Forestry innovation recognized in Transformative Research Challenge

Rome – The winner of the 2025 Transformative Research Challenge (TRC) Forestry Innovation Prize was announced today at the World Food Forum TRC Finals event, held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome.

Represented by Christopher Stefan Erasmus from South Africa (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), the IMPACT Open Air Lab was awarded the prestigious prize for their innovative research proposal focused on a low-cost wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for precision forestry.

The announcement was made by Zhimin Wu, Director of the FAO Forestry Division, during the TRC Finals, a hybrid event attended by global experts, youth innovators and international audiences.

This year’s competition saw two forestry finalists, Erasmus and Indonesia’s Bangun Adi Wijaya, pitch their bold, youth-led ideas as part of the TRC Finals. 

“Youth are key drivers of innovation,” said Wu, congratulating both finalists on their outstanding ideas. “They excel at identifying new issues, trying out fresh solutions, and advocating for inclusive ways to address challenges."

Research funding

The Forestry Innovation Prize aims to spotlight emerging researchers whose work contributes to sustainable forest management and the role of forests in food security and climate resilience. As the category winner, the IMPACT Open Air Lab will receive research funding, opportunities to promote their research, and post-award support to scale and implement their proposal.

The Forestry Innovation Prize is one of five TRC innovation awards recognizing outstanding research in critical areas of agri-food systems transformation.

Launched in 2021, the TRC empowers young researchers to propose and develop actionable solutions for the future of agrifood systems. This year’s TRC attracted hundreds of applications globally, with just 10 finalists making it to the final pitch stage in Rome.

The TRC is hosted by the World Food Forum’s Youth Innovation Lab. Prize winners also gain global visibility, networking opportunities and a platform to share their ideas with decision-makers worldwide.