The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is accepting nominations for the FAO Award for Innovation 2027, which recognises ground-breaking innovation in agriculture and food systems. The winner receives a US$10,000 cash prize and a scroll describing their achievements. Individuals, organisations, businesses, researchers and governments can all be nominated.
Deadline: 31 December 2026.
Key Details
- Organiser: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Award: US$10,000 cash prize and a scroll
- Open to: FAO Members, institutions, individuals, international and regional organisations, academic and research bodies, civil society and private businesses
- Focus: innovation in agrifood systems
- How: online nomination form or email to [email protected]
- Deadline: 31 December 2026
Benefits
- a US$10,000 cash prize
- a scroll describing the winner’s achievements
- global recognition from the UN’s food and agriculture agency
- visibility that can attract partners, investors and funders
What Counts as Innovation
FAO defines agricultural innovation as bringing new or existing products, processes or ways of organising into use for the first time in a specific context to improve effectiveness, competitiveness, resilience or sustainability. Eligible types include:
- technological innovation, including digital and biotech solutions
- social, financial, policy and institutional innovation
- sustainable production practices such as agroecology
- new approaches and business models
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- impact on more than one level of the supply chain, from small-scale producers (farmers, herders, fishers) to consumers
- quality and merit of the innovation
- potential benefit, impact and sustainability
- accessibility and affordability
- scalability and value for money
- the role of youth (under 35), women and/or marginalised groups
How to Apply
- Read the criteria and open the nomination form on the official FAO Award for Innovation page.
- Prepare a self-contained nomination with concrete evidence: an executive summary, how the innovation works, its impact, and how it supports youth, women or marginalised groups.
- Include evidence from non-FAO sources (media coverage, evaluations, awards) about your innovation’s performance.
- Submit through the online form or email it to [email protected] by 31 December 2026.
Note: the official form includes a section for the FAO office and officer making the nomination. Contact your FAO country office early to ask about nomination support.
Tips for African Innovators
- Show impact with numbers: farmers reached, yield increases, income gains, losses reduced.
- Explain how your innovation is affordable and can scale to other regions.
- Highlight involvement of young people and women; it’s a scoring criterion.
- Gather third-party evidence now, such as news articles, partner letters or evaluation reports.
