Anthropocene Challenge Intro 1

Last modified: 13. February 2026

Welcome to our international student case competition with real agrifood industry challenges — powered by MATE & Bonafarm Group.

Join an international student challenge where teams develop innovative, practical concepts for current agrifood and sustainability-related corporate challenges — and pitch the best ideas live at MATE and build solutions that can be tested in the real world.

1 topic • 10 countries • 12 teams • 48-hour live challenge in Gödöllő, Hungary from 13-15th May 2026

Why the Challenge Exists

Why the Challenge Exists

The Anthropocene Corporate Challenge is designed to bring together outstanding international student teams to work on real-world problems (provided by Bonafarm Group, our industry partner), and create solutions that are not just theoretical — but ready for pilots and further development.

Description of the Challenge

Description of the Challenge

The competition focuses on a case challenge topic connected to innovation and sustainability in the agrifood sector.

This year’s theme: The utilization of by-products generated in Bonafarm Groups poultry business the entire value chain, from farm to end product.

The purpose of this case study is for the teams to develop a business and strategic proposal for the utilisation of by-products generated within Bonafarm Group's poultry business—designed to remain viable alongside a planned, significant capacity expansion. Details of the case are available in the Case Brief.

In the first round, we expect each team to submit an A4 text document outlining their case solution. You may include images, illustrations, charts, etc. to support your argument. You may design your own cover page. The text can be maximum 1000 words, excluding the cover page and appendices. The details of the challenge, formatting rules and submissions guidelines are included in the Case Brief (available for download upon registration).

How It Works

1. Online Case Solution

1. Online Case Solution

Gather a team of 3 from your university, register and get started on the online case solution. Recruit a mentor from your home institution, who will join you at the event and contribute academic guidance throughout the challenge. Once you are ready, submit the materials. To continue into the next round, teams can start to prepare for the interview round.

2. Interview Round

2. Interview Round

To get selected for the Finals in Gödöllő, your team must tackle a more complex case and present your solutions via an online presentation to an expert jury panel. You must book an online slot to with the Jury.

3. Challenge Travel Arrangements

3. Final Selection & Travel Arrangements

The top 12 teams are selected for the on-site final in Gödöllő. After the selection of the finalist teams and confirmation of attendance, MATE will support the participants' travel, including flight bookings and accomodation.

4. On-site Final at MATE

4. On-site Final at MATE

A 48-hour live case competition: teamwork, mentoring, final presentations, jury evaluation, and awards. During the on-site final, teams will also receive professional support from MATE and industry partner mentors, who will provide academic and industry guidance throughout the competition.

Selection and Timeline

Event Program

Event Program

Below is the structure for the on-site final. Please note that this is just a preliminary timetable, exact details will be confirmed closer to the date.

Wednesday, 13th of May — Arrival & Warm-up

  • Arrival / optional Budapest visit
  • On-site registration
  • Campus tour
  • Mentor–team introduction
  • Opening & topic announcement
  • Dinner & networking

Thursday, 14th of May — Case Release & Teamwork

  • Q&A
  • Teamwork blocks + mentoring sessions
  • Dinner
  • Optional evening teamwork (the building will close for the evening!)

Friday, 15th of May — Final Pitch & Awards

  • Submission deadline
  • Pitch presentations of all teams
  • Selection of top teams
  • Top teams present in front of a wider audience
  • Jury deliberation
  • Closing dinner & Awards
  • Afterparty

About MATE

EN: The Anthropocene Award - The host

The Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) is one of Central Europe’s leading institutions in agriculture and life sciences. With more than 12,500 students and a diverse research portfolio, MATE plays a key role in driving sustainability and innovation in the region’s agri-food systems and rural development. Guided by its long-term strategy, MATE2030, the University is committed to advancing the green transition in Hungary and beyond. This ambition is realized through flagship initiatives built around the central theme of resilience—from agriculture and technological innovation to ecological systems and social resilience. Through its initiatives, MATE seeks to connect science, practice, and education, while building a foundation for long-term international collaboration. 

About Bonafarm

Bonafarm Introduction

Bonafarm Group is one of the leading players in the agricultural and food industry in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. The Group operates a vertically integrated production system across four major food segments: pork, poultry, dairy, and wine. More than 8,000 dedicated professionals work together to ensure that Bonafarm’s fresh food products represent the highest possible quality.

