What is the primary objective of the Rapid Regen Challenge?

The challenge aims to deploy farmer-centric, low-risk, high-yield regenerative agriculture pathways to regenerate India's soils and improve smallholder farmer net incomes across at least 5,000 hectares and 5,000–10,000 farmers within 24 months.

Who is eligible to apply for this challenge?

Only non-profits, CSOs, and Section 8 companies with valid 12A, 80G, and CSR-1 registrations are eligible to apply as lead applicants. They must also have prior experience working with smallholder farmers in relevant sectors.

Can for-profit companies or agritech startups participate?

For-profit companies, agritech startups, and research institutions cannot apply as lead applicants. However, they are welcome to participate as partners in a consortium led by an eligible non-profit organization.

What kind of financial support is provided?

The program offers a total prize fund of INR 6.5 crore, distributed as milestone-linked grants. This includes a pilot/ground activation grant at kickoff, a deployment grant in Year 2, and an outcome-linked scale-up grant for winners at the grand finale.

What kind of non-financial support can participants expect?

Beyond funding, participants will receive 1-on-1 mentorship, access to capital and philanthropy networks, ecosystem connections to government bodies and tech partners, masterclasses and workshops, and media coverage with storytelling support.

What is the expected scale of impact for successful projects?

Over 24 months, projects are expected to cover 5,000 hectares and benefit 5,000–10,000 farmers, aiming to double soil organic carbon and increase smallholder farmer net incomes by at least 25% without increasing cultivation costs.

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize – Up to ₹6.5 Cr

The Rapid Regen Challenge, a flagship CSR initiative by PepsiCo and expertly designed and executed by the^delta prize (AIC NCORE Developmental Impact Foundation), aims to revolutionize India's agricultural landscape. This challenge is specifically crafted to empower non-profit organizations and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to spearhead the deployment of farmer-centric, low-risk, and high-yield regenerative agriculture practices. The core mission is to significantly regenerate India's soil health while simultaneously boosting the net incomes of smallholder farmers.

The program sets ambitious goals for its participants over a 24-month period. In Year 1, selected organizations will focus on demonstrating the proof of viability, targeting 500 hectares across 500 to 1,000 farmers. Building on this success, Year 2 will scale up to prove scalability across 5,000 hectares and involving 5,000 to 10,000 farmers, organized within 2-5 contiguous blocks per district. The challenge targets key outcomes, including doubling soil organic carbon from a baseline of 0.3% or less, increasing smallholder farmer net incomes by at least 25% without escalating cultivation costs.

Participants are encouraged to propose innovative and context-specific regenerative practices, such as composting, bio-inputs, crop rotation, intercropping, mulching, reduced tillage, agroforestry, biological pest management, and precision nutrient management. The program also supports technology-enabled transition models, including remote sensing, digital advisory, and IoT systems, allowing non-profits to partner with agritech startups or research institutions for in-house tech capabilities. This holistic approach ensures comprehensive support for the selected organizations, fostering a sustainable and prosperous future for Indian agriculture.

The selection process for the Rapid Regen Challenge is rigorous and multi-staged to ensure the most impactful and capable organizations are chosen. It begins with a thorough application screening to filter proposals based on eligibility and alignment with the challenge's mandate. Following this, shortlisted applicants undergo intensive jury evaluations and interviews, where experts assess the project's design, scalability, and the team's capacity. The final stage involves comprehensive field evaluations and due diligence to verify the on-ground capabilities and operational readiness of the potential challengers. Ultimately, a cohort of 5 to 8 organizations will be selected to participate in the 24-month program.

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize

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