Transformative Research Challenge 2025: Apply Now to Secure Funding and Global Exposure for Your Agrifood Innovation

Applications at the moment are open for the Transformative Research Challenge (TRC) 2025, a worldwide initiative by the World Food Forum (WFF). This problem empowers younger researchers to suggest modern, research-based options to enhance international agrifood methods. Finalists will obtain up to $10,000 in funding, mentorship from main specialists, capacity-building alternatives, and the possibility to current their tasks on the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

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1. What Is the Transformative Research Challenge?

The Transformative Research Challenge is a youth-focused analysis competitors that bridges the hole between early-stage innovation and real-world influence. Launched in 2021 by the World Food Forum’s Youth Innovation Lab in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and different international companions, the TRC identifies and helps daring, science-based concepts that may remodel meals methods.

Over the previous 4 years, the TRC has:

• Received greater than 2,000 functions from world wide

• Partnered with 18 international organizations, together with Wageningen University and Research (WUR), CGIAR, IFAD, and EIT Food

• Provided over $500,000 in grants and in-kind assist

• Supported 71 youth-led analysis tasks throughout key themes in meals, water, gender, aquaculture, and forestry

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2. How the Challenge Works

The TRC is structured in 4 phases to assist contributors transfer from an thought to a completely developed analysis venture:

Phase 1: Application Submission
Teams submit a two-page idea word detailing their analysis thought aligned with one in all 4 prize classes.

Phase 2: Expert Review & Semi-Finalist Selection
A panel of scientific and technical specialists evaluates submissions and selects semi-finalists based mostly on originality, relevance, feasibility, and potential influence.

Phase 3: Capacity Building & Proposal Development
Semi-finalist groups enter a four-week growth section that features masterclasses, mentorship classes, and proposal refinement. These trainings are designed to strengthen analysis design, communication expertise, and implementation plans.

Phase 4: Final Presentation in Rome
Finalists are chosen and invited to pitch their refined proposals on the WFF Flagship Event, held in October 2025 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. Projects are offered in entrance of a high-level jury and streamed reside globally by way of platforms like UN Web TV.

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3. What You Will Gain as a Participant

Participants within the TRC acquire helpful expertise, assist, and worldwide recognition, together with:

• Research Funding: Up to $10,000 per profitable workforce to assist implementation of the proposed venture. One general winner will obtain an extra $10,000.

• Global Visibility: Finalists are featured on WFF’s official web site and social media channels, reaching a various international viewers of stakeholders and establishments.

• Capacity Development: All semi-finalists obtain skilled steering by way of mentoring classes and specialised coaching to enhance their analysis proposals.

• Networking Opportunities: Engage with a broad neighborhood of agrifood specialists, policymakers, traders, and United Nations representatives.

• Invitation to Rome: Finalists current their analysis reside on the FAO headquarters, gaining publicity and credibility.

• Post-Award Support: Winners are invited to apply to the WFF Youth Food Lab incubator, gaining continued technical and entrepreneurial assist to scale their concepts.

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4. TRC 2025 Prize Categories

Applicants should select one in all 4 themed classes for their submission. Each prize addresses a key problem in meals methods and is co-hosted by international skilled organizations.

Gender Mainstreaming within the Eradication of PPR
Hosted in collaboration with the FAO PPR-GEP Secretariat, this prize helps gender-responsive analysis to fight Peste des Petits Ruminants, a contagious livestock illness that impacts hundreds of thousands of livelihoods, notably for girls in small ruminant farming.
Focus: Livestock well being, gender fairness, neighborhood resilience

Integrated Water Management for Food Security
Hosted by the FAO Land and Water Division and the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, this class seeks scalable options to water shortage that strengthen farming and fishing communities.
Focus: Water governance, local weather adaptation, sustainable agriculture

Sustainable Aquaculture
Co-hosted by Shanghai Ocean University and the FAO Fisheries Division, this class helps improvements in aquaculture that improve productiveness with out compromising biodiversity or neighborhood well-being.
Focus: Aquatic ecosystems, meals safety, environmental stability

Forestry Innovation
In partnership with the FAO Forestry Division, this prize rewards science-based concepts to enhance forest conservation, cut back deforestation, and promote sustainable forest product worth chains.
Focus: Climate resilience, forest governance, ecosystem restoration

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5. Eligibility Criteria

Educational Background
All candidates should maintain at the least a bachelor’s diploma in a area associated to agrifood methods. Relevant disciplines embrace:

Team Composition and Age Requirements

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6. How to Apply

To enter the TRC 2025:

1. Form a workforce of three–5 eligible members.

2. Select one of many 4 prize classes.

3. Prepare a two-page idea word outlining your analysis thought.

4. Submit your application by 9 May 2025 at 24:00 (PDT).

For the complete Terms and Conditions and to apply, go to World Food Forum Website.

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The Transformative Research Challenge is your alternative to flip daring concepts into real-world options. Gain worldwide publicity, safe funding, and be part of a worldwide community of younger researchers reworking the way forward for meals methods.

For extra alternatives, go to Opportunities for Youth web site.

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