EIT Food

Welcome to #FoodForward – EIT Food’s LinkedIn newsletter, bringing you the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities shaping the future of food. 🚀 In this first edition, we explore: 🔹 Women-led innovation – Funding and opportunities for entrepreneurs 🔹 Key takeaways on regenerative agriculture from EIT Food’s CEO 🔹 Consumer trust in the food system – What’s changing? 🔹 constellr launches a satellite to support climate action & food security 🔹 Promoting healthy and sustainable food choices – How can we bridge the gap? 🔹 How to eat for lifelong health – Insights from our podcast Whether you’re an entrepreneur, researcher, policymaker, or agrifood enthusiast, there’s something for you in this newsletter! 💬 Have thoughts to share? Leave us a comment! Know someone who would love #FoodForward? Send it their way or share it with your network. 📩 Click ‘subscribe’ to be notified of the next edition and never miss an update. 👇 #ImprovingFoodTogether

Food is no longer just a fuel - it’s becoming a medicine for every life stage. 🌱🥣 💊 There is growing interest in how dietary choices can support health across the life course - not just in older age. From protein intake to maintain muscle function to balanced nutrition that may help reduce the risk of diet-related diseases, food is increasingly seen as a proactive tool to support healthier ageing. 🥗💪 "Many cancers, heart-related diseases, diabetes, even Alzheimer's actually have causes that can be tackled by dietary shifts. It's really important to look at the interface between food and health." – Petra Wagner, Deputy Head of Center for Innovation Systems and Policy, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology Food innovators are responding with products tailored to different life stages, including functional ingredients and personalised approaches. At the same time, consumers are pushing back against ultra-processed “health” foods and seeking natural, authentic products that support both physical and emotional wellbeing 🌿🧠 This #WorldHealthDay, attention turns to the rising role of food as holistic medicine - a powerful trend that’s influencing how people eat, age, and live. 👉 Swipe through the slides for insights into how food is evolving to support lifelong health. 💬 Do you think food can replace medicine in the future? What would it take to make health through food truly accessible to everyone? Let us know in the comments. Ramon Mensink, Cargill, Salus Optima #FoodAsMedicine #FutureOfFood #ImprovingFoodTogether

🌿 Who must be involved to help scale financing for #RegenerativeAgriculture? The transition to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative food system has a positive business case but needs funding to scale. To address this, we need collaboration, which will involve: ✅ Working directly with farmers to create funding solutions that meet their needs. ✅ Large-scale asset owners and institutional investors to fund the transition. ✅ Public-private partnerships to design integrated financing packages. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, we can create the financial ecosystem needed to scale regenerative agriculture and build a more sustainable food system. 💬 Hear from experts Stefania Avanzini, Tanja Havemann, Mark Gough, and Simon Duchatelet on who they think needs to drive this transformation. What other stakeholders do you think should be involved? Share your thoughts in the comments! These insights were recorded after our workshop with Clarmondial AG, Foodvalley and the World Economic Forum Food Innovation Hub Europe at Building Bridges 2024. #ImprovingFoodTogether #FutureOfFood #SustainableFood #RegenerativeFoodSystems #RegenerativeFinance #SustainableAg United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), Capitals Coalition, Unilever, WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development, OP2B

🎓 “MFS has been very instrumental in helping me discover my capabilities, being an effective team worker, and taking significant strides towards my entrepreneurial aspirations.” The EIT Food Master’s in Food Systems (MFS) isn’t just a degree - it’s a career-defining journey. From enhancing entrepreneurial skills to gaining a deeper understanding of the food system, our students are preparing to drive change and contribute to a more sustainable future of food. 🍏🌍 📢 Applications are open: 🗓️ March intake deadline: 30 March 2025 (International & EEA students) 🗓️ June intake deadline: 15 June 2025 (EEA students) 📩 Apply now and take the next step in your food innovation journey 👉 https://dub.sh/KVZNL5c Curious about how MFS can boost students’ career development? Watch the video to find out! #FutureOfFood #FoodInnovation #FoodSystems #Entrepreneurship #HigherEducation

