About this archived opportunity

Overview This is an internal challenge for the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Team leaders must be an ARS scientist or post-doctoral researcher.The theme for ARSX2022 is the Circular Economy in Agriculture. We are looking to make a paradigm shift from a linear to a circular economy. Your ideas will transform our approach from linear processes that take starting materials and end up with products and waste streams to integrated processes in a circular economy that take starting materials and produce products and starting materials for other processes. By developing regenerative processes and closing gaps in existing loops, we can use our natural resources more efficiently.This challenge will award up to three teams submitting the most compelling proposals up to $100,000 each to demonstrate proof of concept for their ideas. If you’ve had a bold and/or unconventional idea in this area in the back of your mind, now is the time to act! In ARSX2022, the teams submitting the 10 most compelling ideas will be selected as Phase 1 winners (finalists). These teams will have several weeks to participate in an innovation forum, to refine their ideas, and to build out their pitches. At the end of Phase 2, finalists will present their pitches to a panel of judges and an audience of their peers and colleagues. The judges will award up to $100,000 each to the top three teams.In addition to the three $100,000 prizes, this challenge offers participants a chance to build new relationships across disciplines and geographies, and Phase 1 winners will have access to both group and individual pitch coaching. Guidelines This challenge is open to ARS personnel only. Team leads/captains must be scientists or post-doctoral researchers.External collaborators are permitted only on ARS-led teams. Please see the Rules section below. Restoring our Planet with Circular, Sustainable, Agriculture and Food SystemsAdvances in U.S. food and agricultural

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