Friends and family members established $100,000 annual grant program to support entrepreneurs in the early stages of making a difference in the food system.

September 28, 2022

2 Min Read
New grant honors plant-based visionary Greg Steltenpohl's lifelong mission

The Greg Steltenpohl Pragmatic Visionary Award, created in memory of natural products pioneer and plant-based visionary Greg Steltenpohl, is now accepting applications for its first $100,000 grant to early stage ventures in the plant-based food space.

Steltenpohl, the founder of Odwalla and Califia Farms, died in March 2021 after devoting his life to changing the food system through business.

Each year, one early-stage food venture will be awarded $100,000 grant to support or expand the accomplishments, reach and impact of their work. Alongside the merit of the team and its strategy, plant-centric initiatives will be evaluated for their embodiment of four core entrepreneurial principles that Greg championed throughout his career: systems entrepreneurship, pragmatic vision, ethical leadership, and creative transformation.

Greg Steltenpohl Pragmatic Visionary Award

To be eligible, a venture must be an established, for-profit business; operate in the broader food system; identify as plant-centric; and be in the early stages of development.

Applications can be submitted to pragmaticvisionaryaward.org between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30. Innovators in any capacity of the food system from “soil to soul” are eligible. Details of the submission requirements are available on the website. The award recipient will be notified in February.

Related:New grant honors plant-based visionary Greg Steltenpohl’s lifelong mission

“Our industry and world are better off because of Greg, and this award seeks to encourage and support innovators, entrepreneurs and change makers creating the more positive, plant-centric food system he dedicated his life to building,” said Gary Hirshberg, co-founder of Stonyfield and a 30-year friend of Steltenpohl.

The award, expected to be presented annually at Natural Products Expo West, is hosted in collaboration with the Plant Futures Initiative, Steltenpohl’s last entrepreneurial collaboration.

The nonprofit Plant Futures Initiative connects college and graduate students with experiential learning opportunities in a network of innovative food and agricultural enterprises. It is dedicated to accelerating transitions to sustainable and healthy food systems and growing the future leadership needed to guide the way. Grant recipients will participate in a documentary case study to share and inspire others to implement ways of transforming the world of entrepreneurship, capitalism and culture.

For more information, visit PragmaticVisionaryAward.org and PlantFuturesInitiative.org. The Greg Steltenpohl Visionary Award is a fund operated by Community Foundation Sonoma County, a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Related:Califia Farms carries on its founder's mission to 'do better' for people and planet

Source: The Greg Steltenpohl Visionary Award

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