners, investors and tailored support. This collaboration complements FAO’s mandate by fostering innovation in sustainable agrifood systems, climate resilience and inclusive economic development.


We kindly invite you to share this call widely within your networks, particularly with youth and youth-led organizations, to help attract high-potential startups that are already making a meaningful impact.