Sustainable agriculture” means different things to different people, but regardless of how you define it or how you think it can be achieved, one thing that reasonable people can agree is “unsustainable” would be to continue producing agricultural goods at 2014 levels and expect to meet the needs of an additional 2 billion people. By 2050 the global population is expected to rise to more than 9 billion, up from 7.2 billion today. It’s a daunting challenge and will become even more so in the future. It’s not like there is untapped land available for agriculture, and freshwater is already becoming scarce. So, what are we going to do to address this challenge—sustainably?

Syngenta has given that question considerable thought. Last fall, the crop protection manufacturer launched The Good Growth Plan to help sustainably address the global food security challenge. This week Syngenta launched a contest seeking creative ideas that will support one or more of six measurable commitments that make up The Good Growth Plan. The Good Growth Plan Grant Contest will award a grand prize of $20,000 to help the winner implement the idea. Three runners-up also will receive $10,000 each for the same purpose.

“Last fall, Syngenta launched around the world The Good Growth Plan, agriculture’s most ambitious and comprehensive program to help sustainably address the global food security challenge,” Jill Wheeler, Syngenta’s head of sustainable productivity in North America, said. “As part of this effort, we have been asking others to be involved. Now we are reaching out broadly in North America with this contest to find truly innovative ideas.”

The Good Growth Plan addresses the overall food security challenge with six measurable objectives to boost resource efficiency, rejuvenate ecosystems and strengthen rural communities. The commitments include:

1. Make crops more efficient: increase the average productivity of the world’s major crops by 20 percent without using more land, water or inputs
2. Rescue more farmland: improve the fertility of nearly 25 million acres of farmland on the brink of degradation
3. Help biodiversity flourish: enhance the biodiversity on more than 12 million acres of farmland
4. Empower smallholder farmers: reach 20 million smallholders and enable them to increase productivity by 50 percent
5. Help people stay safe: train 20 million farm workers on labor safety, especially in developing countries
6. Look after every worker: strive for fair labor conditions throughout our entire supply chain network

The contest seeks ideas that can be implemented to support one or more of the commitments outlined above. The deadline for submissions is July 14. For full contest details, official rules and to submit an idea, visit www.GoodGrowthPlanGrant.com.

For inspiration on grant ideas, watch Syngenta’s animated video.