Danone Institute North America launches grant program for sustainable food systems
The not-for-profit will award up to $90,000 in grants to support community-based and academic-driven projects.
Danone Institute North America, a not-for-profit established by Danone North America, based in White Plains, N.Y., and Broomfield, Colo., announced the launch of its new “One Planet. One Health” initiative. Transdisciplinary teams from across the United States and Canada are encouraged to apply for the new grant program in which four teams will be challenged to design, implement and evaluate actionable community-based projects for sustainable food systems.
Danone North America said it is on a mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible and a global vision of One Planet. One Health. This vision reflects Danone North America's belief that the health of people and the health of the planet are inseparable. As a reflection of this vision, the goal of the Danone Institute North America's One Planet. One Health initiative is to foster transdisciplinary community-based work to promote sustainable food systems.
In the program's first year, Danone Institute North America will award $90,000 to the four selected teams to implement their projects and amplify their messages to a broader audience. This grant will provide seed funding for projects such as pilot studies, feasibility testing, needs assessments and planning grants, Danone North America said.
"As one of the largest food and beverage companies in the U.S., it's our responsibility to find new, more sustainable ways of working and empower future innovators to do the same," said Miguel Freitas, Ph.D., vice president, scientific affairs for Danone North America. "We have a long legacy of supporting education and research programs and are excited to bring together a new generation of thought leaders to help us create food systems solutions that benefit the public, as well as our vision of building a healthier world through food."
The four chosen teams will also attend a four-day program in Boulder, Colo., that will include training on sustainable food systems from experts in sustainability, implementation science, communication, nutrition and economics, as well as presentations and panels involving community leaders such as farmers, retailers, corner store owners, WIC leaders and other stakeholders in the sustainability food ecosystem.
"A transdisciplinary approach is critical to building sustainable foods systems, and that's why the One Planet. One Health. initiative was designed to forge relationships between diverse practices and fields of study," said Leslie Lytle, president of Danone Institute North America and professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. "The program will bring together seasoned experts and budding innovators to uncover new solutions through an immersive experience that starts with the proposal development. We encourage all scholars and practitioners who share in our vision to create a healthier world through food to join us by submitting a project idea that helps bring this vision to life."
The call for entries opened on April 22, 2019, and will remain open through June 1, 2019. For more information, visit www.danoneinstituteNA.org.
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