Olam launches research award for innovations in food security

Olam International, in partnership with Agropolis Fondation, has launched the fourth biennial Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security, an award seeking ground-breaking scientific research that can deliver transformational impacts within global agriculture. The prize is a $75,000 grant to support development and implementation.

Unlike other research awards, this award requires clear evidence of potential short-term impact on food availability, affordability, adequacy, and accessibility. This year’s award follows the recent warning from the United Nations World Food Program that the COVID-19 pandemic will double the number of people suffering acute hunger by the end of 2020, bringing food security firmly into the world’s spotlight.

“At a time when the world faces a potential rise in food insecurity from the coronavirus crisis, with vulnerable parts of the developing world, particularly in Africa, most at risk, the new scientific insights and techniques being developed by research teams around the world are more significant than ever,” said Sunny Verghese, co-founder and Group CEO at Olam, in a press release. “The Olam Prize aims to support breakthrough innovations so that together we can reimagine agriculture for greater food security.”

Applications, which are due by Jan. 11, 2021, are welcomed from academic or research institutions, civil societies, and the private sector, and can focus on any region, environment, crop, or part of the agricultural supply chain. Applications received before Nov. 30, 2020, will be considered for publicity opportunities on Olam’s corporate channels.

The 2021 Prize will be judged by an independent jury of experts and awarded in conjunction with the Agropolis Louis Malassis International Scientific Prizes for Agriculture and Food and SHIFT Prize by Biovision Foundation.