IFT global food system challenge to grant innovators US$1M to tackle global hunger

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), based in Chicago, Illinois, US, will address issues related to nutrition security through its new Seeding The Future Global Food System Innovation Library and Network as part of its annual challenge of the same name. 

IFT’s Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge will award US$1 million annually to scientists, engineers, innovators and multidisciplinary teams. Research institutions, emerging for-profit enterprises and non-profits are encouraged to join and address the challenges of the global food system.

“Science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship are key pillars to transform food systems on a global level, and the need for climate-positive and human-centered food solutions becomes more urgent every year,” says Seeding The Future Foundation founder Bernhard van Lengerich. 

“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. 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.” 

IFT’s CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean adds: “For 85 years, IFT has been proud to support the advancement of food through science, technology and innovation.”

“Our diverse and passionate community, represented by more than 100,000 professionals in the food sciences, is 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.” 

Food system transformation

Since its launch three years ago, the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge, hosted by IFT and initiated and funded by the Seeding The Future Foundation, has received over 2,400 submissions.

Challenge winners will receive three levels of awards. There will be a total of two Grand Prize winners, each of whom will receive US$250,000. Up to three Growth Grant winners will receive US$100,000 and up to eight Seed Grant winners will be granted US$25,000. 

IFT’s new database features challenge applicants and their innovations.IFT will select the winners based on how “doable” their proposal is, its economic feasibility at scale and the potential to better “the lives and health of people and the environment.”

Applications for the fourth annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge open on November 1, 2024, and close on January 6, 2025. 

Innovation library and network 

This year, for the first time, participants who are able to pass the first phases of the review process can earn a spot in the Seeding The Future Global Food System Innovation Library and Network.

The new network is a “peer-reviewed, dynamic, interactive and searchable database” of challenge applicants and their innovations. The database that is currently being developed, will enable AI-assisted searches to find innovations or organizations focused on diverse nutrition security-related issues.

These include issues related to food and agriculture, sustainable development goals and planetary health factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, water, land use and biodiversity. Field of application issues such as post-harvest loss reduction, school feeding programs or biofortification will also be considered. 

The network will facilitate “solution seekers” to connect with “solution providers,” collaborate and accelerate innovation. Each entry will include the organization’s name, type, website, project title, executive summary, a description of the innovation, benefits and projected impact.

The database will be available to global organizations such as the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme, and Welthungerhilfe and organizations with investment interests such as venture capital or private equity firms. 

Other private or public non-profit organizations aiming to support and accelerate the meeting of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are also part of the network’s target audience.