Winners, Finalists Announced for $1 Million Global Food System Challenge

CHICAGO — The Seeding the Future Foundation and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) announced the Seed Grant winners, Growth Grant finalists and Seeding the Future grand prize finalists for the Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge.

This year’s Seed Grant winners have created innovations in the ag/food space that address food issues such as crop protection and productivity, dairy safety, sustainable agriculture, farmlands restoration, post-harvest loss reduction and combating malnutrition for children.

Seed Grants are awarded to applicants who are growing high-potential, innovative ideas and have developed a prototype and/or initial proof of concept demonstrating feasibility. Each of the eight Seed Grant winners will receive $25,000.

“We believe that big ideas at an early stage deserve to be recognized, promoted and supported to reach their full impact potential when scaled,” said Bernhard van Lengerich, founder of the Seeding the Future Foundation. “In this context, this year’s Seed Grant winners exemplify the power of entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity to transform food systems in making them more climate resilient, leading to food that is safer and more nutritious and affordable, ultimately benefiting people and the planet. Congratulations to the winners, as well as all 2025 Challenge applicants who are working relentlessly to change food systems around the world.”

Here are the Seed Grant winners:

• Alpha Omega Foundation: Ultrasonic Locus Repellent: A Sustainable Solution for Crop Protection and Food Security in Africa (Cameroon). Alpha Omega’s repellent helps farmers protect crops from locusts without chemical pesticides. Powered by solar energy, this technology offers a sustainable, cost-effective approach for small-scale farmers in Africa. 
• Baobaby: Improve Climate-Resilient Supply Chains for Indigenous Baby Food to Combat Malnutrition and Empower Female Farmers (Togo). Baobaby uses local indigenous crops — such as millet, sorghum and baobob — instead of more expensive milk-based solutions for its infant formula. In addition, they train and support local women farmers in climate-smart agricultural practices.
  
• BIO PLANET TMC Ltd.: Production and Distribution of Quality and Pest Control Organic Fertilizer for Farmlands Restoration and Increased Yields (Benin). BIO PLANET collects and responsibly processes organic waste while also producing high-quality organic fertilizer. The fertilizer is provided to indigenous small-scale famers across West Africa, increasing farmers’ crop yields and incomes.
  
• MAMLO FOODS, Ltd.: Scaling MAMLO FOODS Micro-Factory Model to Empower Women Smallholder Farmers and Transform Peanut Processing (Kenya). MAMLO FOODS’ Micro-Factory — located in Amagoro, western Kenya — localizes peanut processing, reducing post-harvest losses. The project equips 500 women farmers with advanced training in farming techniques and post-harvest handling.
  
• National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) – National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI): Enhancing Household Nutrition Through Adoption of Climate Resilient Greengram and Sorghum Varieties and Biodynamic Manures (Uganda). NaSARRI’s proposed project aims to validate and promote climate-resilient greengram and sorghum varieties that are nutrient dense and promote locally produced biodynamic manures. This approach will enhance crop productivity and address food insecurity in Uganda.
  
• Safi International Technologies: Building Capacity for a Safe and Transparent Dairy Supply Chain in the Rwandan Eastern Province (Canada). Safi’s pasteurization control unit targets small-scale dairy farmers and vendors. This affordable, solar-powered device kills milk-borne diseases while retaining the key nutrients of milk.
  
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Empowering Rural Communities of Namibia through Introducing Sustainable Kalahari Melon Oil Processing Methodology (United States). Current oil extraction methods for the Kalahari melon — a drought-resistant crop — are labor-intensive, environmentally unsustainable and economically restrictive, particularly for women cultivators. This project introduces cold-press technology for increased oil extraction and minimizes the environmental impact of traditional thermal technology in southern Africa.
  
• Vexxel: Smart Biocapsules for Sustainable Agriculture: Reducing Agrochemical Use and Enhancing Food Safety Globally (United States). Vexxel’s smart, protein-based biodegradable and non-toxic biocapsules provide an alternative to biochemicals. Advanced biosensors take a targeted approach: they detect pathogens and release active compounds as needed.

The Seeding the Future Grand Prize finalists and Growth Grant finalists have also been revealed, with winners set to be announced in June. Up to two Seeding the Future Grand Prize winners will earn $250,000 each, while up to three Growth Grant winners will receive $100,000 each.

Here are the Growth Grant finalists:

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Institute – Savanah Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI): Developing an NIR Tool for Rapid Screening of Aflatoxin-Resistant Groundnuts to Combat Aflatoxin Contamination (Ghana).
• Munakyalo Agrofresh: Reducing Post-harvest Losses with Solar-Powered IoT Cooling Hubs and Sustainable Preservation Technologies (Uganda).
• Smartel: Transforming Food Security with IoT-Smart Hydroponic Systems for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agriculture (Rwanda).
• SOS: Sea-Land Symbiosis (Dominican Republic).
• Toothpick Company Ltd.: Breakthrough Bioherbicide Technology Improves Food and Economic Security for Small-scale Farmers (Kenya).
• Yayasan Kopernik: PANGAN Program: Revitalizing Indigenous Farming and Building a Sustainable Food System for a Climate-resilient Bioeconomy and Community (Indonesia).

Here are the Seeding the Future Grand Prize finalists:

• ABALOBI: ICTs, Market Access and Food Security for Small-scale Fisheries (South Africa).
• Agro Supply: How to Produce Aflatoxin-Free Maize and Fortified Maize Flour to Ugandan Consumers (Uganda).
• Oorja Development Solutions India Private Limited: Scaling Climate-Smart Farming Solutions: Bundling Pay-Per-Use Irrigation with Sustainable Advisory Services for Smallholders (India).
• Savory Institute: KENYA MARA Regenerating Traditional Foods, Lands & Livelihoods through Maasai Conservancies (United States).

To learn more about the Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge, visit www.ift.org/food-system-challenge.