CIFAR Arrell Future of Food Initiative
Ask bold questions.
Reimagine the Future of Food.
Food — its production, transportation and processing — is responsible for the greatest environmental impact humans have on this planet. The global food system is also under mounting pressure: food insecurity is rising, biodiversity is declining and climate-driven shocks have intensified.
What is urgently needed is a bold and integrated approach that acknowledges the complexity of these problems and brings together diverse voices to reimagine how we grow, share and sustain food in a rapidly changing world.
The CIFAR Arrell Future of Food Initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Arrell Family Foundation.
Call for Workshops
This Call for Workshops represents a first step in potentially developing new CIFAR research programs as part of a multi-year and multi-stage commitment to the Future of Food. A subset of workshop teams will advance to two-year Discovery Programs, with the most promising among them potentially evolving into full five-year CIFAR Research Programs. Discovery Programs will have the opportunity to continue exploring the questions seeded at the workshop, meeting twice per year. They will also engage with other programs (both within The Future of Food and CIFAR’s broader network) to think further across disciplines and challenges as part of broadening impact. Ultimately, we aim to establish a small number of new CIFAR Research Programs that will join existing initiatives within a new Impact Cluster on the Future of Food.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Contact us for more information.
Program Details
Here is what you need to know to apply:
Eligibility
At time of application, teams should include a minimum of three to a maximum of five members:
• There are no geographical restrictions on who may apply. CIFAR encourages teams to be international and interdisciplinary.
• Early-career faculty are encouraged to apply.
What teams will receive
A 2-day in-person workshop, with at least one virtual planning session in advance.
CIFAR provides the resources (travel, accommodation, meals) and logistical support for the workshops.
Workshops will include approximately 12 participants. The full participant list will be determined in collaboration with CIFAR.
Workshops must be completed by May 1, 2026.
Statement on equity, diversity & inclusion
CIFAR is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognize that bringing together individuals from multiple backgrounds, perspectives and experiences is integral to advancing excellence and increasing the impact of our organization.
Ensuring that every person feels valued and welcome is vital to achieving our mission, and embodies our values of diversity, creativity, excellence, risk-taking, respect and collaboration.
CIFAR strives to foster the active participation and inclusion of all, including those from underrepresented groups in research, such as but not limited to women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of sexual and gender minority groups - across geographic borders, disciplines, and career stage.
In the pursuit of excellence, CIFAR embraces diverse ideas and perspectives, and proactively seeks to increase equity, diversity and inclusion within our community. CIFAR aims to create a culture that embodies these principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work.
For more information, see CIFAR’s Action Plan on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
Questions? Please contact [email protected].
Key Dates
September 8, 2025: Call for Discovery Workshop proposals opens
October 14, 2025: Discovery Workshop proposals due
End of November: Proposal decisions communicated
May 2026: All workshops conclude
FAQs
Can I be part of more than one CIFAR program? (e.g., current Fellows that want to be part of Future of Food)
Yes, you can be part of more than one CIFAR program.
Can I be part of more than one proposal?
Yes, you can be part of more than one proposal.
What is a Lead Applicant? What is a Team Member?
Together, the Lead Applicant and Team Members make up the core team. At the workshop proposal stage, the entire core team, pulling on their unique expertise, is responsible for developing the proposal and ensuring that the application fulfills the evaluation criteria. The lead applicant is responsible for submitting the application.
I have a partner based outside academia. Can they be involved on the team?
Program members or advisors may come from outside academia so long as they are in a primarily research-related role. Non-academic partners could also become involved as impact partners, helping to support the team in translating their research.
Is CIFAR looking for any specific research areas, topics or questions?
No, we are open to receiving workshop proposals from any area of research that fits within the Future of Food theme. Proposals may choose to critically engage with the questions outlined in the Discovery Panel report, or pose new questions. Please read The Future of Food Program Guide for further information.
How many proponents are expected to prepare a workshop proposal?
We require that the proposal be prepared and submitted by a small core group of 3-5 researchers. If awarded, the full participant list will be developed in collaboration with CIFAR.
Do I have to be Canadian to apply?
No, Canadian citizenship is not a requirement for any member of the core team.
I already collaborate with several researchers with whom I'd like to submit a proposal, but none of them are working in Canada. Does this matter?
No. See question above "Do I have to be Canadian to apply?"
I’m already part of an existing network of researchers – is it OK if we submit a proposal on an idea we’ve already been discussing for awhile?
Yes, so long as it fulfills the criteria outlined in The Future of Food Program Guide.
Does my proposal need to be in English?
Applications will be accepted in English and French, however, they may be translated and reviewed in English.
What type of support will CIFAR provide?
Successful applicants will be provided with resources (travel, accommodation, meals) and logistical support for the workshops as needed. Workshop locations will be decided in consultation with CIFAR and may happen in Canada or globally, depending on timing and participants.
My workshop proposal overlaps slightly with an area that you already support. Should I still apply?
Yes. If you believe there to be overlap, please tell us how your idea is distinct and/or extends from CIFAR’s current research areas. Please review The Future of Food Program Guide for further information.
Can I ask my postdocs to be part of the proposal process?
