Danone Institute North America, a not-for-profit established by Danone North America, White Plains, N.Y., launched the “One Planet. One Health Initiative,” where four teams will be challenged to design, implement and evaluate actionable community-based projects for sustainable food systems. The goal 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," says Miguel Freitas, 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 4-day program in Boulder, Colo., 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, women, infants and children 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," says 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, N.C. "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."