The Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator, co-funded by Ecolab, St. Paul, Minn., and Cargill, Minneapolis, in partnership with Boulder, Colo.-based Techstars, announced its 2018 accelerator class. For 13 weeks, the participating companies will work to solve real problems across the entire food value chain, from food safety, supply chain management and restaurant efficiencies to the upcycling of food waste, Ecolab said.

The goal of this first-of-its-kind program, to be based in St. Paul, is to help entrepreneurs and startup companies from around the world solve some of the world’s biggest food challenges. The first class of participants includes entrepreneurs from several U.S. states, Canada, Brazil and India, Ecolab said. During the class, the companies will have access to more than 100 mentors, including business leaders and subject matter experts from Ecolab, Cargill and the Techstars entrepreneurial community.

To learn more about the first Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator class, visit the Techstars website.