CIFAR encourages core teams to include individuals at different career stages. When assembling your team, ensure that each member not only represents a range of experience but also brings unique contributions to the proposed workshop.
Many of the researchers I’d like to work with on my LOI are very senior. Is this okay?
CIFAR strongly encourages applicants to engage researchers at various stages of their careers. Diversity of perspectives will only serve to improve research outcomes. Keep in mind that all researchers involved must be committed to the project and have the capacity to contribute in unique ways.
How do I know the process is fair?
CIFAR is committed to an open, fair, and transparent process. Like any competition, the purpose of our process is to seek out the very best ideas as judged against our criteria. Proposals will be reviewed by CIFAR for basic eligibility. Proposals will then be reviewed externally. CIFAR will shortlist proposals based on the recommendations of the reviewers and make final funding decisions. Successful proposals will be selected to develop workshops in Stage II.
What exactly is the process for submitting the proposal through the online portal?
Please click the Apply Now button. This link will take you to CIFAR's online portal where you will be completing your proposal. You will be taken through a series of tasks including entering information about you and your team, your workshop proposal (in accordance with the criteria outlined in the Future of Food Program Guide), and suggested reviewers. Once all tasks are complete, you will have the option to submit your proposal.
What kind of research do you support?
CIFAR supports bold, forward-looking research that is intrinsically interdisciplinary, and that necessitates long-term collaboration. Due to this approach, research programs are not expected to have immediate applied outcomes. We suggest visiting the CIFAR Research Programs page to see the nature and diversity of programs CIFAR supports today.
Will you accept proposals with leadership from the Humanities?
Yes. CIFAR seeks to support research from across disciplines. As a theme, the Future of Food is both a challenge and opportunity that could be expertly tackled by a variety of perspectives. We eagerly anticipate that through this theme, we may be well-positioned to support new areas of inquiry and engage with disciplines and groups who may be less familiar with our unique approach to interdisciplinary collaboration.
If we write a Discovery Program proposal and submit it for Stage III, but don’t get accepted, can we apply again at a later date?
Yes, if your proposal is not selected for Stage III you can apply again to a future CIFAR call as long as the content of the proposal is appropriate for the theme of the new call.
Are you running this competition on an annual basis?
Calls for Workshops are hosted on an ad hoc basis depending on ongoing efforts and resource availability.
Why has CIFAR decided to do this now?
Since 1982, CIFAR has championed high-risk, interdisciplinary research on the world’s most complex and underexplored challenges. The future of food is shaped by a web of interconnected issues that are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, issues that cannot be solved in isolation. CIFAR’s model, which brings together diverse perspectives and disciplines, is uniquely suited to generate deeper, more integrated insights into global food system dynamics. We are eager to see the bold new ideas that will emerge from our Call for Workshops.
Is a budget required for the submission?
We do not expect applicants to provide any budget details. Our practice is to provide the necessary funding for a given initiative, based on the size of the team and the planned activity. CIFAR develops the necessary budget once a proposal has been approved.
Are references required in the workshop proposal submission?
References may be included in the strict word limits if you wish. However, we recommend that applicants do not spend significant effort summarizing the current literature, but rather focus on the key ideas or challenges that emerge from the literature.
Is there a specified format for CV submission?
There is no standard format we expect. The only requirement is that it be no more than two pages. The reason for the CV is for the assessment panel to be familiar with team members’ backgrounds, contributions, and any recognition they have received for their work. We discourage lengthy lists of publications, lectures, and committee involvement.
How much detail should I include in the Excellence of Research Team section?
The excellence discussion should focus on those researchers who will make up the core research team. Applicants should identify the nature of the team that they believe should be brought together, and then identify some of the key researchers or disciplines that they anticipate would likely be drawn to the collaboration, beyond the co-applicants. It's partly speculative, as we are not expecting that the applicants have already sought out and enlisted this broader group. However, we expect the applicants to indicate who should be attracted based on the ambitious nature of the question or challenge that is being proposed.
What is the correct balance between addressing novel ideas versus offering practical solutions (on the ground) to a problem?
CIFAR supports novel, fundamental research. We are not looking for proposals or workshops to solve practical solutions. The purpose of the workshop is to uncover bold, new, and interdisciplinary research questions that may have the opportunity to be further explored in a 2-year Discovery program. Through this exploration, teams may build new pathways for broader societal impact, and should anticipate engaging with non-academic stakeholders.
Can workshop aims and outcomes include implications for policy and practice, or should they mostly be focused on science advancement?
CIFAR programs are intended to advance new transformative knowledge and are expected to engage with stakeholders from outside academia. Throughout CIFAR’s history, many research programs and program members have engaged with policymakers, civil society leaders, and education leaders in postsecondary institutions to explore how their research may impact practice or policy.
What opportunities are there to engage non-university based partners?
All successful workshop teams will work with CIFAR to identify additional intellectual resources (such as additional participants or partners) needed to make progress on the selected research questions. These additional workshop participants can come from a variety of backgrounds, including non-university, as long as they have unique expertise that can contribute value to the aims of the workshop.
If I am the Lead Applicant on the proposal, and am successful in moving forward to the Discovery Program stage, do I have to be one of the Co-Directors put forward in the submission?
The Lead Applicant does not have to be one of the Co-Directors put forward to lead the program.