IFAMA invites nominations for the 2026 Rising Star Award, recognizing an outstanding Early Career Professional whose work is making a meaningful difference in food and agricultural systems.

This prestigious award celebrates individuals who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and impact in strengthening the strategic focus, transparency, sustainability, and responsiveness of the global food and agribusiness sector, helping advance food security and resilient food systems for the future.

Eligibility Criteria

Nominees must:

• Be a non-student member of IFAMA

• Be 35 years of age or younger at the time of nomination

• Be actively working in or contributing to the global food and agribusiness sector, including the private sector, public sector, nonprofit/NGO organizations, or academia

Nomination Requirements

To nominate an early-career professional for the IFAMA Rising Star Award, please submit the following materials combined into a single PDF document in the order listed below:

1. Completed Nomination Form 

2. Cover Letter from the Proposer – Guidelines below
   The cover letter should highlight the nominee’s distinguished achievements and demonstrated impact across the global food and agribusiness sector, including their contributions to advancing the objectives of IFAMA

3. Nominee’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) – Guidelines below

4. 3–5 Minute Video Submission recorded by the nominee – Guidelines below

Cover Letter Guidelines

The proposer’s cover letter should present a clear, compelling, and evidence-based case why the nominee exemplifies the qualities and achievements recognized by the IFAMA Rising Star Award. The letter should address, where applicable, the following areas:

1. Academic Accomplishments
   Contributions to the food and agribusiness sector or related disciplines, including research, publications, teaching innovation, or scholarly impact.

2. Professional / Industry / Public Sector / NGO Contributions
   Demonstrated impact through policy influence, industry innovation, applied solutions, entrepreneurship, or practical advancements within the global food and agribusiness sector.

3. Leadership and Influence
   Leadership roles and the nominee’s ability to inspire, mobilize, and guide others in academic, professional, or community settings.

4. Professional Development
   Ongoing learning, skills development, and commitment to continuous improvement within the food and agribusiness sector.

5. Community Engagement and Service
   Meaningful outreach, mentorship, or service initiatives related to the food and agribusiness sector.

6. Global Perspective
   Understanding of global trends and challenges in the food and agribusiness sector, and contributions to international collaboration or cross-border initiatives.

7. Engagement with IFAMA
   The scope and quality of the nominee’s involvement with IFAMA and alignment with its mission and objectives.

These achievements and contributions should also be reflected in the nominee’s CV, which serves as a supporting reference document.

Video Submission Guidelines

Nominees are required to submit a 3–5-minute video (provide a YouTube link) addressing the following:

• Their current role and passion within the global food and agribusiness sector

• A key contribution, initiative, or innovation they are most proud of

• Their leadership philosophy and the impact they have had on others

• Why IFAMA and global engagement are important to them

The video submission supports a more holistic evaluation of each nominee and may also be used for recognition purposes, particularly if the award recipient is unable to attend the conference.

Submission & Contact Information

Please submit the completed nomination package as a single PDF to: iyb@ifama.org.

For questions regarding the nomination process, please contact the IFAMA Young Board at iyb@ifama.org, or reach out to Tatevik Artoonian, Chair of the 2026 Rising Star Award Selection Committee, at tavetisyan@csuchico.edu.

Important Dates

15 February – Nominations open
15 April – Nominations close
15–19 June – Winner announced during the IFAMA World Conference Presidential Banquet

Optional Guidance for CV Preparation

To support fair and consistent evaluation, nominees are encouraged to ensure their CV clearly reflects evidence relevant to the Rising Star Award criteria. The Selection Committee evaluates nominations using a rubric aligned with the categories outlined in the Call for Nominations.

There is no required format or page limitation, and nominees do not need to demonstrate achievements in every category. The Selection Committee recognises that early career professionals contribute in diverse and evolving ways across academia, industry, public service, and entrepreneurship – and that the balance of achievements in these categories may vary.

The following areas are provided as guidance to help nominees consider what to highlight:

Professional Role and Context
•  Current role and responsibilities
•  Scope of work, community served, or geographic reach

Contributions to Food and Agribusiness
•  Projects, initiatives, or innovations you have contributed to
•  Research, applied work, policy engagement, or industry impact
•  Practical solutions implemented or measurable outcomes achieved

Leadership and Influence
•  Leadership roles, formal or informal
•  Mentorship, team coordination, or community engagement
•  Examples of inspiring or mobilising others

Professional Growth
•  Ongoing learning, skill development, or career progression
•  New areas of responsibility or impact over time

Global or Cross Border Engagement
•  International collaborations
•  Work addressing global food system challenges
•  Exposure to diverse markets or communities

Engagement with IFAMA
•  Participation in IFAMA conferences, initiatives, or committees
•  Contributions aligned with IFAMA’s mission

Nominees are encouraged to present their experiences clearly and authentically, with an emphasis on meaningful impact rather than volume of achievements.

DOWNLOAD NOMINATION FORM HERE

See previous Rising Star winners here.