The global initiative, led by the IGC and IMEAA Ecosystem, spotlighted innovative technology-driven solutions in grains trade digitalisation. The inaugural challenge awarded AgPulse, EdoxOnline and Javelot for their work in market intelligence, trade documentation, interoperability, grain storage and logistics optimisation.
The winners of the inaugural Smart Global Grains Trade Challenge 2026 were announced during the 2026 IGC Grains Conference in London, marking a new step in efforts to accelerate digitalisation and AI adoption across the global grains trade.
The initiative was led by the International Grains Council (IGC) and the India Middle East Agri Alliance (IMEAA) Ecosystem, supported by GAFTA and backed by Microsoft AI for Good. It was designed to spotlight innovative, technology-driven solutions that can improve efficiency, transparency and resilience in grains trade digitalisation, with a particular focus on the post-harvest segment and scalable solutions for the Global South.
The 2026 winners were AgPulse in the startup category, EdoxOnline in the scale-up category and Javelot in the mature company category. The awards were presented by Sudhakar Tomar, President of IMEAA, Arnaud Petit, Executive Director of the IGC, and Anna Golodova, Director of GAFTA’s Kiev Office.
DIGITALISATION BECOMES AN URGENT ISSUE FOR GRAIN TRADE
Opening the ceremony, Sudhakar Tomar said the scale of global grain trade shows why digital transformation is becoming increasingly important. More than 500 million metric tonnes of cereals and grains move internationally each year, valued at around US$156 billion, from more than 140 exporting countries to nearly 200 destination markets. Despite this scale, Tomar noted that many of the systems used to move, price and manage risk in grain trade still depend heavily on physical documents and manual processes. “This is the kind of disruption we need,” he said, explaining that the challenge was created to promote AI and digital technology in the grain value chain after production and before final consumption.
The competition was divided into three categories to reflect different stages of company development: startups with no revenue or revenue up to US$2 million, scale-ups with revenue between US$2 million and US$5 million, and mature companies with revenue above US$5 million.
Tomar said the challenge used the networks of IGC, GAFTA, IMEAA and IGTC to reach a broad global audience. Applications came from all five continents, and nine finalists were selected across the three categories. Microsoft provided a total prize pool of US$150,000 for the winners.
IGC: AI MUST BE SHOWN THROUGH PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
Arnaud Petit said the challenge provided an opportunity to move beyond general discussions about AI and examine concrete solutions for grain trade. He said the initiative showed how AI and digital technologies are entering trade operations, from digitalisation and automation to forecasting. Petit also thanked Microsoft for its support and highlighted the importance of GAFTA’s involvement, noting that GAFTA has already been active in trade digitisation initiatives.
Anna Golodova, Director of GAFTA’s Kiev Office, also welcomed the initiative. Speaking on behalf of GAFTA, she said global trade institutions need to stay ahead of innovation, technology and AI use in order to facilitate trade worldwide.
AGPULSE WINS STARTUP CATEGORY
AgPulse won the startup category. The award was received by Gaurav Jain, Founder of AgPulse Analytica. Jain said the award was not only for AgPulse, but also for innovators working to bring smarter solutions to global grain trade and production. He described AgPulse’s work as an effort to democratise not only data, but also intelligence.
The company is developing an AI-based tool called Ask AgPulse, designed to answer market questions like a seasoned analyst. Unlike generic AI tools, Jain said the system uses a closed-loop database and does not rely on the open internet.
AgPulse said its database includes at least 20 years of global commodity data. The company already provides price aggregation, analytical reports, supply and demand analysis, trade flows, vessel information and machine-learning-based yield models for pulses, grains and oilseeds.
Jain said the company’s yield forecasting model reaches 92% accuracy in mid-season, remaining within 5% of the final number in 92% of cases. AgPulse aims to launch Ask AgPulse commercially in October.
EDOXONLINE WINS SCALE-UP CATEGORY
EdoxOnline won the scale-up category. The award was received by Alejandro Pernias, CEO of EdoxOnline. Pernias said the company, which began in Argentina, has developed into a comprehensive document preparation and digital trade documentation platform. He described EdoxOnline as a neutral interoperability layer for international trade companies.
According to Pernias, the main bottleneck in trade is not simply the lack of digital tools, but fragmentation between platforms, stakeholders and systems. Traders, banks, inspectors, carriers and other parties often work with separate solutions, creating inefficiencies, repeated manual work and document inconsistencies.
EdoxOnline said it was the first company approved by the International Group of P&I Clubs for electronic bills of lading underpinned by blockchain technology. The company is interconnected with official authorities, chambers and multiple trade platforms, and uses AI for document consistency checks.
Pernias stressed that EdoxOnline is designed to integrate existing systems, not replace them. By enabling different stakeholders to interact more consistently, the platform aims to reduce email-based workflows, paper use, manual duplication, operational cost and trade-documentation risk.
JAVELOT WINS MATURE COMPANY CATEGORY
Javelot won the mature company category. The award was received by Paul Bizien, International Development at Javelot. Bizien described Javelot as a French company founded by a farmer and an agricultural engineer. The company works with grain collectors, trading companies and cooperatives, helping them improve post-harvest operations through storage and logistics optimisation.
Javelot focuses on grain post-harvest digitisation. Its solutions aim to reduce grain losses in storage, improve electricity efficiency and save time for operators. The company deploys hardware across storage sites, including older facilities with limited technology, and connects them to a software platform. The system centralises and qualifies data, then uses it to support automation.
One of Javelot’s key applications is ventilation automation. Using real-time data, the system automates grain cooling, helping customers cool grain faster and with less energy than manual systems. Bizien said that when applied across hundreds of sites and millions of tons, the savings in electricity and reduced grain losses can be significant.