Colombian startup takes $65,000 top prize for developing bacteriophage technology to target harmful bacteria in livestock, offering an alternative to antibiotics, as World Food Prize Foundation marks 40th anniversary.
Ciencia y Tecnología de Fagos SciPhage S.A.S., a Colombian startup that uses bacteriophage technology platform that supports safer, antibiotic-free animal production while reducing pathogen contamination, strengthening food safety, addressing antimicrobial resistance and improving productivity across poultry, swine and cattle, has won the 2026 Innovate for Impact Challenge, taking home the $65,000 first prize at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. Chosen from more than 1,500 applications from over 100 countries, four finalists pitched their innovations live to a panel of judges in a Shark Tank-style competition.
The judging panel included:
- Han Chen | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer and Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ZeaKal
- Tej Dhawan | Managing Director, Plains Angels and 2946 Ventures
- Robb Fraley | 2013 World Food Prize Laureate
- Travis Frey | Chief Technology Officer, Pivot Bio
- Marcus Meadows-Smith | Chief Executive Officer, BioConsortia
- Drew Porter | Global Portfolio Leader, Vylor
- Kaylee Williams | Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur
“From shrimp waste to pineapple leaves, this year’s finalists show that the next breakthroughs in food security can come from anywhere,” said Chen. “SciPhage stood out for the quality of their technology, the scalability to global markets and a great pitch. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next.”
SciPhage was founded at the Universidad de los Andes. It develops bacteriophages, viruses that target specific harmful bacteria, as a natural alternative to antibiotics in livestock and aquaculture. Its lead product controls Salmonella in poultry and is patented in Colombia, the United States and Brazil, while a second product for trout is in field validation.
“I feel so happy, our team deserves this, it is so meaningful,” Viviana Clavijo, Chief Executive Officer at SciPhage. “We have been working hard in Colombia to bring this to the global market and have SciPhage on such a big platform.”
Second place winning $50,000, CeluNova is a Mexican startup which turns discarded pineapple leaves into tree-free cellulose for diapers and other hygiene products. The company says its material absorbs 30 percent more liquid than wood pulp, biodegrades in two years and uses up to three times fewer chemicals to produce. By buying waste that would otherwise be burned, CeluNova creates a new income stream for pineapple farmers.
Third place winning $10,000, Biotech4Life was founded five years ago at the Federal University of Ceará. Biotech4Life uses microbial fermentation to turn shrimp farming waste into biofertilizers and biostimulants. In field conditions, its products have increased crop yields by up to 40 percent and cut synthetic fertilizer use by up to 30 percent, according to the company. By using a low-cost, abundant raw material, it aims to bring advanced inputs within reach of small and medium-scale farmers.
Fourth place winning $5,000, Lyrata, was founded by University of Toronto alumni. It makes SmartSoil, a 3D-printed growing medium made from corn-derived biopolymers that can be reused for around two years and then composted. It is designed to replace rockwool, the industry standard, which the company says is energy-intensive and polluting to produce and recycle. Lyrata has grown more than 15 crop types with its system.
All finalists gained unmatchable global exposure by presenting their solutions at the Borlaug Dialogue and the 1,500 food and agricultural leaders from more than 65 countries in attendance. They will also gain unique opportunities to engage with investors, industry experts, fellow entrepreneurs, policymakers and potential partners from around the world as part of the Innovate for Impact network.
Now in its second year, the Innovate for Impact Challenge supports early-stage, for-profit agtech startups with the potential to transform global agriculture. For the Foundation’s 40th anniversary, the Challenge expanded from three finalists to four, with a special fourth-place prize. The 2025 winner was Argentina’s APOLO Biotech.