Washington, DC, USA
April 21, 2020
The coronavirus is creating unprecedented stress for our food system. More than ever, innovative technologies and strategies are needed to make the food system healthier, sustainable and equitable. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and its FoodShot Global partners are launching two new FoodShot Challenges: Precision Protein and Innovating Soil 3.0, Deep Dive to fund strategies and technologies that produce more nutritious food with less environmental strain. FFAR is partnering with the Rockefeller Foundation, the Builders Initiative and the Path Foundation to fund the $500,000 GroundBreaker Prize will be awarded to researchers, early stage entrepreneurs and advocates who are creating FoodShot solutions.
The focus of this year’s FoodShot is Precision Protein, which seeks to develop proteins systematically to build a food system that is precisely attuned to human and planetary health, aligns with global and regional supply and demand, increases accessibility, and decreases waste and environmental damage.
FoodShot Global also announced that it would build on its successful inaugural FoodShot, Innovating Soil 3.0, by launching a “deep dive” to fill key gaps and support innovations with the maximum potential for scale and global impact. Innovating Soil 3.0, Deep Dive, specifically funds scientific advances and technologies related to soil carbon measurement, microbiome functionality and rapid adoption of regenerative practices.
“Spearheading bold agricultural research that advances the global food system is a cornerstone of FFAR’s mission. We are proud to join many innovative partners from across the food and agriculture sector to support innovations in protein and soil health,” said Sally Rockey, FFAR’s executive director. “We share Foodshot Global’s mission to revolutionize the food system from the ground-up.”
First-round applications and nominations for both the Precision Protein and Innovating Soil 3.0, Deep Dive FoodShots are due July 15, 2020. Applicants will be judged on key criteria, including alignment with the FoodShot mission and Challenge focus, global relevance, scalability, and ability to make an accelerated impact for systemic change. For more information, please visit www.foodshot.org.
About FoodShot Global
Headquartered in New York, FoodShot Global is a non-profit investment platform founded by venture capitalist and co-founder of S2G Ventures, Victor Firedberg. FSG brings together a worldwide consortium of mission-aligned venture funds, banks, corporations, universities, and foundations to catalyze the success of global, transformative solutions to critical food and agriculture problems. FoodShot's annual Challenge identifies the most pressing obstacles to creating a healthy, sustainable, and equitable global food system. FoodShot Global Founding Partners include Rabobank, Generation Investment Management, Mars Edge, UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Builders Initiative, Armonia, Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture as well as resource partners The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, Sall Family Foundation, Path Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the Soil Health Institute, and venture partners S2G, ACRE, Activant Capital, ASW Ventures, Grantham Foundation and The Yield Lab.
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization originally established by bipartisan Congressional support in the 2014 Farm Bill, builds unique partnerships to support innovative and actionable science addressing today's food and agriculture challenges. FFAR leverages public and private resources to increase the scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships critical to enhancing sustainable production of nutritious food for a growing global population. The FFAR Board of Directors is chaired by Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum, Ph.D., and includes ex officio representation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation.
Connect: @FoundationFAR | @RockTalking
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