Olam to Award $50K food prize for coffee research project
The hunt is on for potentially ground-breaking scientific research into food security that could revolutionize the agricultural industry. Entries are now open for the second global Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security with USD $50,000 of funding for the winner.
First launched by leading global agri-business Olam International with respected scientific partner, Agropolis Fondation, in 2014, the Olam Prize recognises an innovative scientific research project for its potential impact on the availability, affordability, accessibility and adequacy of food.
The winning research project for the 2016-17 edition will receive USD $50,000 unrestricted funding to support its further development. The laureates may also have the opportunity to work with Olam to develop the practical application of their innovation with the company’s expertise in agricultural supply chains spanning 47 products in 70 countries.
Sunny Verghese, co-founder and group CEO at Olam, said, “Despite being a global agri-business, we do not have all the answers as to how we are going to feed more than one billion extra people by 2030. But there are research teams across the world who are uncovering new insights and techniques every day. Through this prize we hope to support and scale-up a breakthrough innovation that will ultimately prevent people going to bed hungry without depleting our natural resources.”
Applications are welcomed from research projects in nutrition science, plant science, soil science, agricultural sciences or other field of scientific research impacting food security.
Academic or research institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector can submit research based anywhere in the world, focused on innovation for food security in developed and/or developing countries and any part of the agricultural supply chain.
The Olam Prize will be judged by an independent jury of 12 experts and awarded in conjunction with the Agropolis Louis Malassis International Scientific Prizes for Agriculture and Food. Click here for more details on eligibility and how to apply. The deadline for applications submission is 23:59 CET 25 January 2017.
The Olam Prize is one of four initiatives launched for Olam’s 25th anniversary in 2014, which also includes a scholarship programme, a foundation and the Building Sustainable Futures Forum, which was held on 15 September 2016. A focal point of the Forum, was the launch of the Global Agri-business Alliance (GAA) in which leading agri-businesses have come together to collectively tackle environmental and social issues, with a particular focus on ending hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.