We’re excited to announce the latest cohort of the EIT Food #FastTracktoMarket programme! Our 4 selected companies will receive funding and support to scale their businesses, enter new European markets, and launch innovations within 12 months. These fast-growing start-ups have secured up to €250k in non-dilutive funding to accelerate their commercial success and reach new milestones. Let’s spotlight these incredible start-ups and their plans for the year ahead: 🚚 afreshed® An Austrian food-tech company tackling food waste by connecting surplus, high-quality produce from farmers and retailers to consumers. Launching a sustainable shopping and nutrition app that integrates with retailers’ ERP systems to procure surplus food before it spoils. 🐝 AgriSound A British agri-tech company developing smart listening technology to optimise bee activity, enhancing crop yields and biodiversity. Launching a precision pollination service to track bee activity in real-time and provide targeted interventions. 🐟 BettaFish A German food-tech company transforming seaweed into nutrient-rich food solutions. Launching BettaFish SAL-NOM Can, TU-NAH Mexican Salad Can, and Ohmami Seaweed Extract, showcasing the versatility of seaweed for plant-based foods and B2B applications. 🍣 Hooked Foods A Swedish food-tech company creating high-protein, affordable plant-based meat. Introducing The Super Protein—offering 30-35g of protein per 100g—designed for various meals like pasta, salads, stews, and wraps. 💡 Special thanks to our experts – Vanessa Ballard, Antonio Fonduca, Dr. Bert Popping, Jaap Strengers, Nicole Thorpe, Simone K. Frey, Stephane Durand, and Theofilos Papasternos – for your dedication, expertise, and invaluable insights in setting these start-ups for success. ✨ 👉 Learn more about the EIT Food Fast Track to Market programme and apply for Spring 2025: https://dub.sh/RgQZNt3 #ImprovingFoodTogether #FutureOfFood

We’re excited to announce the launch of the latest EIT Food #ConsumerObservatory report - Waste to Want: Consumer Acceptance of Upcycled Food Products 🍅🥕   While many consumers support waste-reducing practices, their acceptance of upcycled food products - those made from surplus or unused ingredients - remains a challenge.   What factors influence consumer purchase behavior? And how can industry actors drive wider market adoption?   With a focus on reducing waste, affordability, healthiness, and taste, this report examines current consumer perceptions and offers key lessons for positioning upcycled food products for market.   For actionable insights, download the report today 👉 https://dub.sh/vRor5uF #ImprovingFoodTogether

What makes the Master’s in Food Systems so unique? Let the students tell you! 🎓👇 From gaining entrepreneurial skills to working on real-world food challenges, students in our Master’s in Food Systems (MFS) are shaping the future of food. The programme combines: ✅ Industry-focused learning with leading academic & industrial partners ✅ Entrepreneurial education to turn ideas into impact ✅ An international exchange programme to gain a global perspective Applications are open! 🗓️ March intake deadline: 30 March 2025 (International & EEA students) 🗓️ June intake deadline: 15 June 2025 (EEA students) Apply now and take the next step in your food innovation journey! 👉 https://dub.sh/KVZNL5c Curious about what attracted students to MFS? Watch the video to find out! #FutureOfFood #FoodInnovation #FoodSystems #Entrepreneurship #HigherEducation

💧 Water scarcity poses a growing risk to the EU's agri-food systems. Tackling this challenge requires innovative solutions that ensure a resilient agrifood system. 📝 Have your say! Take this survey and share your insights 👉 https://dub.sh/ZNoeXx3 Your input can help shape the development and implementation of solutions that address water scarcity in agrifood ecosystems.

🚀 We’re proud to have co-authored the newly launched report, "𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲", as a founding member of the AB4S Advanced Biotech for Sustainability coalition. This first-of-its-kind report explores the potential of advanced biotechnology to reduce global emissions and provides executives, investors, and policymakers with key insights into its economic and environmental impact. It also highlights food biotechnology innovations, including cultivated meat, alongside business priorities, funding strategies, and policy recommendations to unlock its value. 🔴 Launched today at the BIOKET Bioeconomy Key Enabling Technologies platform conference in Brussels, the report is now available for download 👉 https://lnkd.in/e-RwjBtY It was great to collaborate with incredible coalition members on this report! A big thank you to Arsenale Bioyards, Basecamp Research, Cradle, Darwin International, Evonik, The Good Food Institute Europe, Invert, Lallemand, L'Oréal, and ShakeUp Factory, with knowledge and analytical support from McKinsey & Company. #ImprovingFoodTogether #BIOKET2025 #AB4S

Did you know that only 3% of investment goes to women-led businesses. That needs to change. Thankfully, initiatives like Girls Go Circular are leading the way. They're empowering girls aged 14-18 with digital, entrepreneurial, and green skills to close the gender gap in STEM and innovation. 🎙️ In this episode of The Food Fight podcast, we celebrate the incredible work of Girls Go Circular by speaking with Solène Moutier, Laura Borge, and alumna Daniela Garcia Moreno - three inspiring women who are fostering diversity, confidence, and creativity in the next generation of female innovators. Their dedication to changing the narrative is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future in agrifood and beyond. 🎧 Listen now: https://dub.sh/WuGU8Lw 🎧 On Spotify: https://dub.sh/MlnCLqR 🎧 On Apple Podcasts: https://dub.sh/UjHompI 💡 What do you think are the most important steps in closing the gender gap in STEM and entrepreneurship? Let us know in the comments! 👇 #EITFoodFight #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025