As part of the World Food Day 2025 celebration, the Mountain Food Systems Thematic Working Group of the Himalayan University Consortium-in transition (HUC), in partnership with Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) and Native Foodscape Foundation, invites entries for an online contest highlighting traditional, ethnic, and Indigenous foods of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. This initiative aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage, nutritional wisdom, and sustainable food practices of mountain communities across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).
Who can participate?
Students, researchers, faculty members, and community partners from HUC member institutions and the public. Members of Indigenous or tribal communities and women are strongly encouraged to participate. Individual or team submissions (max. 3 members per team). Teams of various age cohorts are strongly encouraged to take part in this contest.
WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
There will be a Top Prize for Team Submission (equivalent US$350), a Top Prize for Individual Submission (equiv US$250), and two Special Mentionings (equiv US$200/ each). A panel of highly qualified judges, consisted of agriculture and food scientists, social scientists, and an internationally acclaimed Chef of an Indigenous community in the HKH, will review the entries.
Winning entries will be announced on the International Mountain Day 11 December 2025 and in a short documentary and an e-booklet that will be published on partners’ outlets.
Only complete submissions - having responded to all 20+ mandatories questions which may take up to 20 minutes - will be evaluated by judges. Please enter your email at the end of the form so that the organizers can contact you.
Deadline for submission: 6 November 2025

Question Title

* 1. Which form of submission you intend to submit?

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