Applications are open for the annual Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge. Funded by not for profit, Seeding the Future Foundation, and hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), the challenge is aimed at supporting innovations with potential for significant impact at scale and over time. Applications close on 6 January 2025.
Its goal is to "inspire and support innovative, diverse, and multidisciplinary teams to create game-changing innovations that will help transform the food system". Projects must benefit at least one or more of the intersecting domains: nutritious food for a healthy diet; sustainably produced; and accessible, appealing, affordable, and trusted by consumers.
IFT said it was, "calling on all scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), non-profits, social enterprises, universities, research institutions as well as small and emerging for-profit enterprises to submit game-changing innovations that will help transform the food system". Applicants can come from national or international universities, research institutions, or nonprofit organisations. Early-stage for-profit business in North America or the EU can also enter.
The challenge offers US$1 million in prizes and grants across three levels that are targeted to food system innovations at different stages of their development.
Seed Grants ($25,000 each) will be awarded to organisations that are planting and nurturing high-potential, innovative ideas and have developed a prototype and/or initial proof of concept demonstrating feasibility. Innovation must benefit at least one, ideally two domains of the Innovation Focus Area without negatively impacting the others.
Growth Grants ($100,000 each) will be awarded to organisations that have demonstrated that their innovation is doable and have projected both economic feasibility at scale and high-impact potential to transform the food system. The innovation must benefit at least two, ideally three domains with no negative impact on the others.
Seeding The Future Grand Prizes ($250,000 each) will be awarded to organisations that have created innovations that are scalable, economically feasible at scale, trusted, and compelling to consumers, and have demonstrated major impact potential to transform the food system. The innovation must benefit at least two, ideally three domains with no negative impact on the others.
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