Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize
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Quick Answer
A US$1.5 million (about ₹14.25 crore) environmental prize for food-system projects. Anyone can nominate, including yourself, online and year-round; no country restriction is stated.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Curt Bergfors Foundation
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- International
About this competition
The Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize is run by the Curt Bergfors Foundation in Sweden and describes itself as the world's largest environmental award. It goes only to projects within the food system. The 2026 prize gave US$1.5 million (about ₹14.25 crore) to the winner and US$150,000 (about ₹1.43 crore) to each finalist. Nominations are open all year, and you can nominate your own project.
What the program offers
The money is a prize, not a loan, and the source mentions no equity being taken. In 2026 the winner received US$1.5 million (about ₹14.25 crore) and each finalist received US$150,000 (about ₹1.43 crore). The page does not say what the money may be spent on, how it is paid out, or in which currency beyond the dollar figures, so ask the Foundation if that matters to your plans. The prize also brings the visibility of being on a published longlist or shortlist, although the source does not promise any particular exposure.
The source gives the 2026 amounts only. It does not promise that the same amounts will apply in later years, so treat the figures as a guide rather than a fixed offer.
Who can apply
Only projects within the food system can win. The Prize mainly looks for initiatives that will succeed and radically change the food system if they get the chance, not only those that have already succeeded. Nominees can be commercial or non-commercial and can be from anywhere in the world. Nominations are judged on potential impact, evidence and relevance for what the Foundation calls the food planet.
The page does not mention any country restriction, so an Indian startup, NGO or research group working on food, farming, nutrition, supply chains or related areas can be nominated. Anyone can submit a nomination, including the nominee itself. It suits ventures with a bold idea and some evidence behind it. It does not suit projects unrelated to food, and it is not designed as a small seed grant for an idea with no evidence.
How to apply
- Check that your work sits inside the food system.
- Fill in the nominations form on the Food Planet Prize website. The page says it takes about three minutes.
- Submit it at any time of year. If you want to be considered for the following year's prize, the page advises nominating before May.
- If your nomination makes the top 50, the nominations team will contact you with questions, and you may be asked for research material.
About 1,000 nominations are handled each year, and a nomination can be followed across several years, so you do not need to reapply every year just to stay in view. A practical tip: since the first screening is done on public information, make sure your website, published results and any evidence are easy to find online.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The full process takes slightly more than 12 months. Nominees are first placed in a grid of 400 spots that balances location, part of the food system, type of innovation and whether the nominee is commercial. The nominations team then picks 50 nominees to study closely and proposes a longlist, which the prize committee approves and which is published. The list is narrowed to a shortlist of up to ten, typically four or five.
Shortlisted nominees go through due diligence by an external auditing firm to confirm they can receive the money, review of their science and team by one or two anonymous experts, and a site visit by Foundation staff. The board confirms each shortlisted nominee could be a worthy winner. The nominees are then revealed, and each gets a few minutes to present to the jury in Sweden. The jury, split equally between research, policy, business and practical food work, votes to recommend a winner, and the board makes the final decision.
About the Curt Bergfors Foundation
The Curt Bergfors Foundation is the Swedish foundation behind the Food Planet Prize. Its board decides the winner, and a prize committee and jury advise it. The source page does not give the Foundation's founding date or longer history.
Things to check before you apply
- There is no deadline, but selection takes over 12 months, so timing matters if you need the outcome by a certain date.
- Shortlisted nominees present in person to the jury in Sweden. The source does not say whether travel costs are covered.
- Shortlisted nominees must pass an external due diligence check on their ability to receive the prize money, so have your registration and finances in order.
- The source does not mention an entry fee. The nomination form is described as short and free-standing, but confirm on the website.
- The page does not describe what documents are needed beyond the online form.
Eligibility
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Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
The 2026 Food Planet Prize awarded US$1.5 million (about ₹14.25 crore) to the winner and US$150,000 (about ₹1.43 crore) to each finalist. Shortlisted initiatives are also researched and presented to the world through articles and photographs on the Prize website.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
Nominees are placed in a 400-spot grid covering regions and parts of the food system, a top 50 is studied closely, and a longlist is approved by the prize committee and published. A shortlist of up to ten goes through external due diligence, anonymous expert review and a site visit. Shortlisted nominees present to the jury in Sweden, which recommends a winner, and the Foundation's board makes the final decision. The whole process takes slightly over 12 months.
Application Process
- 1
Nominate
Submit the online nomination form, for yourself or someone else.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Indian startups apply for the Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize?
The page does not restrict nominations by country, and says nominees can be from anywhere in the world. An Indian startup, NGO or research group working within the food system can be nominated, and you can nominate yourself. Shortlisted nominees present in person in Sweden.
Who can be nominated for the Food Planet Prize?
Only projects within the food system can win. They can be commercial or non-commercial. The Prize mainly looks for initiatives that will succeed and radically change the food system if given the chance.
How much is the Food Planet Prize worth?
In 2026 the winner received US$1.5 million (about ₹14.25 crore) and each finalist received US$150,000 (about ₹1.43 crore). The page gives no figures for other years.
How is the Food Planet Prize money paid?
The source does not say how or when the money is paid. It does say that shortlisted nominees go through external due diligence to confirm they are able to receive the prize money.
What is the deadline for the Food Planet Prize, and what if it has passed?
There is no fixed deadline because nominations are open year-round. To be considered for the following year's prize, the page advises nominating before May. A nomination can also be followed across several years.
Is the Food Planet Prize a grant or equity?
It is a prize, and the source describes no equity being taken. It does not set out conditions on how the money must be used, so ask the Foundation if that matters to you.
What do I need to nominate my project?
You only fill in the online nominations form, which the page says takes about three minutes. If you reach the top 50 you may be asked follow-up questions and for research material. The source lists no other documents.
Do I have to travel to Sweden for the Food Planet Prize?
Only if you are shortlisted. Shortlisted nominees present in person to the jury in Sweden, and staff also make a site visit. The source does not say whether travel costs are covered.
Is it free to nominate for the Food Planet Prize?
The source does not mention any fee for nominating. Check the nominations form on the website to confirm.
How long does the Food Planet Prize selection take, and when are results announced?
The page says selection takes slightly over 12 months. A longlist is published along the way, and shortlisted nominees are revealed before they present to the jury. The page does not give a calendar date for the winner announcement.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
