Blue Food Futures Research Grant Program 2026 up to $10,000

The Blue Food Futures Research Grant Program 2026 is now open for applications, offering early-career researchers a unique chance to advance impactful studies on blue foods, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems. Led by the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions (COS) at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the program supports innovative research that strengthens the connection between science, policy, and global blue food governance.

This research grant forms part of the UN Ocean Decade-endorsed Blue Food Futures Program (BFFP), a global effort that builds on the work of the Blue Food Assessment and the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition. The program focuses on how aquatic foods can contribute to sustainable diets, climate adaptation strategies, and equitable food systems worldwide.

About the Blue Food Futures Program

The Blue Food Futures Program (BFFP) aims to expand high-quality research on blue foods and empower emerging leaders in this field. By addressing the opportunities and challenges within aquatic food systems, the program helps guide policymakers, researchers, and communities toward more sustainable and climate-smart solutions.

The 2026 Research Grant Program marks BFFP’s first competitive fellowship, designed to support researchers interested in the links between blue foods, climate change, social equity, and global trade.

Grant Summary

The six-month fellowship provides funding for applied research conducted through the fellow’s current home institution. Selected researchers, known as Blue Food Futures Fellows, will work approximately 10 hours per week on projects aligned with BFFP priorities.

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Grant Benefits

Each fellow will receive:

• Up to $10,000 in research funding and travel support
• Mentorship from globally recognized experts in blue foods and ocean policy
• Opportunities to present findings at international policy forums
• Integration into a worldwide network of researchers, NGOs, and policymakers
• Support to co-develop a policy brief, white paper, or journal publication

Research Areas of Focus

Fellows will explore one of the following core themes:

1. Blue food pathways and interactions with climate and biodiversity goals
2. Sustainable, equitable, and resilient blue food transitions
3. Small-scale fisheries, trade patterns, and nutritional impacts

Selected researchers will collaborate with scientific working groups, help close knowledge gaps, and contribute to evidence-based policy recommendations supporting blue food sustainability.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be early-career researchers, practitioners, or professionals from academia, government, NGOs, or the private sector
• Hold a PhD earned within the past five years, or be a PhD candidate close to completion
• Demonstrate strong interest in blue food sustainability and related thematic topics
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Be available for virtual meetings across different time zones
• Preferably have experience working in developing or low-income regions
• Be affiliated with a research institution where the fellowship will be based

Additional language skills, strong teamwork ability, and multi-project management experience are considered assets.

Application Requirements

Applicants must prepare:

• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
• A comprehensive cover letter addressing:
  1. Relevant academic and research experience
  2. Prior work related to the Blue Food Futures Program
  3. Personal motivation and expected benefits of the fellowship
  4. How their expertise and networks can support blue food research
• Contact information for three references, including one from the applicant’s current institution

Applications should be uploaded through the official Google Form.

Application Timeline

• Rolling review begins: October 31, 2025
• Deadline: Applications accepted until the position is filled

Program Partners

The fellowship is supported by a strong network of global collaborators, including:

• Stockholm Resilience Centre – Stockholm University
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Government of Iceland (Chair of the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition)
• WorldFish
• National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
• University of British Columbia
• Xiamen University

These partnerships provide fellows with access to leading scientific expertise and global policy platforms.

Apply Now!

The Blue Food Futures Research Grant Program 2026 is a powerful opportunity for early-career researchers seeking to influence climate policy, ocean sustainability, and the future of global food systems. With funding, expert mentorship, and global exposure, the program empowers fellows to turn research into meaningful action.

For more information, visit the Blue Food Futures Research Grant Program.