A new £20,000 prize aimed at transforming food, farming, and health systems has been launched.

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.

Building on the UK government’s recent calls for a health food revolution, the Food System Prize is about encouraging innovation in this area.

It is open to new or existing businesses, farmers or entrepreneurs with great ideas or solutions which reimagine how we grow, distribute and eat food.

It’s also open to individuals or start-ups specialising in anything from soil health to the health of communities.

The deadline for entries is October 25, 2025 and the winner will be announced at Jersey Farming Conference on November 6, 2025.

Food and farming prize

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.

Ben Goldsmith, one of this year’s judges is a financier, philanthropist and lifelong nature lover who has been at the forefront of rewilding campaigns across Britain, Europe and further afield.

He is also the founder of the nature restoration charity, Conservation Collective.

“I am pleased to be a judge for this new prize which will celebrate land managers who are working with nature, not against it,” Goldsmith said.

“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.”

India Hamilton co-founder of Regen Gathering and HYPHA Consulting which is launching the Food System prize wants to see entries which strengthen regional food systems in particular.

“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,” Hamilton said.

Regen Gathering and HYPHA consulting co-founder Taylor Smythe added that they want 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,” Smythe said.

Reward

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.

Jersey is home to ‘Regen Gathering’, a two-day annual event which brings together farmers, chefs, healthcare professionals, policymakers, investors and community voices who are committed to building a better food future, rooted in soil, health and community.

The island has a long and rich agricultural history and is now world renowned for its ‘Big 4’ exports – Jersey Royal potatoes, the Jersey cow, Jersey oysters and Jersey lobsters.

Regen Gathering 2025, will be held on September 5-6, 2025 at Le Tacheron Farm in Trinity, Jersey.