The Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition’s YES! competition is for PhD and post doc researchers who are looking to improve the sustainability of our food system. A 20,000 EUR research grant for one year is up for grabs.
The Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition (BCFN) Foundation seeks to support learning and research that can help improve our food system by ”reducing hunger, fighting food waste, and promoting healthy lifestyles and sustainable agriculture”.
Their BCFN YES! (Young Earth Solutions) Research Grant Competition is particularly designed to engage young people and young thinking into solving such challenges. The competition seeks to reward promising research projects which concretely promote a more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable agri-food system – one which also prioritises public health.
Research projects may focus on ‘Sustainable and healthy diets’, ‘Urban food systems and policies’, ‘Resilient agriculture, land use change and agroecology’, ‘The nexus between climate change, energy and food’, or ‘Youth and women’s involvement in agriculture‘, to mention a few of the research areas of particular interest to the foundation. Check out their website for the full list of different research fields.
A jury panel of six experts operating within the fields of nutrition, agriculture, ecology, rural development and bio-science will evaluate projects on the basis of their innovative thinking and potential for global impact.
Last year’s BCFN YES! grant went to the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, for their climate adaptation research and knowledge transfer project aimed at reducing the drought vulnerability of small-farmers in Jamaica.
Who can apply and when is the deadline?
Young researchers up to the age of 35 years (by the end of 2017) who have either completed, or are working on their PhD – with an enrollment date starting from 1st January 2011.
Individual researchers as well as multidisciplinary and cross-national research teams of up to three people are encouraged to apply.
A maximum of three research projects may each scoop up this year’s generous 20,000 EUR research grant. Applications should be submitted online by 28th June 2017.
And here’s a video with a few highlights from last year’s competition.
