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The Terraton Challenge

A call for solutions that accelerate the drawdown of 1 trillion tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide into agricultural soils.
stage:
Won
prize:
Up to $3.5K for submitting an idea, $60K in grants, and $3M in contracts
more
Summary
Timeline
Updates3
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Summary

Overview

The next breakthrough in carbon sequestration innovation is just beneath the surface

Many of the world’s largest industries have transformed and unlocked new value through digital systems innovation, and now’s the time for agriculture to do the same. The Terraton Challenge rallies innovators to develop solutions that advance The Terraton Initiative, the global effort to remove 1 trillion tons – or a teraton – of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it to enrich agricultural soils. Fueling the Initiative with technological innovation and competition, The Terraton Challenge seeks to focus global innovators on agriculture as a climate solution.

 

The Terraton Challenge

For its inaugural year, the Terraton Challenge will focus on three critical areas: technologies that accelerate soil carbon sequestration, methods to quantify soil carbon, and innovative financial offerings that reward growers for capturing and maintaining soil carbon.

 

Follow these three links to learn more and apply by October 1, 2019!

 

  • Accelerate: Increasing the speed at which carbon dioxide is sequestered in soils
  • Quantify: Catalyzing the next generation of soil carbon sampling & measurement systems
  • Reward: Developing incentives that reward growers for sequestering soil carbon

Guidelines

Who should apply?

Any team with an original solution to one of our Terraton Challenge tracks should apply. We invite applicants from:

All Geographies: This is a global problem that needs a global solution. Innovators from around the world are encouraged to apply. Semi-finalists must be willing and able to travel to the U.S. at their own cost to demo their solution at the BeneficialAg 2020 conference.

All Stages: We want to hear solutions from innovators at all levels of development. Whether your idea is scribbled in a notepad, or already deployed on thousands of acres, we encourage you to apply.

All Industries: The Terraton Challenge welcomes ideas from industries beyond agriculture.


Please note that each application must be original and must not contain any material that violates or infringes on the intellectual rights of any non-team member or  party.

 

Why participate in The Terraton Challenge?

 

prize

PRIZE OPPORTUNITIES

Up to $3.5k is available for submitting an idea. Winning participants that prove scalability will be eligible for a total of $60k in grants and up to $3M in contracts by Indigo—all while maintaining IP rights to their solution.

visibility

 

 

INDUSTRY VISIBILITY

All semi-finalists will have the opportunity to demo their solutions at BeneficialAg 2020, a gathering of stakeholders across the supply chain in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

 

mentorship

MENTORSHIP & REAL-WORLD EXPERIMENTATION

Access a cohort of tech & ag thought leaders available to mentor you throughout the competition. With this support, you can take your solution above and beyond its original scope.

wheat

 

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PRESERVATION

Did we mention all awards and contracts are equity free? It’s your idea, you should maintain ownership and IP rights throughout the Challenge and beyond.

planet

 

 

 

 

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE

With the goal of improving farm economics and supporting sustainable practices, all while addressing climate change, we're inviting innovators and entrepreneurs to bring their best ideas forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still not sure if you should apply?

Contact The Terraton Challenge team with your questions by emailing the link below.

CONTACT US

 

 

The Terraton Challenge is subject to contest rules, terms and conditions located here. The Terraton Challenge is made up of two separate contests: an initial screening contest (“Round One”) and a semi-finalist contest (“Final Round”). By submitting an application, applicants are enrolling in Round One only. The only potential prize for Round One is an invitation to participate in the Final Round, subject to additional terms and conditions, acceptance of which are required to participate in such Final Round. Submission of an application to Round One does not guarantee participation in the Final Round.  Only Round One winners are eligible to participate in the Final Round. Subject to additional terms, Final Round participants may be eligible for a chance to win a grant of up to $20,000.00 and one or more contracts with Indigo that may be worth up to $3 million in total. No purchase necessary to enter. Contests are void where prohibited.

Timeline

Challenge Timeline

start
July 22, 2019, 8 p.m. PDT
Enter
PHASE 1: APPLICATION
During this 10-week application period, you may submit your application using the specific website form for your category of interest. Up to $3.5k is available for submitting an idea.
Sept. 11, 2019, 10:05 p.m. PDT
Date Launched
Oct. 1, 2019, 8:59 p.m. PDT
Submission Deadline
PHASE 2: COHORT SELECTION
Over the course of three weeks, Indigo’s panel of judges including thought leaders, academics & entrepreneurs will review applications. A select number of round 1 applicants will be invited to the next round as semi-finalists. Semi-finalists will be announced on Oct. 22.
Oct. 22, 2019, 8 p.m. PDT
Start of Incubation Period
PHASE 3: INCUBATION
Semi-finalists moving forward will be eligible for up to $60k in grants and $3M in contracts. They will join a virtual incubation cohort with access to mentors, review panels, expert speakers & real-world experimentation.
Feb. 1, 2020, 8 p.m. PST
Start of Experimentation Period
PHASE 4: EXPERIMENTATION & REFINEMENT
During this time all semi-finalists will work with Indigo staff and mentors to pilot their solutions on research acres and prepare for live demos at the BeneficialAg 2020 Conference. Post-BeneficialAg 2020, all semi-finalists will continue to refine their solutions and prep for the final contract stage.
June 14, 2020, 8 p.m. PDT
Demo Day
All semi-finalists will demo at BeneficialAg 2020, an important multi-thousand attendee event that convenes stakeholders from across the supply chain to reimagine ag for people & planet. The winner in each category will receive a $20k grant to accelerate their work.
Oct. 30, 2020, 8 p.m. PDT
Won
PHASE 6: AWARD
Select finalists with scalable solutions will be eligible for up to $3M contracts by Indigo, all while maintaining business independence and IP rights to their solution.
finish
April 26, 2024, 9:31 p.m. PDT
You are here
Updates3

Challenge Updates

Only a few more hours to go

Oct. 1, 2019, 9 a.m. PDT by Despina Maliaka

Dear Innovators,

This is the last call for submissions to The Terraton Challenge! Applications are due TODAY at 11:59pm ET.

Click on the orange "ACCEPT CHALLENGE" button to get your submission in - the judges are excited to review your applications!

Good luck!

 


One Day Remaining!

Sept. 30, 2019, 4:40 p.m. PDT by Despina Maliaka

 

It's not too late! This is the last call for submissions to The Terraton Challenge! Applications are due tomorrow, Tuesday October 1st at 11:59pm ET.

Our judges are excited to review your applications! Hear from one of our partners below:


“With a deep background in environmental sciences, I am excited to participate in this ambitious program which is actively supporting solutions in the most pressing challenge of our generation.”
The Terraton Challenge Round One Judge
 


If you experience any issues submitting your application, please email before the application deadline.

 

Good luck!


Upcoming office hours!

Sept. 19, 2019, 4 a.m. PDT by Despina Maliaka

Have questions about applying for The Terraton Challenge? Join the team for office hours!

 

The Terraton Challenge team is hosting office hours on Tuesday 9/24 at 4pm CT / 5pm ET, during which they will cover off on application requirements and answer any questions. Sign up here.

Proposals are due by October 1st at 11:59pm ET. Additional information about the contest can be found on The Terraton Challenge website

Best,

-The Terraton Challenge Team



 


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