Camden Council has revealed the four finalists for the inaugural Camden Challenge Prize, an initiative aimed at reducing food waste across the borough’s Hospitality and Food Service sector.
The prize seeks innovative solutions to prevent and manage food waste, with the finalists selected following a competitive application process.
The shortlisted projects are:
Limetrack – Utilising SMART wheelie bins that automatically record food-waste data. The system integrates with Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) systems to provide hospitality businesses with precise insights for more informed decision-making.
From Fork to Field – Soil Systems converts food waste into nutrient-rich soil pellets through a rapid, odour-free fermentation process. This creates a circular system linking restaurants with local growers.
CarbonTrac Camden – Based on a supermarket intelligence platform, CarbonTrac predicts and prevents surplus food waste. Gamified dashboards are used to engage staff and encourage waste reduction.
ZeroWasteOS – Employing predictive analytics and computer vision, ZeroWasteOS forecasts dish demand and monitors waste in real time, allowing hospitality businesses to reduce inefficiencies and make smarter operational decisions.
Each team will receive £5,000 to develop prototypes and conduct pilots in collaboration with Camden businesses and community partners.
Councillor Anna Wright, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care and Food Mission Lead, said:
“We are working in partnership with residents, businesses, and community organisations to ensure every person in Camden has access to nutritious, affordable and sustainable food. This Challenge Prize is encouraging a range of organisations to find new ways to reduce waste and make sure more of our food is used and enjoyed, and I’m excited to see which project the judges will choose as the winners.”
The judging panel included experts in innovation, sustainability, and food systems, with representatives from Future Food Movement, Google UK, Moree Limited, Nesta Challenge Works, The Sustainable Restaurant Association, and a pastry chef from Claridge’s.
The Camden Challenge Prize forms part of four borough-wide Missions focusing on food, young people, estates and neighbourhoods, and diversity. This year, the prize is centred on food sustainability, reflecting Camden’s ongoing concern with food security.
The overall winner will receive £75,000 to develop, implement, and scale their solution, while the runner-up will secure £25,000. Finalists will present their prototypes at the Camden Challenge Prize Demo Day in early 2026, where the grand prize winner will be announced.
