FULLY FUNDED: Apply For The World Food Forum Transformative Research Challenge 2026

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FULLY FUNDED: Apply For The World Food Forum Transformative Research Challenge 2026

Applications are open for the Transformative Research Challenge (TRC) 2026, an initiative under the World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Innovation Lab, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This global competition is designed to empower young researchers to develop and advance innovative, science-based solutions that can transform agrifood systems worldwide.

The challenge focuses on projects that already have a tested proof of concept and are ready to move toward real-world application. Selected teams receive mentorship, training, and funding to strengthen their research and prepare it for piloting. Finalists also get the opportunity to present their work at a global stage during the World Food Forum flagship event in Rome, Italy.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link to apply

Host Institution

The program is hosted by the World Food Forum under the leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Program Type

Fully Funded

Program Benefits

Participants selected as semi-finalists will receive high-level scientific mentorship, expert guidance, and access to masterclasses designed to refine their research and improve feasibility. This support helps teams transition from initial validation to practical, real-world implementation.

Finalists benefit from global exposure, as they present their research at the World Food Forum flagship event in Rome, gaining visibility among international experts, policymakers, and organizations. Additionally, they become part of a global network of young innovators and researchers working on agrifood solutions.

Winning teams receive research funding of up to USD 10,000, with an additional award for the overall winner. Other benefits include certificates, publication opportunities, and potential pathways into further incubation programs such as the Youth Food Lab.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this opportunity, applicants must be part of a youth-led team aged between 18 and 35 years. The competition is open to individuals from all countries, meaning it is a global opportunity with no country restrictions. Participants are required to work in teams (typically 3–5 members), and each member should have a background in fields related to agrifood systems such as agriculture, environmental science, food science, or sustainable development.

Applicants must demonstrate that their project is research-driven and already tested, even if only in controlled environments such as laboratories or pilot settings. The challenge specifically targets innovations at early validation stages (not just ideas, and not yet fully scaled solutions). Projects must be evidence-based, with clear methodologies and measurable outcomes.

Purely theoretical proposals, advocacy campaigns without technical components, or already commercialized solutions are not eligible for this program.

Eligible Countries

The World Food Forum Transformative Research Challenge 2026 is open globally, meaning applicants from all countries are eligible to apply.

Application Procedure

Click the official link below to apply for this opportunity

Official Link

https://youth.world-food-forum.org/innovation-lab/transformative-research-challenge/en