The Department of Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, has extended funding and mentorship to 28 innovative projects under the Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC). Launched on 30 June 2023, the initiative aims to address the challenges in India’s tomato value chain, ensuring a more stable supply while reducing waste and inefficiencies. The hackathon attracted 1,376 submissions from students, researchers, professionals, and start-ups across the country, showcasing a strong commitment to resolving key issues in tomato production, processing, and distribution.
Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, shared that after a rigorous evaluation process, the shortlisted ideas were developed into prototypes and provided guidance through expert mentorship. These innovations promise to transform the sector, directly benefitting both farmers and consumers by addressing systemic issues that affect production, supply, and profitability.
India, the world’s second-largest tomato producer with an annual output of 20 million metric tonnes, faces numerous challenges in its tomato sector. Adverse weather events, such as excessive rainfall or sudden heatwaves, often disrupt production and availability, leading to price volatility. Additionally, the lack of adequate cold storage facilities and poor handling practices results in significant post-harvest losses. Fragmented supply chains and the dominance of intermediaries further compound the problem, while limited infrastructure for processing surplus tomatoes leaves the sector vulnerable to seasonal gluts.
The Tomato Grand Challenge sought to provide comprehensive solutions to these challenges by targeting various stages of the value chain, including pre-production, post-harvest loss reduction, supply chain management, and technological adoption. The final 28 projects tackled critical issues such as extending shelf life through innovative packaging, developing processed products for year-round availability, and reducing transportation losses. These initiatives are expected to enhance resilience within the sector, minimise waste, and improve profitability for stakeholders.
One of the key outcomes of the initiative has been the creation of intellectual property, with 14 patents, 4 design registrations or trademarks, and 10 publications already in the process of being filed. These advancements highlight the innovative potential of the programme, which has set a benchmark for addressing challenges in agricultural commodities across India.
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Periodic monitoring, short visits, and expert reviews ensured that the projects were on track to deliver impactful solutions. Final evaluations conducted in October 2024 assessed the projects on their innovation, scalability, and relevance to the tomato value chain. The funding and mentorship provided through the initiative have enabled these innovators to develop practical, sustainable solutions that promise to revolutionise the tomato supply chain.
Nidhi Khare noted that the success of the Tomato Grand Challenge underscores the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government in addressing pressing agricultural issues. By fostering innovation and supporting scalable solutions, the initiative has created a roadmap for improving resilience and reducing waste in India’s agricultural sector. The outcomes are expected to benefit farmers by stabilising incomes and improving access to technology, while consumers will enjoy greater price stability and year-round availability of tomatoes.
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