Institute of Food Technologists: Seeding The Future- Global Food System Challenge

The Seeding The Future- Global Food System Challenge seeks game-changing innovations that will help transform the food system to be more sustainable and empower consumers to make choices benefitting both personal and planetary health.

To be eligible for an award, the project must be innovative and lead to new advances that benefit at least one but ideally more than one of the intersecting domains of the Innovation Focus Area;

  • Empower conscious consumer choices.
  • Safe, nutritious food for a healthy diet.
  • Sustainable regenerative practices

Eligible Participants

The following organizations are eligible to compete in the Challenge:

  • Non-profits located in any country
  • Academic or research institutions located in any country
  • Early-stage or emerging U.S. or European based for-profit companies (‘small companies’)

Ineligible Projects

  • Projects that have a negative effect on either the safety or healthfulness of food, the sustainability of the food supply chain or, that are unlikely to be accepted by the end-user or consumer
  • Theoretical concepts or ideas without any experiments or a reduction to practice
  • Individual persons
  • Projects where funds will be used to support large for-profit entities in their commercial activities such as R&D, Innovation, Manufacturing or Sales/Marketing
  • Local, community-based initiatives which are not scalable beyond the initial project scope and limited projected impact over time
  • Projects associated with political campaigns or lobbying
  • Capital campaigns
  • For profit entities with significant financial assets or which passed Series A financing round
 Award Levels

The Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge will provide monetary awards in the form of grants and prizes totaling up to one million US dollars annually. We invite applicants from national or international universities, research institutions, or nonprofit organizations, as well as small or early-stage US or Eurpoean for-profit businesses.

The Challenge will provide three levels of awards to incentivize transformative food system innovations at different stages of their development:

  • Seed Grants ($25,000 each) will be awarded to organizations 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 organizations 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 organizations 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.

Application Materials

To apply for funding, applicants must submit:

  • Responses to all application questions
  • A project timeline and budget

Documents to Verify Your Organizational Status and Financial Standing

U.S. or European based for-profit organizations must submit:

  • Most recent financial statement that includes a budget and revenue (including disclosure of current levels of investment and financial assets)
  • Articles of Incorporation or similar documents
  • Federal Tax ID Number (TIN) or tax status documentation
  • Certificate of good standing, indicating that the business is properly registered with the state or country

U.S. based non-profit organizations must submit:

  • Most recent financial statement (audited financials preferred but not required)
  • Most recent 990
  • IRS letter of determination

Non-profit organizations based outside of the United States must submit:

  • Most recent financial statement (audited financials preferred but not required)
  • Documentation verifying that the applicant organization is currently registered as a non-profit organization (equivalent to a US 501(c)(3) public charity) in its country. Please note that IFT may follow up to request additional documentation to verify the applicant’s non-profit status.

Application Timeline for Each Award

Seed Grant Application

  • Application deadline: August 1, 2022
  • Announcement of award recipients: September 2022

Growth Grants and Seeding The Future Grand Prize Applicants

  • Application deadline: August 1, 2022
  • Finalists announced and finalist interviews held: October 2022
  • Announcement of award recipients: January 2023

Read all details about the challenge and apply here https://www.ift.org/food-system-challenge/faq

To ensure equity and fairness in the review process, applicants must have completed all requested materials and submit them by the deadline indicated above. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

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