LONDON – The hunt is on for potentially ground-breaking scientific research into food security which could revolutionise the agricultural industry. Entries are now open for the second global Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security (Olam Prize) with 50,000 of funding for the winner.
First launched by leading global agri-business Olam International with respected scientific partner, Agropolis Fondation, in 2014, the Olam Prize recognises an innovative scientific research project for its potential impact on the availability, affordability, accessibility and adequacy of food.
The winning research project for the 2016/2017 edition will receive US$50,000 unrestricted funding to support its further development. The laureates may also have the opportunity to work with Olam to develop the practical application of their innovation with the company’s expertise in agricultural supply chains spanning 47 products in 70 countries.
Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder and Group CEO at Olam, commented: “Despite being a global agri-business, we do not have all the answers as to how we are going to feed more than 1 billion extra people by 2030. But there are research teams across the world who are uncovering new insights and techniques every day. Through this prize we hope to support and scale-up a breakthrough innovation that will ultimately prevent people going to bed hungry without depleting our natural resources.”
Applications are welcomed from research projects in nutrition science, plant science, soil science, agricultural sciences or other field of scientific research impacting food security.
Academic or research institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector can submit research based anywhere in the world, focused on innovation for food security in developed and/or developing countries and any part of the agricultural supply chain.
The Olam Prize will be judged by an independent jury of 12 experts and awarded in conjunction with the Agropolis Louis Malassis International Scientific Prizes for Agriculture and Food. Click here for more details on eligibility and how to apply. The deadline for applications submission is 23:59 CET (France) 25 January 2017.
Olam Prize 2014/5 laureate launches international research network thanks to win
Winner of the inaugural Olam International Prize for Innovation in Food Security in 2015, SRI International Network and Resources Center (SRI-Rice) was rewarded for its work on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a game-changing innovation that enhances productivity of rice paddy, water conservation, livelihoods, soil health, and crop resilience to climate stress.
With proceeds from the Olam Prize, SRI-Rice has been further developing an international network that connects researchers in 45 countries to share learning, access research papers, and collaborate across borders.
The spread and utilisation of SRI ideas has been extended to 18 to 20 million farmers on about 6 million hectares worldwide. Yield improvements average 1 to 2 tons/ha, using less water, having lower costs, and with more resilience to climate stresses.
Pascal Kosuth, Director of Agropolis Fondation and member of the Jury of both the Olam Prize and Louis Malassis International Scientific Prizes for Agriculture and Food said: “SRI is a great example of an innovation taken up at the grassroots-level achieving scale.
“Awarding the Olam Prize to the SRI effort is a fitting tribute to an initiative that is having an impact on the quality and quantity of this staple food crop grown by small-scale farmers around the world. Now the search begins for the next crop of scientists doing ground-breaking research in this field and who could be deserving of the Prize.”
The Olam Prize is one of 4 initiatives launched for Olam’s 25th anniversary in 2014, which also include a scholarship programme, a foundation and the Building Sustainable Futures Forum, which was held on September 15 2016. A focal point of the Forum, was the launch of the Global Agri-business Alliance (GAA) in which leading agri-businesses have come together to collectively tackle environmental and social issues, with a particular focus on SDG 2: “End hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture”.
About Olam International Limited
Olam International is a leading agri-business operating across the value chain in 70 countries, supplying various products across 16 platforms to over 16,200 customers worldwide. From a direct sourcing and processing presence in most major producing countries, Olam has built a global leadership position in many of its businesses.
Headquartered in Singapore and listed on the SGX-ST on February 11, 2005, Olam currently ranks among the top 50 largest listed companies in Singapore in terms of market capitalisation and is a component stock in the S&P Agribusiness Index and the DAXglobal Agribusiness Index. In 2016 Fortune recognised Olam at #23 in its ‘Change the World’ list.
More information on Olam can be found at www.olamgroup.com.
Olam is located at 9 Temasek Boulevard #11-02 Suntec Tower Two Singapore 038989
Telephone: +65 63394100, Facsimile: +65 63399755.
About Agropolis Fondation
Agropolis Fondation is a French scientific foundation established in 2007 to promote and support high-level research and higher education as well as to broaden international research partnerships in agricultural sciences and sustainable development research.
It supports a research network with scientists working on all aspects of the plant and addressing issues concerning cultivated plants of tomorrow to face increasing demand for plants and plant by-products for food and non-food uses; agro-ecological transition through the development of related knowledge, methods and tools; integrated approaches of the quality of agricultural and food products; sustainability of agricultural and food systems; and interaction between climate change and crops.
Contact
Oliver OLIVEROS (oliveros@agropolis.fr)
Senior Officer, Partnerships and international relations
1000, avenue Agropolis
34394 Montpellier Cedex 5 – France
Tel : 33(0)4 67 04 75 74
Fax : 33(0)4 67 04 75 43
Web : www.agropolis-fondation.fr
