The WFF Transformative Research Challenge (TRC) is a global competition that empowers teams of young researchers to advance applied research toward real-world agrifood solutions. The TRC is designed for projects that have already demonstrated an initial proof of concept, through lab tests, controlled experiments or small-scale validation and that are looking to further strengthen evidence, refine their solution and prepare for real-world piloting.
Semi-finalist teams receive scientific mentorship, practical masterclasses and expert feedback to help move their work from “it works” to “it is ready to pilot”. Teams are supported to produce a Research-to-Impact proposal that documents their progress and outlines a realistic pathway toward piloting through the Youth Food Lab (YFL) or other innovation pathways.
Finalists are given the unique opportunity to pitch their research during the WFF flagship event in October 2026 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Over the years, the TRC has collaborated with 24 leading organizations, including Wageningen University and Research (WUR), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), EIT Food and CGIAR, to offer over 25 unique prizes. Selecting from over 3 600 submissions globally, the TRC has awarded more than USD 650 000 in grants, funding 80+ groundbreaking projects.
The TRC focuses on the validation and readiness stage of innovation, supporting youth-led teams to:
Your project is a good fit if it is:
Projects that may not make the cut:
Young researchers submit a two-page concept note, outlining an initial innovative research idea for one of the four prize categories.
Applications are reviewed by expert evaluators to select the most innovative and cutting-edge research ideas as semi-finalists.
Semi-finalist teams participate in a month-long capacity development programme including masterclasses and mentorship provided by TRC knowledge partners. During this stage, semi-finalists refine their ideas into detailed research proposals.
After a second round of evaluation, finalist teams are selected. Successful teams are invited to pitch their final research projects at the TRC finals at the WFF flagship event in October.
2026
Winning teams receive up to USD 10 000 to further validate and refine their prototype. One overall winner across the four TRC prize categories will receive an additional USD 10 000.
Teams receive targeted support from experts to strengthen evidence, feasibility and readiness for piloting.
Finalist teams are featured across WFF Youth Initiative social media platforms and website, showcasing their work to a global audience of experts and partners.
Participants join a global community of young innovators, researchers and agrifood professionals.
Finalist teams present their Research-to-Impact dossiers and prototypes at the TRC Finals in October during the World Food Forum flagship event at FAO headquarters in Rome, with live global streaming.
TRC finalists are invited to apply to the WFF Youth Food Lab supporting the transition from validation to field piloting and scaling.
(Co-hosted by Tilburg University’s Zero Hunger Lab)
Food insecurity remains one of the world’s most pressing challenges. While established systems such as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) provide robust, consensus-based assessments, advances in artificial intelligence and alternative public data offer new opportunities to strengthen early warning and decision support.
The Leveraging Public Data to Fight Hunger Prize recognizes youth-led solutions, that leverage alternative public data to complement existing food security assessment frameworks. The prize promotes scalable approaches that responsibly integrate AI to strengthen early warning and humanitarian response, with particular emphasis on solutions that enhance rather than replace expert-driven systems.
The prize supports the next generation of researchers working at the intersection of data science, AI and food security.
(Co-hosted by the FAO Forestry Division (NFO) and the Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM))
Land degradation and deforestation continue to threaten ecosystems, livelihoods and food security worldwide. While research has advanced restoration knowledge, challenges remain in translating it into practical, context-responsive solutions.
The Youth-led Research for Forest Restoration Prize supports, applied solutions that address real-world restoration challenges. It promotes innovative and scalable approaches that strengthen implementation, enhance livelihoods and build climate resilience, with a focus on turning research into impact.
(Co-hosted by the FAO Forestry Division and the Forest Monitoring and Data Platforms Team)
Forests are vital to the sustainability of the world’s food and water systems – protecting watersheds, soil, biodiversity and climate resilience. Yet deforestation and land degradation continue to threaten these benefits. Hitting hardest in communities that depend heavily on forests and agriculture for their livelihoods.
The Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize recognizes youth-led solutions that use digital technologies, data and participatory approaches to strengthen forest monitoring and decision-making. The prize promotes solutions that address real-world monitoring challenges, including improving data availability and quality, enabling timely and actionable insights, and supporting the integration of community-based knowledge into monitoring systems.
(Co-hosted by the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein and the Good Food Institute)
Diversifying protein sources is critical to improving food security, build resilience and reduce pressure on land and natural resources. While innovation in protein production continues to grow, it still focuses on a few major crops, many native and underutilized crops hold strong potential for nutrition, climate adaptation and locally grounded agrifood systems – but they remain underexplored.
The Unlocking Native Crops for Innovation in Protein Diversification Prize recognizes applied, innovative solutions that advance the use of native crops for protein-rich food production. It promotes practical and scalable approaches that improve yield, protein content, processing and ingredient functionality, while supporting integration into local agrifood systems and reducing reliance on imported inputs.
(Co-hosted by Nanjing Agricultural University and FAO Animal Production and Health Division - One Health and Disease Control Branch)
Rural communities are at the forefront of interconnected challenges affecting human, animal, plant, soil and environmental health. Climate change, emerging diseases, biodiversity loss, land degradation and unsustainable agricultural practices are placing increasing pressure on agrifood systems and rural livelihoods, particularly in regions that rely heavily on agriculture and livestock. While the One Health approach is widely recognized as essential to address these challenges, its implementation remains fragmented, with limited adoption at the community level.
The Innovations for One Health–Driven Rural Transformation Prize recognizes applied, solution-oriented approaches that translate One Health principles into practical, community-level solutions. The prize promotes scalable and inclusive innovations that integrate human, animal and environmental health, with a focus on strengthening rural systems and livelihoods and addressing real-world challenges such as disease risks, antimicrobial resistance and environmental degradation.
Watch the TRC finals in:
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-2023-winners.tmb-th600x400.jpg?sfvrsn=3e5d4076_3 "Meet our Transformative Research Challenge (TRC) 2023 winners")