(NAFB.com) – The USDA and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) launched a global challenge to advance scientific research that will produce breakthroughs for nutrition security. The “Nourishing Next Generation Agrifood Breakthroughs” innovation challenge will fund teams led by early-career scientists, those who have received a Ph.D. within the past ten years. The goal is to help catalyze new discoveries and mobilize transformative research that simultaneously tackles America’s most important societal challenges. The competitive Innovation Challenge will spark high-risk, high-reward research through innovations at the intersection of nutrition security and climate-smart agriculture. USDA and FFAR will provide up to $2 million to successful applicants across multiple teams who propose a compelling vision about how their research can support sustainable food production, promote human health, and enhance real-world nutrition security. “Through the challenge, we are investing in researchers who are sources of disruptive ideas and breakthrough solutions in agricultural science,” Vilsack says.