Danone Institute North America Announces New Grant Program for Sustainable Food Systems

Not-for-profit will award up to $90,000 in grants to support community-based and academic-driven projects

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Apr 22, 2019, 09:00 ET

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Danone Institute North America, a not-for-profit established by Danone North America, is proud to announce the launch of its new One Planet. One Health Initiative. Transdisciplinary teams from across the U.S. and Canada are encouraged to apply for the new grant program in which four teams will be challenged to design, implement and evaluate actionable community-based projects for sustainable food systems.

Danone North America is on a mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible and a global vision of One Planet. One Health. This vision reflects Danone North America's belief that the health of people and the health of the planet are inseparable. As a reflection of this vision, the goal of the Danone Institute North America's One Planet. One Health initiative is to foster transdisciplinary, community-based work to promote sustainable food systems.

In the program's first year, Danone Institute North America will award $90,000 to the four selected teams to implement their projects and amplify their messages to a broader audience. This grant will provide seed funding for projects such as pilot studies, feasibility testing, needs assessments and planning grants.

"As one of the largest food and beverage companies in the U.S., it's our responsibility to find new, more sustainable ways of working and empower future innovators to do the same," said Miguel Freitas, Ph.D., Vice President, Scientific Affairs for Danone North America. "We have a long legacy of supporting education and research programs and are excited to bring together a new generation of thought leaders to help us create food systems solutions that benefit the public, as well as our vision of building a healthier world through food."

In addition, the four chosen teams will attend a four-day program in Boulder, Colorado that will include training on sustainable food systems from experts in sustainability, implementation science, communication, nutrition, and economics, as well as presentations and panels involving community leaders such as farmers, retailers, corner store owners, WIC leaders, and other stakeholders in the sustainability food ecosystem.

"A transdisciplinary approach is critical to building sustainable foods systems, and that's why the One Planet. One Health. Initiative was designed to forge relationships between diverse practices and fields of study," said Leslie Lytle, President of Danone Institute North America and Professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. "The program will bring together seasoned experts and budding innovators to uncover new solutions through an immersive experience that starts with the proposal development. We encourage all scholars and practitioners who share in our vision to create a healthier world through food to join us by submitting a project idea that helps bring this vision to life."

The call for entries officially opens today and will remain open through June 1, 2019. For more information and to submit an application, visit www.danoneinstituteNA.org

About Danone North America
Danone North America is a Certified B Corporation business unit of Danone and operates in the U.S. from headquarter offices in White Plains, NY and Broomfield, CO. Danone North America was formed as a Public Benefit Corporation in 2017 to nourish people, communities and the world through its diverse portfolio of healthful dairy- and plant-based products, coffee creamers and beverages. Its portfolio of brands includes: Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, Danonino®, Danone®, Earthbound Farm®, Horizon Organic® premium dairy products, International Delight® coffee creamers and iced coffee, Light & Fit®, Oikos® Greek yogurt, Silk® plant-based foods and beverages, So Delicious® Dairy Free, Vega® and Wallaby® Organic. The mission of the Company is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. For more information, please visit DanoneNorthAmerica.com.

About Danone Institute North America
Danone Institute North America is an innovation center managed by Danone North America, which focuses its efforts on promoting research, education and communication in the field of nutrition. The Board of Directors includes both independent experts in nutrition science and business leaders of Danone North America. The nutrition scientists establish program direction, determine recipients of funding and are closely involved in all Danone Institute North America programs. Danone North America managers offer communication support, program development and management expertise.

SOURCE Danone North America