The Seeding The Future Foundation and Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) have announced the fourth year of the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge, which awards USD $1 million every year to innovations that will help transform food systems globally.
Since its inception, the challenge has attracted over 2400 submissions, from scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams across non-governmental organisations (NGOs), non-profits, social enterprises, universities, research institutions, and small and emerging for-profit enterprises.
Hosted by the IFT and funded by the Seeding The Future Foundation, the challenge provides three levels of awards:
- Up to two Grand Prize winners (each receiving USD $250,000)
- Up to three Growth Grant winners (each receiving USD $100,000)
- Up to eight Seed Grant winners (each receiving USD $25,000)
Winners are selected based on their food system innovations being doable, having projected economic feasibility at scale and high-impact potential to improve the lives and health of people and the environment.
Seeding The Future Foundation founder, Bernhard van Lengerich, said science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship are key pillars to transform food systems on a global level and the need for climate-positive and human-centred food solutions becomes more urgent every year.
“The purpose of the Challenge is to inspire and reward teams of innovators who are creating impactful ideas that address key issues facing food systems globally,” said van Lengerich.
“Solutions with the highest likelihood to win are those that focus on the intersection of safe and nutritious food, sustainable practices, and equitable access to food that is affordable, attractive and trusted.”
For the first time in this coming challenge round, applicants who pass the first phases of the review process can earn a spot in the Seeding The Future Global Food System Innovation Library and Network, a peer reviewed, searchable database of Challenge applicants and their innovations.
The database, which is currently in development, will enable AI-assisted searches to find innovations or organisations that focus on specific food and agriculture issues; sustainable development goals; planetary health factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, water, land use or biodiversity; as well as field of application such as post-harvest loss reduction, school feeding programs, or biofortification.
There is also a special feature where solution seekers can connect with solution providers to collaborate and accelerate their innovation. Each entry includes organisation name, type, website, project title, executive summary, a description of the innovation and its benefits, and projected impact.
The database will be available to leading global organisations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Welthungerhilfe and organisations with investment interest such as venture capital or private equity firms, as well as other private or public nonprofit organisations for further support and to accelerate reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
IFT CEO, Christie Tarantino-Dean, said the organisation has been proud to support the advancement of food through science, technology, and innovation for 85 years.
“Our diverse and passionate community, represented by more than 100,000 professionals in the food sciences, are helping improve food nutrition, security, and sustainability every day, and we are proud to once again support the Challenge as it helps inspire the next generation of food innovators to do the same,” she said.
Applications for the fourth annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge open on 1 November 2024, and close on 6 January 2025. More information about the application process is available online at ift.org.
