Desafío
de investigación
transformadora

Lab de Innovación
LAB DE INNOVACIÓN
#worldfoodforum

Términos y condiciones

Background

The World Food Forum (WFF) is an independent global network of partners, created for and led by youth, to spark a movement to transform our agri-food systems. It was developed by the Youth Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to end hunger and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

A Transformative Research Challenge (the “Competition” or “TRC”) is a WFF Innovation Lab initiative. It calls all young − and young-at-heart − researchers looking to develop an innovative research idea to transform our agrifood systems and end hunger, to submit a Concept Note, written in one of the six official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), as a team (“Entrants”).

 

Part I: Particulars of the Competition

1.    Prizes and Benefits

1.1 All shortlisted teams will receive:

  1. Mentoring: shortlisted teams will receive expert mentorship to help “translate” their Concept Note into a research output such as a research proposal for grant funding or research article for publication);
  2. Networking opportunities: access to a global audience of young leaders and organizations from the public and private sectors and the United Nations which are participating in or supporting the WFF;
  3. Visibility: the WFF provides a platform for global youth to showcase their innovative research ideas and approaches to a global audience. Shortlisted Entrants will be featured on the WFF website and have the chance to pitch their research idea to a global audience and an international expert panel through WFF platforms

1.2 Finalists teams will also receive:

  1. Communication Coaching: each team will receive coaching to prepare a presentation for the WFF flagship event which will take place at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy on 14-18 October 2024;
  2. TRC certificate.

1.3 General prizes for the winners of the TRC:

  1. Publication of research finding on the WFF website;
  2. TRC Award and certificate;
  3. Press release/web story published by FAO academic partnership site.

1.4. In addition to the prizes noted above, winners of the Global One Health, Plant Based Food and Food Loss and Waste Prizes will also receive the following:

1.4.1. Global One Health Prize:

a. USD 10 000 research grant for 5 teams;  
b. Travel and accommodation to attend the World Food Forum in Rome from 14-18 October 2024.

1.4.2. Plant Based Food:

a. Travel allowance to attend the WFF flagship event in Rome, 14-18 October 2024;
b. USD 10 000 research grant for the winning team;
c. USD 5 000 research grant and an exchange visit to Simon Fraser  University for the team in second place.

2.    Eligibility

2.1. The Competition is open to teams of minimum 3 and up to 5 individuals (“Entrants”). All teams must contain at least one entrant is between the ages of 18 and 35 at the time of submission of their Concept Note. All individuals under 18 must be represented by their parent or legal guardian to submit a Concept Note. The parent or legal guardian must read, understand, and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

2.2. WFF and FAO employees and their immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, siblings and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such employees, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter the Competition. WFF will determine eligibility at its sole discretion. Partners or relatives of partner staff of the institutions involved in the launch of the Competition, and relations of the judging committee are not eligible to compete.

2.3. Entrants can only submit original works for which they are the sole creators and copyright holders. In the case of a group of authors, the names and ages of all authors must be listed and will be considered as a single Entrant in the copyright rules described below, as well as for the prizes and benefits indicated in Section 1.

2.4. Entrants can only indicate their team members at the first-time submission, members can't be added after acceptance into the TRC.

2.5. Entrants can include  a supervisor from their institute/university. This supervisor is not considered part of the team.
2.6. TRC mentors and reviewers are not permitted to be members of their assigned team and are not permitted to participate as authors ofthe research submitted by their assigned team.

2.7. Applications with any missing personal information including names, age, emails and number of team members are subject to disqualification.

2.8. lacking information in applications mean that they are subject to disqualification.

2.9. Project proposals submitted to the second evaluation have to:

  • Describe research activities that are aligned with the topics of interest described on World Food Forum webpage;
  • Describe research activities that are feasible, possible to achieve with given amount, and sustainable;
  • Describe research activities that are led by research institutes located, and will be implemented, in countries affected by the challenge;
  • Describe plans for outreach and dissemination of research results.

2.10. Concept notes exceeding the number of words specified will not be examined by the reviewers.

2.11. Entrants must accept these Terms and Conditions when submitting a Concept Note.

2.12. Participation is free of charge.

3. Process and Selection Criteria

3.1. Submissions will be accepted until 30 April 2024 at 17:00 (CEST).

3.2. All finalists and winners will be notified by e-mail after the judging is complete. If you receive a notification e-mail from the WFF, you must respond to the notification e-mail to accept your shortlisting. If WFF does not receive a response from you within seven (7) days of the notification, WFF reserves the right to reallocate the prize to another Entrant.

3.3. The selection process is divided into the following three phases:

a.    Phase 1: Shortlisting. The first selection round will be done by a panel of experts organized by the WFF TRC organizers and Prizes sponsors, based on the following criteria:
•     identification of the agrifood system challenge and alignment with the Prize topic;
•    degree of innovation in the research approach proposed to address the challenge;
•    The transformative potential of the research proposed.

b.    Phase 2: Mentorship. Entrants shortlisted in Phase 1 will receive expert mentorship and coaching for their submissions due by 30 June 2024. Submissions must follow the Concept Note template, written in one of the six official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish). A second selection round to choose Finalists will be undertaken by a panel of experts organized by the WFF TRC organizers.

c.    Phase 3: Virtual WFF global stage. Presentations by Finalists and selection of the TRC winners will be made at the WFF Transformative Research Challenge Finals on 16 October 2024.

