We're proud to launch the Regen Food System Prize
£20,000 cash prize, with £5,000 reserved for a Channel Islands winner
Brand support, mentorship, and access to the Co-op marketplace
Judges include Patrick Holden, Ben Goldsmith, Abby Rose, Josiah Meldrum
Winners announced at the Jersey Farming Conference on 6th November, 2025
The aim of this £20k Food System Prize is to find innovators across the food system. We want to support people who are leading the transition towards thriving food systems, healthy soils, and healthy people.
We want to support businesses, farmers and entrepreneurs - anyone who is trying to do things differently. Anyone with a good idea or business can apply.
This could be individuals or businesses specialising in anything from soil health to food networks to the health of communities. We aim to support those working in regional food systems across the UK and the Crown Dependencies.
Transforming Regional Food Systems
The Food System Prize is a flagship initiative of the Regen Gathering Jersey, supported by Lloyds Bank Crown Dependencies, Evelyn Partners, the Channel Islands Co-op, the Crown and Woven. It is designed to catalyse innovation and resilience within regional food systems.
Why Regional?
We believe food connects every aspect of the challenges we currently face, from the health of an ageing population, to food resilience and security, the cost of living, and ecological well-being. Food is the common thread. Ensuring food security at the regional level is critical, and not always easy.
Regional food systems provide communities with market sovereignty.
They can improve ecological outcome and water management through improving soil, biodiversity, and climate resilience and interconnected strategies.
Regional food systems can promote inclusive food solutions that support public health, by building supply networks that distribute nutrient dense food to social markets.
Regional resilience is not always about efficiency; it's about building strong local food economies. Thriving local economies rely on interconnected businesses, but they often lack essential infrastructure and require a structural approach. Investing in infrastructure—'the missing middle'—along with innovations in supply chains, nutrient cycling, and food-as-medicine initiatives, is key to enhancing both productivity and food resilience.
By nurturing regenerative startups, we can build food systems that restore the planet, empower communities, and improve long-term health and longevity outcomes.
Good food strategies need a good understanding of place, with businesses built on relationships, and understanding of context.
Award Objectives
Support Innovation: Back bold business models integrating regenerative practices.
Promote Regeneration: Champion soil health, biodiversity, and local resilience.
Strengthen Community: Connect entrepreneurs, farmers, and change makers.
Improve Health: Address issues linked to disease and the food system - linking business with their communities and making health a material outcome of the food system.
Award Details
Total Funding: £20,000
£15,000 in direct cash funding for overall winner
£5,000 for Channel Island Winner
£5,000 in-kind support (mentorship, workshops, networking)
Includes: Exploration of route to market with a cooperative support network
*if applicable and the correct standards are met.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, your business must:
Be based in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or operating at a UK regional level
Newcomers, entrepreneurs and establish organisations
Be a social impact business or commercial business (e.g. Ltd, CIC, LBG, LTD, NFP — Charities not eligible)
Show a clear commitment to regenerative food systems
Contribute towards local food security, environment, resilience, and health outcomes
JUDGING PANEL
This prize will be judge by industry leaders across the food system and within policy.
HOW TO APPLY
Send 500 words describing your business, with your innovative concept to build resilience in regional food systems. Detail the place and the problem you are solving as well as the resources you require.
Once this has been received you will be sent a short questionnaire, to support your application and provide clear marking criteria.
The deadline for this application is October 25th, 2025.
Terms and Conditions for Submissions
Eligibility
By submitting an entry, participants warrant that they are the original creators of the work and meet all eligibility criteria specified by the organizers. The prize is open to residents of the United Kingdom unless otherwise stated.Ownership and Rights
Participants retain full ownership of their submissions. By submitting, they grant the organizers a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, and display the submission solely for the purposes of the competition, including promotional activities, with appropriate attribution.Confidentiality and Data Privacy
All submissions will be treated confidentially and with due respect. Personal data collected as part of the submission process will be processed in accordance with the Jersey General Data Protection Regulation (Jersey GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, and only for the purposes necessary for administering the competition.Originality and Intellectual Property
Submissions must be original and must not infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties. Participants are responsible for ensuring their work is free from plagiarism or unauthorized use of third-party content.Content Restrictions
Submissions must not contain offensive, inappropriate, or harmful material. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that breaches these terms.Evaluation and Decision
Entries will be judged by a panel appointed by the organisers. The judges’ decisions are final and binding.Prize and Publication
The winner(s) will receive the prize as specified. The organisers may publish details of the winning entry for promotional purposes, but any commercial use or further exploitation will require a separate agreement.Liability and Responsibility
The organisers accept no responsibility for lost, delayed, or damaged submissions or for technical issues affecting submission. Participants release the organisers from any liability arising from participation in the competition.Acceptance of Terms
Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions. Participants agree to comply with all rules and decisions of the organisers.Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Jersey. Any disputes arising shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Jersey