Open Call for Landscape Restoration and Agroforestry Technologies

February 17, 2021

Apply before March 21, 2021 to become one of the 10 companies to join the Central Highlands Restoration Project (CHiRP) in Chhattisgarh, India, and deploy your technology across the country.

Global Business Inroads (GBI) is an international business, technology and innovation management consultancy, based in India, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, specializing in technology access and deployment. The company supports the Central Highlands Restoration Project in Chhattisgarh, India, which has launched an open innovation call.

About the project

The Central Highlands Restoration Project (CHiRP) is being piloted in the Kabirdham District of Chhattisgarh State to restore the landscape in the region and to help local stakeholders promote the agricultural and forestry sectors, improving their local economy, as traditional livelihoods in the district are water- and forest-dependent (please refer to the GBI website for further information).

The innovation call

The aim of the call is to identify a competitive pool of global organizations that offer solutions focused on improving the yields and adding value to the Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), local agriculture, food processing, market linkages and supply chain traceability of local produce.

In the first phase, 10 selected applicants will receive mentorship and support from the Technology Working Group of the CHiRP project to facilitate localization, deployment and development of sustainable business models within the local ecosystem.

Explore the call on the WIPO GREEN database

Relevant technologies

The competition is open to technologies from six fields:

  • Processing:
    1. NTFP[1]: shelling, grinding, pulp extraction, packaging, drying, decorticating, oil extraction, development of medicinal plants (find the list of NTFPs down below)
    2. Bamboo processing: cultivation, upcycling techniques, tools for production/processing, bamboo craftsman training
  • Crop management: technologies to monitor crops efficiently, harvest predictions, disease prevention technologies, tissue culture, automatic weed monitoring systems, farm tracking devices and advanced tools, advanced silvicultural systems
  • Agroforestry: advanced native seed dispersion technologies, native seeds development, advanced forest harvesting technologies, advanced tree plantation techniques, forest fire detection technologies
  • Market linkages and supply chain: geo tagging and QR technologies for sustainability and traceability certifications, logistics and warehousing, cold storages (renewable energy/off-grid), e-commerce platforms, market linkages from local to international level, marketplace technologies for better information, trading, market pricing, etc.
  • Value addition/processing and packaging: product development, adding nutritional value, sustainable packaging technologies
  • Supporting livelihoods: access to distributed energy (mini/micro grids, renewable energy, solar pumps), environmental technologies (for clean cooking, water, sanitation, waste management), communication and telecom technologies (cell tower signal boosters to improve connectivity)

Application process and selection criteria

To be considered for the project, complete the following steps by March 21, 2021:

  • Register on the platform Global Technology Interface (GTI), and sign up as a Technology Displayer
  • Once registered, apply for the Commonland - CHiRP Innovation Call

Please let WIPO GREEN know that you are applying for this call.

The following selection criteria will be applied:

  • Technology products and solutions offered must be scalable
  • The company must have experience in the relevant sectors
  • The company must have customers / the technology should have been deployed in the field

[1] Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) produced in the region include: Indian gooseberry (Amla)

Phyllanthus emblica, Cuddapah Almond (Chironji) Buchananialanzan, Sal seed Shorearobusta, Tamarind Tamarindusindica, Mahua Flower, seed, and leaf Madhucalongifolia, Behera Terminalia bellirica, Hara Terminalia chebula, Tomato, Millets (koduko Paspalumscrobiculatum and kutki Panicum sumatrense), Mango, Dates, Berries, Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon), Jackfruit, Wheat, Rice and Maize.