Food In Canada

Danone opens submissions for its sustainable food systems initiative

By Food in Canada Staff   

Research & Development Danone Danone Institute North America Editor pick sustainability


Danone Institute North America (DINA), a non-profit foundation managed by Danone North America, opens submissions for the third offering of its DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative, formerly called the “One Planet. One Health” Initiative.

The biennial competitive grant is accepting proposals from eligible applicants in the U.S. and Canada. The 2023-2025 initiative commits a total of US$260,000 in funding, its largest contribution yet, for up to five trans-disciplinary teams who demonstrate a commitment to actionable and achievable projects that sit at the intersection of community, health of people and health of planet.

Selected grantees will be challenged to design, implement and evaluate actionable community-based projects for sustainable food systems that improve human health and nutrition over a two-year period. Each of the five finalists will receive US$50,000 to support and expand their project. An additional US$10,000 will be granted to the team with the strongest communications plan, awarded in the fall of 2023.

“We encourage educators, researchers and activists interested in sparking innovation to apply and share their vision for actionable, trans-disciplinary, community-based efforts that integrate sustainable food systems with human health and nutrition,” said Leslie Lytle, PhD, president, board of directors, Danone Institute North America and Adjunct Professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (U.S.). “The DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative provides essential funding for upstart projects, especially in under-resourced areas, enabling local leaders from diverse backgrounds to turn their singular project into a lasting program.”

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Prospective teams must include four members representing relevant diverse disciplines related to food systems, including but not limited to nutrition, health, economics, agriculture, community food access and social, behavioural or environmental sciences. At least one team member must be a current academic faculty member.

“The support we received from the DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative enabled our dedicated team to conduct real-world testing on the impact of household food waste and pilot a four-week food waste reduction program in our local community,” said Jess Haines, PhD, MHSc, RD, associate professor in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ont. “The additional funding allowed us to supplement our original programming with vital educational tools to help families heighten their understanding around food waste, prevent spoilage and ultimately provide a more sustainable approach to healthy eating.”

Danone Institute North America is accepting proposals for the 2023-2025 DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative until June 14, 2023, 11:59 p.m. ET. To learn more about the grant program and to submit an application, visit www.danoneinstituteNA.org.


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