A new £20,000 prize aimed at transforming food, farming, and health systems was launched on Thursday 24 July in Jersey, with a minimum £5,000 being awarded to an applicant from the Crown Dependencies – Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
The judges include the environmentalist and financier Ben Goldsmith; founder and CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust Patrick Holden CBE; Josiah Meldrum from Hodmedod, the Great British Bean Project and farmer and co-host of Farmarama Abby Rose.
The Food System Prize is all about encouraging innovation. It’s open to new or existing businesses with great ideas or solutions which reimagine how we grow, distribute and eat food. It’s also open to individuals or startups specialising in anything from soil health to the health of communities.
Regen Gathering Jersey is behind the inaugural prize, supported by Lloyds Bank Crown Dependencies, Evelyn Partners, The Crown, Farm Jersey, Woven and Channel Island Co-op.
Regen Gathering is a two-day annual event held at Le Tacheron Farm in Trinity, and this year will be on 5 and 6 September. It’s a not-for-profit event, supported by Farm Jersey for farmers, growers and everyone who’s interested in the food they eat and how it affects the environment, their health and society. The event is sponsored by Alex Picot and a range of other Jersey businesses.
India Hamilton co-founder of Regen Gathering and HYPHA Consulting, which is launching the Food System prize, wants to see entries that strengthen regional food systems in particular, something she believes is crucial if we are to improve the population’s food security and health.
‘We want to empower communities and improve long term health outcomes by encouraging fresh ideas which improve the way we all get our food, and we want to support people whose ambition it is to build a healthy, resilient food system”.
Ben Goldsmith, one of this year’s judges, is a financier, philanthropist and lifelong nature lover who’s been at the forefront of re-wilding campaigns across Britain, Europe and beyond. He’s the founder of the Conservation Collective, a leading nature restoration charity and brings to the prize a wealth of experience in how business and nature can successfully flourish.
‘I am pleased to be a judge for this new prize that will celebrate land managers who are working with nature, not against it. Combining the best of ancient wisdom, such as rotational practices, with modern technology, such as soil sensors, drones and no-till, offers a pathway to landscapes that are not only more productive and more resilient, but more joyful too.’
Regen Gathering and HYPHA consulting co-founder Taylor Smythe says the idea is to support farmers and entrepreneurs who are driving real change. ‘Building resilience and diversity into our supply chains is absolutely vital. There’s a huge untapped opportunity to bring imagination and creativity into real community and the farming sector.’
There will be a cash prize of £15,000 for the winner and £5,000 worth of support to help with branding, website design and building a market for products as well as access to the Co-op marketplace (if relevant to the business or idea). An extra £5,000 is being ring-fenced exclusively for applicants from the Crown Dependencies – Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man.
Regen Gathering 2025, will be held on 5/6 September at Le Tacheron Farm in Trinity, Jersey. The programme will be live from 1 August, when free tickets will be available via www.regen-gathering.com
Applications to The Food System Prize will close on 25 October and the winners will be announced on 6 November 2025 at the Jersey Farming Conference.
THE FOOD SYSTEM PRIZE
• Who can apply? Anyone with a good idea. Entrepreneurs, individuals, farmers,
startups, and organisations with ideas or active projects that improve food, farming, or health.
• How much is awarded? £20,000 total, £15,000 cash prize and £5,000 in branding, website design and mentorship. An extra £5,000 reserved for a winner from the Crown Dependencies.
• When did it launch? 24 July 2025
• When do applications close? 25 October 2025
• When are winners announced? 6 November 2025 at the Jersey Farming
Conference
• How to apply: Visit www.regen-gathering.com and say in 500 words about your idea or business
