‘Sampurna Grand Challenge 2026’
Karnataka’s Bold Step to Reduce Agricultural and Horticultural Losses and Protect Farmers’ Incomes
Bengaluru, September 25 (Karnataka Information):
The Government of Karnataka has launched the ‘Sampurna Grand Challenge 2026’ with the objective of identifying model solutions to prevent post-harvest losses of crops, reduce food wastage through better preservation and increase farmers’ incomes, said Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka.
Chairing the ‘Sampurna Grand Challenge 2026’ meeting held at Vidhana Soudha on September 25, 2026, she said that six innovative solutions have been shortlisted through the Karnataka Government’s innovation initiative, ‘Sampurna Grand Challenge 2026’. These solutions will next be connected with government programmes, markets and investment opportunities.
Senior industry leaders from across India representing the food and beverage, agri-tech, agribusiness, environmental science and philanthropic sectors participated in the meeting of the high-level Steering Committee.
The initiative is being implemented under the vision and guidance of the Government of Karnataka as part of the ‘Sampurna 2026’ platform. Its objective is to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and government institutions to address the problem of food loss on a large scale.
The platform has been developed with the support of Mr. R. Girish, Secretary to the Government, Department of Horticulture and Sericulture, Government of Karnataka. The Sampurna Grand Challenge has been designed to identify technology-based as well as non-technology-based solutions that can address food loss and post-harvest challenges across Karnataka’s agricultural and horticultural value chains.
The primary objective of the Sampurna platform is to treat food loss not merely as a problem of wastage, but as a direct economic challenge faced by the farming community and to find solutions to it. Reducing such losses can help preserve the value of farmers’ produce, strengthen their incomes and increase the economic returns from agriculture and horticulture.
Dr. Parul Soni, Founder of Thinkthrough Consulting and Secretary General of ABWCI and Dr. Bhuvaneshwari Balasubramanian, Country Director, GAIN India, developed the framework for the programme. In addition to identifying innovations, the programme provides a systematic pathway to facilitate their adoption through government schemes, market access and investment opportunities.
A total of 210 applications were received for the Grand Challenge through an extensive outreach campaign covering agribusinesses, FPO-related enterprises, academic and research institutions, incubators and government organizations. The campaign reached approximately 1,062 and 442 institutional organizations, while 1,162 registrations and 1,047 participants were recorded through 10 webinars.
A 14-member expert group comprising representatives from the government, academia and investment sectors conducted the evaluation process. The six selected solutions are being taken forward through the Sampurna ecosystem, with special emphasis on providing government support, investor connections and market linkages for their implementation and scaling in Karnataka.
The Steering Committee meeting also discussed how the innovation platform would be implemented in the real world. The concluding ceremony of ‘Sampurna Grand Challenge 2026’ will be held during ‘Krishimela 2026’, scheduled from October 15 to 18 at the GKVK campus in Bengaluru. The selected solutions will be recognized and connected with key stakeholders from the government, market and investment sectors.
ADVERTISEMENT
