The Institute of Food Technologists, in collaboration with Seeding the Future Foundation, recently celebrated the remarkable achievements of the latest Seed Grant winners in the third annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge. This prestigious event, gathering submissions from over 900 participants across 78 countries, highlights the relentless pursuit of innovative solutions to transform our global food systems.
The Challenge, with a USD $1 million fund, focuses on nurturing high-impact innovations that promote safe, nutritious food, sustainable practices, and equitable food access. This year's eight Seed Grant winners, each receiving USD $25,000, have showcased exceptional projects ranging from sustainable egg production in Albania to pioneering urban food autonomy solutions in Canada.
Canadian company Urban Being Inc’s entry JRDN-URBN: Building Food Autonomy into the City focused on better urban food systems. The company designed an innovative model of turnkey vertical tower farm plots that innovate upon existing commercial hydroponic technology to reconfigure and redesign usage for community and individual use and can be used year-round regardless of climate and weather considerations.
Aquagenius from the Republic of Benin, for instance, has revolutionized small-scale fish farming with an eco-friendly strategy. Meanwhile, the Ndalo Heritage Trust in Kenya is making significant strides in nutrition and climate health through their research on sorghum value-addition.
The challenge also recognizes initiatives like the Safe Environment Hub in Kenya, where Black Soldier Fly farming transforms waste into valuable biofertilizer and protein feed, illustrating a perfect example of a circular economy in action. Similarly, UV4Good from Ukraine is addressing water purification needs with their novel UVC LED-based systems, showcasing the versatility of these projects in addressing diverse global challenges.
The Seeding The Future Foundation, alongside IFT, believes in the power of these innovations to address critical food system challenges globally.