Take the Challenge: The 2026 3-A SSI Student Hygienic Design Competition

3-A SSI is launching an all-new workforce development initiative that addresses two critical industry challenges:

• The persistent need for improved hygienic design solutions, and
• The shortage of early-career professionals who understand sanitary design principles from day one.

The 2026 3-A SSI Student Hygienic Design Competition is an opportunity for students to help redefine safety protocols in food manufacturing while competing on behalf of their alma mater.

The awards will be presented at the 3-A SSI 2026 Summit on Hygienic Design.

Students: Compete for Bragging Rights and a Share of $10,000 in Prize Money

The 2026 3-A SSI Student Hygienic Design Competition encourages interdisciplinary teams from universities across North America to solve real-world food safety challenges using 3-A Standards as a foundation. Teams will compete for a share of $10,000 in prize money.

Each team of two to five should include expertise in fields such as:

• Food Technology
• Engineering (Mechanical or Biological)
• Microbial Science
• Product Styling (Industrial Design)
• Chemical Studies
• Material Science

Over five months, students will work with industry mentors to design, prototype, and validate solutions to focused hygienic design problems that have frustrated the food processing industry for years. The competition focuses on developing superior, cleanable equipment using rigorous design principles.

Guide the Next Generation of Food Safety Innovators

Students and industry professionals will partner in this essential innovation competition. Experienced professionals are needed to support participating student teams. Food safety professionals with knowledge of the 3-A Sanitary Standards and a minimum of three years of experience in food processing, equipment design, or food safety are encouraged to volunteer as a mentor.

Mentors will help teams apply 3-A Standards to real-world problems while promoting inventive thinking. These volunteers will offer practical business perspectives, guidance on technical feasibility and engineering considerations, and will help students develop prototype and testing approaches.

The time commitment is expected to be 12 to 15 hours over five months (November through March), or about three hours monthly.

Mentors, although not eligible for a share of prize money, benefit by:

• Enhancing their organization’s standing among highly capablestudents.
• Improving their leadership and coaching abilities.
• Gaining insight from new concepts and approaches.
• Identifying future employees or summer interns early in theprocess.
• And more!

Ready to Take the Challenge?

Team registration begins in November. Students are encouraged to start recruiting teammates now. Register now to be notified when team registration opens.

To offer your service as a mentor (or to discuss the commitment), please email 3-A SSI Executive Director Meri Beth Wojtaszek.

Students and prospective mentors and sponsors can find additional information about the competition on the 2026 3-A SSI Student Hygienic Design Competition website.