Food provider and commodities trader Cargill has partnered hygiene services firm Ecolab and accelerator Techstars to launch the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, aimed at US-based food and agriculture startups.
The initiative will run over a three-year period and will target sectors such as agricultural technology, food safety, consumer goods and supply chain management.
The initiative’s first cohort will be unveiled in summer 2018 ahead of 13 weeks of training in Cargill’s native city of Minneapolis.
Startups will get access to funding and networking opportunities, and assistance will be available from Cargill and Ecolab executives as well as Techstars’ roster of entrepreneurs, mentors and investors.
Brett Brohl, managing director of Farm to Fork Accelerator, said: “Minnesota was literally built by food entrepreneurs more than 150 years ago, and entrepreneurs continue to thrive in the state’s quickly expanding, yet supportive ecosystem
“The Farm to Fork Accelerator will build on this rich history, leveraging Cargill’s reach and leadership in food and agriculture as well as Ecolab’s expertise in safe food, clean water and healthy environments.”