News & Views
FEED-X challenge welcoming applications

The goal of the FEED-X program is to ensure that the global feed industry can produce enough food to support the growing world population by shifting 10 percent of global feed production to sustainable sourcing from novel alternative solutions. It aims to do so by 2025 – through sourcing, testing, financing and scaling alternative feed ingredients and technologies that affect feed. The program will focus on salmon and shrimp; two aquaculture species with wholly different feed requirements and industry structures. Project X has already hosted a category de-risking event where experts from Harvard University, Wageningen University Research, and Utrecht University among others presented their key findings.

“IKEA Food is committed to securing a more sustainable supply chain for our food business. We know that animal feed such as salmon feed can have negative impact on the climate, environment and biodiversity,” said Christoph Mathiesen, sustainability developer, IKEA of Sweden AB. “We see the collaboration with Project X as a great opportunity to support sustainable food systems and accelerate the innovation in animal feed.”

FEED-X has lead partner support from one of the largest animal and aquaculture feed suppliers in the world – Nutreco, and its aquaculture division Skretting – which represent a significant share of the global feed market and €5.9-billion of purchasing power. Strategic and financial support for the FEED-X program has also come from IKEA (IKEA Supply AG), WWF and EIT Climate-KIC, and technical support from UNEPOne Planet, and Cambridge University.

The coordinated approach between organizations in the FEED-X program will give entrepreneurs rare access to markets and allow them to commercialize their outstanding sustainable alternative feed solutions at scale.

The application is a two-stage process. Project X invites innovators to fill in the Expression of Interest form by the May 10, after which they will be provided with the application form. The applications will then be independently reviewed by an expert panel including high-profile individuals from a range of sectors.

Applications will be accepted no later than the May 15.