Bonafarm Agriculture operates crop production on over 31,000 hectares of land, supplying the Group’s livestock operations with self-produced feed. Annually, Bonafarm produces more than 650,000 pigs, and maintains a dairy herd of over 6,400 cows. All live animals and raw milk are processed within Bonafarm’s own food processing facilities. Through well-established historic brands such as PICK and Herz, as well as modern brands like Mizo Valdor, and Teleki. Bonafarm’s high-quality food products are available not only in Hungary but in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Challenge Rules & Guidelines

Challenge Rules

Last modified: 16. February 2026

Preliminary Rules

To ensure a fair, focused, and high-quality competition, all participants are expected to follow the rules below.

1. Eligibility

  • The competition is open to international student teams enrolled in BSc, MSc, or PhD programmes at the time of application.
  • A team must not fully consist of PhD students!
  • Teams should come from relevant academic fields connected to agrifood systems, sustainability, engineering, natural sciences, economics, social sciences, or related areas.
  • Each participant may be a member of only one team.

2. Team Composition

  • Teams must consist of 3 students.
  • Each team must be accompanied by one mentor, who supports the team throughout the competition. 
  • During the on-site final, additional mentors provided by the organizers will be available for consultations and feedback.
  • Mentors may advise and guide the team but may not create, edit, or submit competition materials on behalf of the students.
  • Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged, but not mandatory.
  • One team leader must be designated during registration for official communication.

3. Registration

  • All teams must register through the official online platform by the 8th of March
  • Late or incomplete submissions will not be evaluated.
  • Registration happens via this form and the Case Brief is automatically available for donwload once the form is submitted

4. Case Submission (Pre-selection Round)

  • Teams must submit a short document outlining their proposed solution to the announced case challenge. Exact details about the case & the formatting of the document will be provided in the Case Brief, which is downloadable upon registration
  • If a team isn't able to download the Case Brief during registration, please contact the organizers: casecompetition@uni-mate.hu
  • All teams must submit their case work by the 8th of March via the submission form
  • The solution must be original work created by the team specifically for this competition.
  • The use of AI tools, data sources, and external references is allowed, but must be transparent and ethical.

5. Interview Round (2nd round)

  • The 2nd round Case Brief will become available for download upon submission of the 1st round materials
  • The top 24 teams will advance from pre-selection round and will be invited to present their solution online to a Jury
  • The top 24 teams will be notified on the 11th of March
  • Teams must book a slot to present their case in front of an expert jury panel appointed by MATE, with the involvement of Bonafarm
  • Interviews will be held online between the 23-25th of March. Presentations must be submitted by the 22nd. It is not possible to make amendments to the presentation after that deadline.
  • Teams who do not participate in the Interview Round will not be invited to participate in the in-person round

6. Selection of Finalists

  • Detailed evaluation criteria are published in the 2nd round Case Brief.
  • 12 teams will be selected to advance to the on-site final.

7. On-site Final Participation

  • Finalist teams are required to participate in person at the MATE campus in Gödöllő on the announced dates.
  • During the final, teams will work intensively on the case, supported by mentors and experts.
  • Teams must deliver a final presentation according to the provided guidelines and deadlines.

8. Travel arrangements

  • The organizers are able to book transport from the team's university to MATE and back, with standard size luggage (flights, train or bus, whichever is determined to be most reasonable by our travel team)
  • Travel documents must be submitted in a timely manner to the organizing team who will book travel. We are not able to reimburse self-booked trips.
  • The organizers will book accommodation (most likely in University dorms) and order food during the event itself, as well as the costs of any entertainment that is provided as part of the event
  • Any additional luggage, shopping, travel, food, sightseeing, etc. need to be covered by the team.

9. Language

  • The official language of the competition is English.
  • All submissions, presentations, and communication must be in English.

10. Code of Conduct

  • Participants are expected to behave professionally and respectfully toward fellow teams, mentors, jury members, and organizers.
  • Any form of plagiarism, misrepresentation, or unethical conduct may result in immediate disqualification.

11. Intellectual Property

  • The organizers (MATE & Bonafarm Group) gain a non-exclusive right to utilize or build upon the ideas developed in the case competition for commercial, teaching and demonstration purposes

12. Final Decisions

  • Decisions of the jury and organizers are final and binding.
  • The organizers reserve the right to modify minor details of the competition format if necessary, while preserving fairness and transparency.

13. Contact

If you have any questions, please contact the organizers: casecompetition@uni-mate.hu

14. Data Protection

Please read the University's Data Handling Policy (EN / HUN) on data processing related to the Award.