Wilbur-Ellis Congratulates Students Honored With Innovation Award!
Just over a year ago – as Wilbur-Ellis celebrated its 100th anniversary – we launched the Wilbur-Ellis Innovation Award. The Innovation Award invited teams of U.S. college and university students to submit ideas for sustainably feeding a world population that is expected to grow by 2 billion people by 2050.
In August, 2022, Wilbur-Ellis presented the $25,000 grand prize to a team of Kansas State University students – the K-State Entomology Team – for their innovative idea. The winning submission explored using “plastic-degrading insect microbial symbionts” (bacteria) to give insects plastic degrading abilities, which would turn plastic waste into biomass for a variety of productive uses.
The Kansas State University Entomology Team received the $25,000 grand prize in Wilbur-Ellis’ first Innovation Award.
We also gave $5,000 honorable mention awards to four teams that explored such diverse topics as how to enhance the honey bee population, the potential of basalt to improve soil health, an innovative way to produce meat, and expanding ocean farming.
Over 30 teams, including more than 120 students, participated in the first Wilbur-Ellis Innovation Award. In the fall of 2022, we’ll launch the second Innovation Award – and it will be open to college and university students in the U.S. and most of Canada.
The creative ideas this year’s teams brought forward are exciting. But what’s most exciting is engaging the next generation and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking that could lead to breakthroughs in sustainable agriculture.
To learn more about the Wilbur-Ellis Innovation Award and the students and ideas that were honored, please visit the Wilbur-Ellis Innovation Award website.
K-State Entomology Team:
- Molly Edeburn
- Ivan Grijalva
- Brandon Hall
- Jacqueline Maille
- Theresa Markwardt
- Cameron Osborne
- Victoria Pickens
- Hannah Quellhorst
- Mollie Toth