Donor: Institute of Food Technologists and Seeding The Future Foundation

About: Annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge:
The Annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge is an initiative hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and funded by the Seeding The Future Foundation. The challenge aims to support innovations that have the potential for a significant impact on the food system, benefiting one or more of the following intersecting domains:
– Nutritious food for a healthy diet
– Sustainably produced food
– Accessible, appealing, affordable, and trusted by consumers

Purpose: To inspire and support innovative, diverse, and multidisciplinary teams to create game-changing innovations that will help transform the food system.
– Scope: Global food system challenges.

Eligibility:
– Non-profits located in any country
– Academic or research institutions located in any country
– Early-stage or emerging for-profit companies located in any country (excluding countries under U.S. sanctions)
– Individuals are not eligible, but teams of students or researchers may participate as part of an organization’s submission.

Application Process:
– Applications open on November 1.
– Applications close on January 6, 2025.
– Applicants must submit responses to all application questions, a project timeline, and budget, along with documents to verify organizational status and financial standing.

Benefits:
– Seed Grants: $25,000 each for high-potential, innovative ideas with a prototype or initial proof of concept.
– Growth Grants: $100,000 each for initiatives that are economically feasible at scale and have high impact potential.
– Seeding The Future Grand Prizes: $250,000 each for scalable, economically feasible innovations with major impact potential.
– Additional benefits include organizational profile on the IFT website, features in IFT communications, invitations to the IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo, and networking opportunities.

Selection Criteria:
– Innovation and impact on people and the environment.
– Projects must not have a negative effect on food safety, healthfulness, sustainability, or consumer acceptance.
– Theoretical concepts without experiments or practical applications will not be funded.
– Initiatives must be scalable and have significant projected impact.

Focus: Nutritious Food, Sustainable Production, Consumer Trust, Food System Innovation

Region: Global

Eligibility:
– Non-profits located in any country
– Academic or research institutions located in any country
– Early-stage or emerging for-profit companies located in any country (excluding countries under U.S. sanctions)
– Individuals are not eligible, but teams of students or researchers may participate as part of an organization’s submission.

Benefits:
– Seed Grants: $25,000 each
– Growth Grants: $100,000 each
– Seeding The Future Grand Prizes: $250,000 each
– Additional non-financial benefits include organizational profile, features in IFT communications, invitations to events, and networking opportunities.

Terms:
– UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations, addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
– Social Enterprise: An organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in human and environmental well-being, rather than maximizing profits for external shareholders.
– Food System: The interconnected processes and infrastructure involved in the production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal of food.