The Bezos Earth Fund has selected the Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI) as a Phase I grantee in the AI Grand Challenge for Climate and Nature, awarding $50,000 to develop a groundbreaking AI-powered tool that scores food sustainability across nutrition, health, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions.

As part of PTFI’s North American Center of Excellence along with the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health (IIFH), the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS) will contribute its expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), nutrition, and sustainable food product development.

The new tool will use PTFI’s multi-omics data to generate ingredient-level recommendations, with pilot applications planned for school systems, R&D labs, and chefs. This collaboration marks a bold step toward integrating AI and nutrition science to drive sustainable, data-informed food systems worldwide.

The AI Grand Challenge Awards invest in AI-driven solutions for climate and nature, awarding $1.2 million in inaugural funding.

Announced May 21, this is the first of a multiphase funding opportunity from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ global initiative. The 24 awardees each received roughly $50,000 to explore ideas to address climate change and nature loss through use of AI. For this first-ever Grand Challenge award, applicants’ projects centered on sustainable proteins, power grid optimization and biodiversity conservation.

Phase I awardees now have the opportunity to apply for a Phase II implementation grant: as many as 15 awardees “will each receive up to $2 million to close the gap between concept and viability,” according to the Earth Fund.