The 2023 Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge, funded and initiated by the Seeding The Future Foundation and hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists, attracted over 900 submissions from 78 countries. Scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams showcased their groundbreaking innovations addressing critical food system challenges.
Ultimately, 13 winners were awarded a total of $1 million in prize funding: Eight Seed Grant winners ($25,000 each), three Growth Grant winners ($100,000 each), and two Seeding The Future Grand Prize winners ($250,000 each).
“Last year’s winners again demonstrated an incredible level of ingenuity and commitment in addressing the most pressing issues facing food systems globally,” said Bernhard van Lengerich, founder of the Seeding The Future Foundation. “The submissions we’ve received this year have been outstanding, and we are inspired by their novelty and significant impact potential on people’s lives and the environment.”
Applications for the 2024 Challenge opened on November 1, 2024, and close on January 6, 2025. Learn more or submit an application for the Food System Challenge.
New this year, applicants who pass the first phases of the review process or reached at least semifinal level in another food system competition can earn a spot in the Seeding The Future Global Food System Innovation Database and Network. This peer-reviewed, interactive database will showcase innovations to global organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme, as well as philanthropic organizations and the investment community, fostering opportunities for funding and collaboration.
