The Future of Food and Nutrition AI Challenge
Helping shape the future of nutrition and dietetics through trusted innovation
Challenge statement
How might artificial intelligence help advance evidence-based nutrition guidance, empower nutrition professionals and improve nutrition outcomes for individuals and communities?
Overview
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy) and MATTER are launching the Future of Food and Nutrition AI Challenge, a pitch competition to identify and elevate innovative solutions that are shaping the future of nutrition and dietetics.
Selected participants will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions at the 2026 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo® (FNCE®), the year’s largest meeting of food and nutrition experts, connect with leaders across the nutrition ecosystem and gain visibility among thousands of food and nutrition professionals from across the country.
The pitch competition is designed to engage innovators working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, nutrition and healthcare while creating opportunities for collaboration, professional growth and innovation across the field.
What we're looking for
The Academy is seeking innovative AI-enabled solutions that support the future of nutrition and dietetics.
Potential areas of interest include:
- Evidence-based nutrition guidance
- Credentialed nutrition and dietetics professional support
- Consumer and patient engagement
- Research and education
- Workforce and operational efficiency
- Emerging applications of AI in nutrition and healthcare
The Academy welcomes a broad range of ideas and encourages applicants to apply even if their solution does not fit neatly within one category.
Benefits of participation
Selected participants will receive:
- The opportunity to pitch their solution at the 2026 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo® (FNCE®), in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, October 25 at 5 p.m. Participants will receive 1 complimentary registration to FNCE®.
- Exposure to thousands of food and nutrition professionals, healthcare leaders and industry stakeholders.
- Opportunities to connect with Academy leadership and key decision-makers.
- Participation in coaching and preparation activities prior to the live pitch event.
- Feedback from judges and subject matter experts.
- Increased visibility within the nutrition and healthcare innovation ecosystem.
- The winning pitch will receive additional recognition during the FNCE® 2026 Closing General Session.
Additional recognition opportunities and awards will be announced as details are finalized.
Who should apply
The Academy encourages applications from innovators across the nutrition and healthcare ecosystem. Teams that include Academy members, including registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered, will receive priority consideration.
- Academy members
- Registered dietitian nutritionists
- Nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered
- Startups
- Entrepreneurs
- Students
- Early-career professionals
- Researchers
- Technology developers
- Healthcare innovators
- Multidisciplinary teams
Solutions at any stage of development are welcome.
Whether you are building a new technology, developing a service model or exploring a novel application of AI within nutrition and healthcare, we encourage you to apply.
Key dates
Applications open: Tuesday, July 21
Market-shaping event: Wednesday, August 12 2026
Applications close: Friday, September 11, 2026
Finalist selection and onboarding: October 2026
Pitch competition at FNCE®: Sunday, October 25
Apply
Ready to help shape the future of nutrition?
Submit your application to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Pitch Competition and share your vision for how AI can strengthen nutrition care, support professionals and improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until September 11, 2026 at 11:59pm CT.
Loyola University Chicago’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, in collaboration with MATTER, invites community-based organizations, researchers, health innovators, and ecosystem leaders to apply for the AI + Health Equity hands-on workshop designed to build foundational knowledge of AI and explore how AI tools can support equity-centered health innovation for select community-based organizations, researchers, and healthcare stakeholders.
Please visit the Loyola University Chicago Health Equity Quest page for full program details and key dates.
Applications will be accepted through September 10, 2026 at 11:59 pm CT.
Seeking: Innovative digital health solutions aligned with BARDA’s mission to enhance pandemic preparedness and fortify health security.
This program is seeking to accelerate digital health tools that enhance preparedness and response to public health emergencies due to:
- Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats
- Pandemic Influenza
- Emerging Infectious Diseases
Have a solution that doesn't quite fit?
If you are working on a solution for medical countermeasures, but don't see the right fit, we still value your solution and want to hear from you. Please fill out a preliminary application and we can assess your fit on an ad hoc basis.