International Grains Council

Check whether you fit

Much of IGC's work is aimed at policymakers and the trade. Its webinars are designed for dialogue between policymakers and the private sector, and its conference draws traders, breeders, bankers and trade associations. The challenge is the only item on this page written for startups.

The 2026 challenge is closed

Applications closed in spring 2026, and no next round is listed at the time of writing. Watch IGC's press releases for any new round.

What the challenge looked for

• Technology-led solutions in grains trade digitalisation.
• Digital, data-driven or AI-enabled products for the grains trade sector.
• Startups, scale-ups and companies, as the challenge's own description puts it.

Events and data

• The Grains Conference is an industry and policy event, not a founder programme. Its 2026 edition was in London in June.
• IGC's webinars are free to access.
• IGC's analysis covers 22 commodity markets. Its AMIS G20 Secretariat role includes supply and demand forecasts for wheat, maize, soyabeans and rice.

The International Grains Council (IGC) is an intergovernmental organisation based in London. Its members are the parties to the Grains Trade Convention, 1995. It provides grain market analysis, holds an annual conference and free webinars, and in 2026 ran a global challenge for technology-led solutions in grains trade digitalisation.

What IGC does

IGC joined the Secretariat of the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) in October 2012. It is also a member of the AMIS G20 Secretariat, where it provides supply and demand forecasts for wheat, maize, soyabeans and rice, export price monitoring and dry bulk freight market analysis. IGC says its own analysis covers 22 commodity markets, including cereals, oilseeds, rice and pulses.

Its High-Level Dialogue between producing and importing countries gives policymakers an opportunity to discuss national food security strategies and the role trade plays.

The 2026 challenge

The Smart Global Grains Trade Challenge 2026 (SGGT Challenge) was launched by IGC and the India Middle East Agri Alliance Ecosystem (IMEAA Ecosystem). It looked for technology-led solutions in grains trade digitalisation from startups, scale-ups and companies building digital, data-driven or AI-enabled products for the grains trade. Microsoft is named alongside IMEAA as a supporter. IGC's July 2026 press release calls it the Global Grains Trade Challenge.

A jury with representatives of GAFTA, IGC, IGTC and IMEAA chose the best and promising projects. IGC reported more than 50 applications and three winners. Applications closed in spring 2026. The jury decision was due on 15 May 2026, with presentations and awards on 10 June 2026.

The challenge circular sets three categories by revenue band. The July 2026 press release names winners in start-up, scale-up and mature-company groups. The two descriptions do not match, and this page does not choose between them.

Events and webinars

IGC's annual Grains Conference brings together more than 250 people a year from the grains value chain, including traders, breeders, bankers and trade associations, according to IGC. The 2026 edition took place in June at IET London, Savoy Place.

IGC also runs regular webinars on topical world trade issues. They are free to access and are designed to stimulate dialogue between policymakers and the private sector.

Locations

IGC's materials give two London addresses. Its website footer gives Tallis House, 2 Tallis Street, London EC4Y 0AB. A circular for the challenge gives 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AE. This page does not choose between them.