The World Food Forum has launched the World Food Forum Transformative Research Challenge (TRC) 2026, a global competition designed to empower young researchers and innovators to turn applied research into practical solutions for agrifood systems.

🌳Youth-led Research for Forest Restoration Prize
(Co-hosted with the FAO Forestry Division – NFO)

🌲Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize
(Co-hosted with the FAO Forestry Division – NFO)

🌿Unlocking Native Crops for Innovation in Protein Diversification
(Co-hosted with the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein at the NC State University & the Good Food Institute)

📱Leveraging Public Data to Fight Hunger Prize
(Co-hosted with Tilburg University’s Zero Hunger Lab)

👨🌾Innovations for One Health–Driven Rural Transformation 

(Co-hosted by Nanjing Agricultural University and FAO Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) - One Health and Disease Control Branch (NSAH-CJW)) 

·         Research funding opportunities, including awards for top teams

·         Global visibility through the World Food Forum

·         Mentorship and technical guidance from FAO experts

·         Access to a global network of partners and leaders

We are pleased to introduce the International Research Consortium (IRC),  a unique platform bringing together researchers, private sector actors, policymakers, and development organisations to collaborate on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA).

🚀 Why does it matter?
Today, innovation in agrifood is often slowed by fragmented efforts and limited collaboration. The IRC aims to change this by creating a space where actors can connect, share knowledge, and co-develop solutions.

🤝 What to expect from IRC?

• Opportunities to connect with partners across Africa and Europe

• Access to knowledge, research, and innovation insights

• A platform to collaborate and shape future solutions

🌱 Whether you are a researcher, entrepreneur, or support organisation, the IRC opens new doors for collaboration and impact.

👉 Discover more: https://irc-ceafirst.org/

💬 Stay tuned! In the coming days, we will share more about:

• Benefits for researchers and businesses

• How to join the IRC

• Concrete opportunities for collaboration

#Agrinnovators #Innovation #Research #Agribusiness #FNSSA #Collaboration

Hence, there is the need for a consistent, deliberate and strategic intervention in capacity building for young girls and women to harness the potentials embedded in their internal and cultural skills in mitigating climate change and developing conscientious approaches for adaptation of climate change: considering the multiplier effect on the individual farmer, food security, national security and other social effect.

Exporters will increasingly be required to demonstrate:

• recyclability of packaging
• compliance with chemical safety requirements (e.g. PFAS)
• full documentation and traceability

👉 Non-compliance is no longer just a risk,  it can lead to delisting.

This raises critical questions for exporters and SMEs:

• Are you already preparing for these requirements?
• Do you have the necessary documentation in place?
• How are buyers supporting (or not supporting) this transition?

💬 Share your experience, ask your questions?

1. The first step in building a Climate -Finance Strategy is to Identify Climate Risks. Funders are very keen to classify and rate every agri-business as high risk, low risk or moderate risk. 

2. For any farming operation to be regarded as a high climate risk venture, the operations most times lack climate-resilience resources. Climate Smart Agriculture is a boost in seeking for climate financing because it lowers risk and improves production stability.

3. There are available lending Funders such as ARAF, GAFSP, CIF etc. but critically they ask questions beginning with how does the business tend to overcome climate shock?

I learnt how COLEAD’s approach—combining agroecology, climate‑smart innovations, adaptive trials, and access to finance—provides a practical pathway for farmers to absorb shocks, adapt quickly, and transform their production systems for long‑term resilience.

As a trainer of trainers working across these regions, the material reinforced the importance of helping farmers adopt evidence‑based practices, document climate impacts, and leverage tools, platforms, and funding opportunities that strengthen both their resilience and their business viability.

For my organization, this means moving beyond basic production training to helping farmers develop robust climate-finance strategies and maintain the meticulous records required to access emerging green financing opportunities. Ultimately, by treats climate adaptation as a tool for financial sustainability, we can help horticultural MSMEs transform environmental risks into bankable business advantages

It is note worthy to agree that the ethical responsibility of developed nations, which are major contributors to climate change, is majorly to provide financial and technical support to help vulnerable countries manage loss and damage.

Hence, addressing the aforementioned challenges involves understanding the ethical dimensions of support and compensation for those disproportionately affected by climate change. ​

​Effective adaptation measures and innovative financing strategies are essential to manage and mitigate these impacts and ​building resilience and achieving equitable climate solutions require a commitment to fair compensation and proactive support for affected populations.