Taylor Farms Co-Sponsors THRIVE Young Innovators Challenge
SALINAS, CA – The first annual THRIVE Young Innovators Challenge convenes in downtown Salinas at the CSUMB @ Salinas City Center, today, March 31st. Sponsored by industry leaders like Taylor Farms, the event is being hosted by the THRIVE Innovation Foundation (formerly the Steinbeck Innovation Foundation), a non-profit dedicated to empowering local youth and usher forward the next generation of AgTech innovators and entrepreneurs.
“The THRIVE Young Innovators Challenge is key to building the innovation pillar of our strategy to inspire young kids into STEM and entrepreneurship at an early age,” said John Hartnett, Founder and CEO of SVG Partners. “In, our short four-year history, we have built a Global AgTech ecosystem that has positioned Salinas as an AgTech hub recognized across the world.”
Both the foundation and challenge are the two latest strategy initiatives to build a sustainable Global AgTech ecosystem for the region in partnership with the City of Salinas and leading industry partners like Taylor Farms.
“Taylor Farms believes it is of the utmost importance to inspire innovation in local youth and give them outlets to explore technology and science,” said Margaret D’Arrigo, VP, Community Development, Taylor Farms and THRIVE Innovation Foundation Board Member. “This is why we sponsor events like Thrive Young Innovators Challenge where the next generation of leaders are encouraged to develop key skills for the future.”
The challenge involves over 125 students, with teams from ten middle and high schools throughout Monterey County, competing to create technology-driven solutions addressing the theme of “Feeding 9 Billion People by the Year 2030.” Each team will be provided with a mentor to assist in brainstorming, product development, and presentation. A panel of judges will evaluate each team’s project at the end of the day, and top teams will be awarded cash prizes and a day trip to Silicon Valley to visit the Google and Intel headquarters.
Sponsors of the challenge include Taylor Farms, the City of Salinas, SVG Partners, Hartnell College, The California Endowment, CSUMB @ Salinas City Center, and Alvarez Technology.
