US: National Agricultural Innovation Prize Launched

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is launching a competition for teams of undergraduate and graduate students across the country to submit proposals and business ideas that address challenges in 21st-century agriculture, such as food scarcity and availability, transportation, and sustainability. Called the Agricultural Innovation Prize: Powered by 40 Chances, the competition is administered by UW students through its transdisciplinary, research-driven Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is funding the $100,000 prize. The contest has a February 28, 2014, entry deadline. Organizers are inviting leaders from academia, government, the private sector, non-profit organizations, and multilateral international organizations to gather real-world challenges related to food systems and agriculture. Submissions will be used to "seed" ideas for student teams to develop solutions-focused business plans. Ideas can be submitted online.