Overview
XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion is a is a four-year, $15M competition that will incentivize teams to produce chicken breast or fish fillet alternatives that replicate or outperform conventional chicken and fish in: access, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, nutrition and health, as well as taste and texture.
The Impact
The solutions developed as a result of XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion will provide a more environmentally sustainable path to meeting emerging demand for high-protein products, while advancing human health, and animal welfare.
This competition was developed in response to the release of the XPRIZE’s Future of Food Impact Roadmap, an in-depth analysis of global food system challenges that identified 12 radical breakthroughs which could establish a more food secure and environmentally sustainable world by 2050. The critical impact area that XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion addresses is the need for alternative proteins at-scale
The Challenge
By 2050, Earth’s population will be 9.7 billion. Demand for high protein products is increasing while impact from meat production practices devastates our planet. We need new ways to feed the next billion humans.
Satisfying the global demand for high-protein foods will accelerate deforestation and biodiversity loss, strain global water supply, accelerate climate change, intensify inhumane treatment of animals, and worsen food safety and insecurity issues.
While there is increasing activity in utilizing plant-based, cultivated or blended approaches to create meat alternatives such as burgers, chicken nuggets, and ground fish, more work is needed to produce structured, nutritious, affordable, and versatile alternative chicken and fish products that are capable of competing with conventional products on the market.
How to Win
The winning team will develop multiple consistent cuts of raw chicken breast or fish fillet alternatives (115 grams / 4 ounces) that replicate the sensory properties, structure, versatility, and nutritional profile of conventional chicken or fish, while having a lower comparable environmental footprint.
Additionally, a bonus prize will be awarded to the team that develops an animal-origin-free growth media at the lowest production cost. This competition is solution agnostic, meaning cultivated, plant-based, blended, and other approaches are eligible as long as they meet the competition’s judging criteria.
How to Register
XPRIZE teams come from all around the world. Teams can be composed of university groups, high school students, startups and innovators, small to midsize companies, community-based organizations, families or individuals. Registering to create or join a team is one of the first steps you can take to help create a better future for all.
