Objective :  

The AGCO Agriculture Foundation has launched the Grant Program to support the next generation of leaders in agriculture, helping them to develop innovative solutions for agri-food systems.

Purpose and Objectives

• The program should aim to support young people to innovate and accelerate their high-impact ideas, solutions, technology innovations and agribusiness startups to deliver sustainable agri-food systems.
• The objectives to be achieved by nonprofits through this grant seek to:
  • Support youth-led and high-impact innovations for sustainable food systems, helping to create new viable opportunities for young farmers and youth startups and support ideas, innovations and solutions that fulfil sustainable agri-food systems ambitions.
  • Address the main challenges faced by youth in agri-food sector and contributes to healthy and sustainable agri-food systems.
  • Facilitate a support system for the community of next-generation agricultural leaders to learn, upskill, invent and scale their agricultural innovations and business enterprises.
  • Create dignified green job opportunities for young people across the agricultural value chains.
  • Revolutionize perception and limited attractiveness of the agri-food systems for young people.

Focus Areas

• Programs must target at least one of these areas:
  • Digital agriculture: The upcoming innovation program will focus on pioneering solutions aimed at transforming the future of agriculture. The goal is to ensure sustainable and healthy food systems while boosting productivity, cutting costs and reducing environmental impact.
  • Climate resilience: The innovation program is expected to promote climate resilience and smart agriculture solutions and practices, helping to ensure sustainability across the food value chains.
  • Capacity development: The innovation program is expected to emphasize on innovative solutions that focus on enhancing next-generation leaders and value chain actors’ skills, knowledge and resources to develop the agri-food systems and strengthen knowledge resources for the agriculture talent pipeline.
  • Market efficiency: The innovation program under this category must focus on agricultural market transformation ideas and technologies that can be game changers in promoting market efficiency for agricultural commodities and strengthening market stability at all levels of the food chain.
  • Energy for food systems: The innovation program is expected to emphasize solutions focusing on renewable energy integration that drives sustainable practices and greener energy solutions in the agri-food systems. Innovation program under the energy for food systems category can cover primary food production, processing, among others.
  • Food innovations: The innovation program is expected to focus on dynamic and innovative solutions that add value or produce high-quality, nutritious and healthy food to meet consumers’ demands, dietary needs and reduce environmental impact.

Targeted Audience 

• The grant application is open to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a clear alignment with the Foundation programs and have a proven track record of implementing projects and programs around agri-food systems and youth ecosystems.
• The nonprofit must submit a grant proposal on implementing a youth-focused program to support the next generation of leaders in agriculture, helping them to develop innovative solutions for agri-food systems. Program implementation must target next-generation leaders within the age bracket of 18- 40 years, including young innovators (including startups), young farmers, youth leaders, small and medium-sized enterprises owned by younger persons.

Project eligibility criteria :   

• The Foundation welcomes grant proposals from nonprofit organizations registered and recognized as charitable, nonprofit, or non-governmental organizations under the law.
• Notably, the Foundation does not award grants to activities or programs to benefit:
  • Individual for profit organizations (hospitals, hospice programs, etc.).
  • Political, faith-based/religious-based, labour or fraternal organizations.
  • Individuals and their personal fundraising efforts. o Groups seeking education, travel or conventions.
  • Sporting leagues, youth or adult sports teams, clubs, golf tournaments or similar one-off events.
  • Sales related, marketing, or customer requested fundraising campaigns.
  • Schools, school districts, individual students, alumni associations, school or parent organizations and activities.
  • Organizations, individuals and their fundraising efforts for conferences, summits and webinars.

Countries concerned :   

• The proposing nonprofit organizations can submit grant proposals to be implemented in any of the countries below: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Zambia.

Application deadline :  

November 29th, 2024, 5:00pm EST

Grant amount :  

The Foundation will provide a maximum of US$400,000 to US$450,000 each for one or more projects selected for this grant cycle to carry out the planned activities. The grant proposal must be designed for a three-year project duration.

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