Akorn Technology named finalist in global competition

Postharvest solutions company Akorn Technology has been named as a finalist in the 2025 FoodTech Challenge for innovations that help small growers combat postharvest losses and cold chain problems.

The UAE-based competition brings together global food and agriculture startups.

The 10 finalists, selected from 42 semifinalists drawn from 1,215 submissions representing 113 countries, were revealed in September at the Clinton Global Initiative 2025 Global Meeting, which took place at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“We’re honored to be recognized as a finalist for the FoodTech Challenge,” Akorn CEO Anthony Zografos said in a news release. “Akorn’s mission is to create practical, nature-based solutions that make fresh produce last longer without relying on chemicals and single-use plastics. Being part of this initiative validates the global importance of our mission and serves as one more testimonial to the groundbreaking nature of our technology platform.”

California-based Akorn specializes in natural coatings for fresh fruits and vegetables and recently debuted a shelf-life extension solution for English cucumbers. In September, the company was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research grant to advance its plant-based edible coatings for fresh produce.