Ferrero Hazelnut Company, a recently-established business which brings together all activities within the hazelnut supply chain of the global Ferrero Group, has launched the ‘Ferrero Hazelnut Award Contest’ to support and improve research and innovation in the hazelnut sector.
The Ferrero Group, will award grants totalling €160,000 (A$225,000) to participants who propose the best ideas based around a series of criteria including innovation, sustainability and transferability. A grant of €150,000 (A$210,000) will be provided to the winner, with two runners-up grants of €5,000 (A$7,000) to be awarded.
Participants, who are expected to include university researchers, non-profit research institutions and higher education facilities worldwide, can choose from four topics related to improvement, innovation, sustainability and new strategies in relation to hazelnut cultivation.
Submissions will be evaluated by an internationally-based independent scientific commission established at Italy’s prestigious Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Piacenza and co-ordinated by Professor Lorenzo Morelli, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science.
Winners will be announced at Italy’s international Expo Milano 2015, where the Ferrero Group will be presenting its international corporate social responsibility initiatives, and receive the “special award package”. This includes attending the awards ceremony at the Expo in mid-September, visiting Ferrero’s facilities in Alba, Italy, as well as participating in tours of the hazelnut orchards and related agricultural processing activities in the area.
Further information about the ‘Ferrero Hazelnut Award Contest’, including application details and guidelines, can be found at www.hazelnutcompany.ferrero.com.
Deadline for submissions is June 30, 2015.