Through this Challenge, TGI will invest a total of up to ~$2 million in cross-disciplinary teams using geospatial technology to address urgent challenges in sustainable agriculture and global food security.

St. Louis, MO — August 18, 2025 — Taylor Geospatial Institute (TGI) today announced the launch of the Geospatial Innovation for Food Security Challenge (GIFS). Through this Challenge, TGI will invest a total of up to ~$2 million in cross-disciplinary teams using geospatial technology to address urgent challenges in sustainable agriculture and global food security.

The Challenge invites proposals for collaborations between industry leaders, non-profit innovators, and academic researchers to develop and implement transformative geospatial solutions in food systems. TGI will offer up to $550K in funding to each team with projects focused on:

● Advanced modeling for crop shifting in response to climate and market pressures
● Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV) for nitrogen use efficiency to reduce waste and environmental impacts
● Supply chain modeling for the agri-food sector to strengthen resilience and reduce food insecurity

"Food security is one of the most pressing global challenges of our time, and geospatial technology is uniquely positioned to drive solutions," said Rachel Opitz, Program Manager, Geospatial Innovation for Food Security Challenge. "Through this Challenge, we're bringing together diverse expertise to accelerate innovations that can have a measurable impact—locally, nationally, and globally."

This initiative aligns with TGI's mission to establish the St. Louis region as a global geospatial center of excellence, fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations that address critical societal needs, including in sustainable agriculture and food security.

Call for Proposals Now Open
Applications are being accepted now through October 31, with funding available for projects that can demonstrate both technological innovation and real-world food systems impact. Teams must include at least one academic partner and one industry or non-profit partner.

To review the full Call for Proposals and submission guidelines, visit:
https://www.taylorgeospatial.org/strategic-iniatives/food-security/landing

About the Taylor Geospatial Institute
The Taylor Geospatial Institute is a world-class research collaborative dedicated to advancing geospatial science to address complex global challenges. By uniting experts from academia, industry, and government, TGI accelerates innovation in fields such as food security, sustainability, national security, and climate resilience.