XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion

TOMORROW’S PROTEINS

Phase
Concluded

MEET THE FINALISTS

Phase
Concluded

Tomorrow’s Proteins

$15 Million

Prize Purse

XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion is a multi-year, $15M competition that incentivizes teams to produce chicken breast or fish fillet alternatives that replicate or outperform conventional chicken and fish in: access, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, nutrition, as well as taste and texture.

Overview

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 meat products, while advancing food systems, and animal welfare.

This competition was developed in response to the release of 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.

Billions of individuals do and will desire higher quality protein as a food source, but the earth is incapable of providing this with traditional livestock. A much more sustainable, scalable methodology is required.

Peter H. Diamandis, MD

XPRIZE Founder

The Challenge

By 2050, Earth’s population will be 9.7 billion. Demand for meat 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 meat 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 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 a whole 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.

Questions?

If you’d like to get involved with the competition, or if you have any questions, please email us at FeedTheNextBillion@xprize.org.

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