IFT Seed Grants

_NOTE: The Challenge is intended for initiatives where at least some experiments already have been conducted to develop prototypes or have shown initial proof of concept, demonstrating feasibility. We strongly recommend applicants have made some progress on their concept development to increase their chances of being selected for an award._

Annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge

Hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists and funded by the Seeding The Future Foundation, the Challenge is intended to support innovations that have the potential for significant impact at scale and over time, and benefit at least one or more of the following intersecting domains: nutritious food for a healthy diet; sustainably produced; and accessible, appealing, affordable, and trusted by consumers.

About the Challenge

Advances and discoveries in science and technology and creative new approaches and collaborations across cultures and multiple disciplines, will lead to forward-thinking innovations with the potential for significant food system changes.

The goal of the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge is to inspire and support innovative, diverse, and multidisciplinary teams to create game-changing innovations that will help transform the food system.

Seed Grants

The Challenge will provide three levels of awards to incentivize transformative food system innovations at different stages of their development. Applications can only be submitted at one award level.

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.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• 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 North American or European based for-profit companies ('small companies')
• The Global Food System Challenge is intended to support innovations that benefit at least one of the intersecting domains and that have the potential for significant impact at scale and over time.
  • To be eligible for an award, the project must be innovative, impactful and lead to new advances that benefit at least one but ideally more than one of the intersecting domains of the Innovation Focus Area, shown in the diagram, while not negatively affecting any of the other domains.
  • Innovations that benefit two or more domains and are at an advanced development stage are eligible for the highest award levels.
  • The definition of Innovation in the context of this challenge is: A novel idea, approach, concept or technology that is practicable and leads to a significant beneficial for people or the environment.

Ineligibility

• Individuals are not eligible to apply.
  • Please note, however, that teams of students or researchers may participate as part of their University or Research Institution’s submission.
  • Organizations are encouraged to form teams to compete in the Challenge.
  • If two or more organizations form a team to compete, they should choose one of the organizations to serve as the applicant.
• What the Challenge Won't Fund:
  • 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
  • Initiatives which are not scalable beyond the initial project scope and have 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