Call for Applications: Food Innovation Competition – KNUST Food Festival 2026

Theme: Our Heritage on the Plate: Indigenous Foods for a Hunger-Free Future

The Department of Food Science and Technology, KNUST, invites applications for the Food Innovation Competition as part of KNUST Food Festival 2026.

Are you working on an innovative product based on indigenous foods or local commodities? Do you have a creative idea that can transform traditional foods into modern, market-ready solutions? This competition is for you.

Who Can Apply?

• Students, startups, SMEs, community-based groups, and individual innovators

• Working with indigenous Ghanaian or African food commodities or recipes

Innovation Criteria

Your product or concept should satisfy at least one of the following:

• ✅ Built on sustainability – environmentally friendly, resource-efficient, or socially inclusive

• ✅ Home-adaptable to preserve or extend shelf-life – simple, practical solutions that can be used at household or small-enterprise level

• ✅ Gives a global or international appeal – products with strong export or international market potential

Application Timelines

• Application deadline:
  1st February 2026

• Notification of shortlisted applicants:
  By close of business (COB) on 5th February 2026

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted with further details on pitching and exhibition arrangements.

Event Details

• Event: KNUST Food Festival 2026 – Food Innovation Competition

• Date: Friday, 13th February 2026

• Time: 10:00 AM (prompt)

• Venue: Royal Parade Ground, KNUST, Kumasi

How to Apply

Scan the QR code on the flyer or click the application link to submit your entry. Applicants will be required to provide brief details of their innovation, target users, and expected impact.