 

Part II: General terms and conditions

4.    Your Copyright and Moral Rights

4.1.    The WFF respects your rights and do not claim ownership or copyright for works you submit to this Competition. You will retain full ownership and copyright to each entry.

4.2.    In addition, your moral rights are respected. Whenever your work is published by the WFF and its partners, you will be credited. Failure to publish a credit due to error or oversight shall not be deemed a breach of this condition.

5.    Your Representations

5.1.    By submitting works to the WFF, you confirm that for each work submitted:    
a)    You alone are the author of the Concept Note and that it is your original work, and to the best of your knowledge, no third party can claim any rights to the material submitted.
b)    You are the sole copyright holder.
c)    You have not licensed any rights in the work that conflict with the usage rights required by the WFF.
d)    That it does not include trademarks, contract rights, or any other intellectual property rights of any other third person or entity.
e)    You will be responsible for any claim made by any third party in respect of your entry and to fully indemnify the WFF and its sponsors and partners in respect of all royalties, fees and any other monies owing to any person or entity by reason of your breaching any of the foregoing.

5.2.    The WFF reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any entry that is incomplete, not relevant to the theme, or does not comply with any of the Terms and Conditions and the WFF’s values and guiding principles, even after the entry is submitted.

6.    Unacceptable Content

6.1.    The WFF reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Entrant for content or behavior:
a)    That is disrespectful of the impartiality and independence of the United Nations, reflects adversely on the WFF; is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the WFF; is derogatory to any persons;
b)    That is or could be construed as threatening, false, misleading, abusive, harassing, libelous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory or profane.
c)    That could constitute or encourage conduct which would be considered a criminal offence, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law.

7.    Use of Works

7.1.    By participating in this Competition, you agree that any work you submit may be used free of charge by the WFF and their partners for non-commercial marketing and promotional purposes. These uses may include, but are not limited to, the following:
a)    Displaying the Concept Notes entries on the WFF website (and possibly websites of partners) and social media networks, and for the shortlisted teams and winner(s), featuring Team profiles using the information of Entrants submitted in the Concept Note and associated materials including recordings of the presentations at the online virtual WFF global stage event.
b)    Displaying the entries in any media for non-commercial use to promote the work of the WFF.
c)    Extracting, reproducing any component of the work as necessary to promote the work of the WFF and its partners.
d)    Sub-licensing the entries to the press and partners for reproduction in connection with the Competition and the WFF and any related media release on the WFF, the WFF Organizing Team, and its partners.

7.2.    You hereby grant the WFF, the WFF Organizing Team and its partners a non-exclusive, irrevocable, free and perpetual license throughout the world for the non-commercial uses described in 7.1 above, for each Entry.

7.3.    You acknowledge your responsibility for protecting your Entry against misuse by third parties. The WFF and its partners can assume no responsibility and are not liable for any misuse of works.

8.    Miscellaneous

8.1.    WFF reserves the right to cancel, modify, suspend or delay the Competition in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond their reasonable control. WFF reserves the right to change, amend, delete or add to these Terms and Conditions at any time.

8.2.    WFF and their officials and agents shall not be responsible or liable for any claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature arising out of or in connection with your participation in this Competition or your acceptance or use of the prizes awarded.

8.2.1.    WFF shall not be responsible or liable for:
a) any problem, loss or damage, misdirected or illegible entries, delay and/or failure in receiving and sending the entry as a result of any network, communication or system interruption or error, or
b) any error, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, site failure or unauthorised access to entries.

8.3.    WFF does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any data, information or other material provided by any Entrant. WFF explicitly disclaims any responsibility for the content of any data, information and materials provided by the Entrants in the context of the Competition.

8.4.    By entering your Concept Note in the Competition, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold and save harmless, the WFF, FAO and its partners against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any third party against the WFF, including, but not limited to, all litigation costs and expenses, attorney’s fees, settlement payments and damages, based on, arising from, or relating to the WFF’s use of the Concept Note. The obligations under this section do not lapse upon closure of the Competition.

8.5.    By participating in the Competition, Entrants agree that personal data, especially name and country, may be processed, shared, and otherwise used for the purposes and within the context of the Competition, WFF institutional activities, and any other purposes outlined in these Terms and Conditions. The data may also be used by WFF in order to verify the Entrant's identity, postal address and contact details or to otherwise verify the Entrant's eligibility to participate in the Competition.

8.6.    Nothing in these Terms and Conditions or in any rules related to the Competition, nor any acts performed or statements made in relation to the Competition, shall be deemed a waiver, express or implied, of any of the privileges and immunities of WFF and FAO.

9.    Acceptance

By submitting entries, the Entrant confirms that the Terms and Conditions for this Competition, as set out above, have been read, understood, and agreed to by the Entrant.