Deadline: 31-May-23

Applications are now open for the Global One Health Special Prize, co-hosted by Wageningen University & Research and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), focuses on the need for a global approach to effective and balanced prevention of emerging infectious diseases, and responsible crisis management.

They encourage researchers to propose One Health solutions to minimise the risk of emerging infections that negatively affect animal, human and environmental health. The focus shall be on creating safer agrifood systems that are shielded from zoonotic disease, and that promote healthier livestock, animals and humans alike. With a One Health approach, agrifood systems will be more resilient, and help deliver towards the goal of achieving Zero Hunger for all.

Priorities

Priority will be given to projects that address zoonoses that have the potential to become pandemic. The scale of action may be at farm level, local, regional or (inter-)national. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Approaches to making elements of the agri-food system safer from zoonotic events.
• Balancing biodiversity conservation and restauration goals with food and nutrition security by developing the interface between wildlife, livestock and humans in a manner that reduces the risk of zoonoses.
• The interrelation between climate change and zoonosis risk.
• Public administration opportunities to help implement One Health policies, I.e., policies that use a One Health approach and strive for One Health outcomes.
• The interrelation between farming systems and spatial planning, and zoonosis risk.
• The transport and trade – zoonosis risk nexus.

Benefits

Finalists and winners can receive:

• $10,000 on research grant for 10 teams to go from idea to action.
• Travel and accommodation to attend the World Food Forum in Rome from 16 – 20 October 2023.
• Publication of your research findings through FAO’s sectoral publishing.
• Personalized mentorship from globally recognized experts in their field to help “translate” their concept notes into a concrete research output.
• Each team will be coached in the preparation of the lightening talk for the final presentations.
• Access to a global audience of young leaders and organizations from the public and private sectors, including the United Nations.
• A platform for global youth to showcase their innovative research ideas and the chance to pitch their research project to a global audience and international expert panel at the WFF.
• Ongoing promotion through the WFF platforms.

Criteria

• Teams can have a maximum of 5 members. Larger teams will not be accepted.
• Team members can’t be added after acceptance into the TRC.
• A mentor can’t be a team member.
• TRC evaluators can’t be in any team.
• Team members should be between 18 and 35 years old.

For more information, visit Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).