Timeline Phase A - Written Proposal (Due 15 May 2026) Please ensure your submission is 7 pages or fewer and formatted for blind review (including a title page); the content must address the product concept, technical process, packaging, consumer insights, and shelf-life safety using JFS citations. Phase B - Prototype + Video (Due 1 July 2026) Applicants are required to provide a detailed recipe spreadsheet and a video pitch with a duration of 5–15 minutes. Phase C - Regional Tasting & Q&A (Due 20-25 July 2026) Optional Q&A; winners announced by 25 Sep 2026. Description The competition encourages young food science and technology talent worldwide to develop almond‑based products embedded into local daily food specialties across six global regions. Theme: “Incorporating Almond Products into Local Daily Food Specialties.” Approved ingredient forms include whole kernels, slices, slivers, flour, diced almonds, almond butter, and blanched paste. Eligibility Teams of students/young professionals in food science and related fields from the six target regions. Lead presenter ≤ 35 years old by 31 Oct 2026. Team size 1–5. Submissions must be original and non‑infringing. Judging Overview (100 pts) Proposal: Novelty (30), Feasibility (25), Almond Usage (20), Market Fit (15), Safety/Shelf Life (10). Prototype: Almond prominence (30), Sensory quality (25), Technical execution (20), Packaging concept (10), Video communication (15). Prizes & Awards First Prize: USD 1,000 Second Prize: USD 500 Third Prize: USD 300 *The number of awards may vary depending on the number of qualified entries. Travel Awards: Up to two members from each First Prize team may receive travel support of up to USD 3,500 each. Product Safety & IP Proposals must address hazards and shelf‑life reasoning. Prohibited content applies. Teams retain IP with promotional license. Review: Submission Checklist Phase A: Title page, ≤7‑page blinded proposal, references. Phase B: Recipe spreadsheet, video pitch. Information on where to send samples (in country) will be advised separately. First name * Last name * Affiliation * Address * Country * AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCaribbean NetherlandsCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongo (Brazzaville)Congo (Kinshasa)Cook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHondurasHong Kong S.A.R., ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacao S.A.R., ChinaMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorth KoreaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinian TerritoryPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint BarthélemySaint HelenaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwan, ChinaTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluU.S. Virgin IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVaticanVenezuelaVietnamWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwe E-mail * Team identification Lead Presenter: ≤ 35 years old by 31 Oct 2026. Lead presenter full name * Lead presenter affiliation * Lead e-mail * Team member 1 Member 1 full name * Member 1 affiliation * Member 1 e-mail * Team member 2 Member 2 full name Member 2 affiliation Member 2 e-mail Team member 3 Member 3 full name Member 3 affiliation Member 3 e-mail Team member 4 Member 4 full name Member 4 affiliation Member 4 e-mail Upload proposal Upload ≤ 7 pages; blind review; Journal of Food Science citation format; required title page; must cover concept, ingredients/process, packaging, consumer/market thinking, safety/shelf life, technical considerations.Files must be less than 50 MB.Allowed file types: pdf doc docx ppt pptx xls xlsx. Upload recipe Upload Files must be less than 50 MB.Allowed file types: pdf doc docx ppt pptx xls xlsx. Upload pitch video Upload To ensure the file stays under 250MB, instruct users to use these settings: Resolution: 720p (1280x720) OR 480p (854x480 for higher safety margin) Target Bitrate: 1.5 Mbps to 2.2 Mbps (1500–2200 Kbps) Frame Rate: 30 fps Codec: H.264 (MP4) Files must be less than 250 MB.Allowed file types: mp4. Submit
