Maine Food System Innovation Challenge

2016 Maine Food System Innovation Challenge

Team Pitches, Open to the public

November 13, 2016

9:00am -12:00pm College Teams Pitches

12:45 – 3:45 Enterprise Team Pitches

3:45 – 5:00PM Networking & Reception

4:45PM – Awards to Challenge winners

at Bowdoin College

The Challenge:
How might we increase the production and harvesting of locally grown food in Maine through creative approaches to aggregating, distributing or processing of this food?

We are looking for bold and big ideas pushed by people who want to challenge each other and the status quo. We expect solutions that move beyond farmers’ markets, CSAs and farm-stands and that create new models that adapt to local and regional needs, utilize technology – both low and high-tech and test creative business structures such as cooperatives, enterprising non-profits and L3Cs.

One size does not fit all. Many possible solutions exist, some local and replicable, others regional and scalable. Our goal is to create a variety of market models, existing and new, that benefit producers, buyers and consumers.