The 2017 Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) YES! (Young Earth Solutions) Research Grant Competition seeks groundbreaking research ideas that have a high impact potential for the sustainability of food systems. Emerging experts are encouraged to submit studies that are innovative, have a promise of significant impact, and can meet global research needs. Project submissions can be related to new or ongoing research.
Completed proposals must be submitted online through the BCFN website by June 28, 2017, 11:59 pm CET. Winners receive a 20,000 € (US$21,367) research grant applied to a one-year investigation. This year, BCFN will award a maximum of three teams the Research Grant. All finalists become BCFN Alumni, a global network bringing together people, resources, and experiences where the dialogue on these topics is kept alive.
In 2016, Researchers Shaneica Lester and Anne-Teresa Birthwright’s won the competition with their project that focuses on small farmers’ exploration of various climate-adaptive irrigation strategies in Jamaica. “The BCFNYES research competition made this idea a reality by investing in our project,” said the PhD candidates. “The Barilla Center sees the value young researchers can contribute to the sustainability and health of our food systems.” Other research proposals from 2016 designed to build better food systems are posted on YouTube.
BCFN YES! Research Grants support the work of young scientists who are pursuing or have completed a PhD, enrolled after January 1, 2011. The competition is aimed at PhD and postdoctoral researchers under the age of 35, and participants can be from any background and nationality. The international competition originated in 2012 and is designed for teams that consist of, at most, three components. BCFN encourages multidisciplinary and cross-national teams to combine their expertise in innovative ways. Click here to view potential topic areas and evaluation criteria of the competition.
The BCFN YES! Research Grant Competition hopes to foster collaborative investigations by young scientists in the field of food and nutrition. The sponsoring foundation believes that issues such as the irresponsible use of resources, food waste, and the prevalence of malnutrition need practical interventions. This contest has opened new areas of research to determine solutions for improved food security and sustainable eating. Watch highlights from the 2016 competition here and submit proposals here.
