Through June 6, Danone Institute North America, a not-for-profit established by Danone North America, is inviting transdisciplinary teams in the US and Canada to submit proposals for projects to enhance the sustainability of food systems in ways that can advance human nutrition and environmental health.
Danone Institute North America launched the “One Planet. One Health” Initiative grant program in 2019 to support local projects that strengthen food systems, reflecting Danone’s belief that the health of people and the health of the planet are interconnected.
Previous grants have funded projects on household food waste reduction, energy-efficient food production, supported local food growers and farmers, and integrated locally-sourced food into school lunches.
Academic and community leaders are encouraged to apply to the program. Up to five selected teams will be challenged to design, implement and evaluate actionable community-based projects on sustainable food system solutions contributing to the nutritional health of populations and the planet, and to communicate about their impact.
Danone Institute North America will award a total of up to $160,000 for this initiative. Individual team grants of $30,000, plus a $10,000 incremental award for the team with the strongest communications plan, will be awarded for work to be conducted over a two-year period.
“The pandemic not only has sparked a health crisis but also has emerged as one of the most destructive economic and societal challenges of our time,” 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.
“As we continue the recovery process, our goal is to work collaboratively with community stakeholders and the academic community through our ‘One Planet. One Health’ Initiative, to protect and restore the vital foundation of the food systems that we rely on to nourish our growing global population.”
Current grantee Diane Moss of the San Diego-based non-profit organization Project New Village, said, “Receiving this grant from Danone Institute North America is such a tremendous opportunity for community groups and academic institutions.
“Not only does the program work to promote sustainable food systems, but also nurtures a new generation of thought leaders working together and advocating for food system solutions. Along with reconnecting with residential gardeners from the Greater Southeastern San Diego through practices of regenerative urban agriculture, this past year we’ve been able to inspire and help community members begin to develop some autonomy by shifting from being just food consumers to food producers while connecting their personal growth to our community resilience.”