EIT Food Announces New Funding to Boost Agrifood Innovation in Europe
Amsterdam, Thursday, 19 June 2025.
EIT Food’s new funding aims to tackle food waste and enhance food security in Europe, highlighting 30% food wastage in regions like South Asia. This effort supports transformative agrifood innovations.
EIT Food’s Strategic Push for Sustainable Innovation
EIT Food, supported by the European Union, has announced a series of impactful initiatives to drive agrifood innovation across Europe. These initiatives aim to significantly reduce food waste and establish a resilient food system. The organization recently organized an event in Bilbao, Spain, on June 18, 2025, recognizing nine outstanding entrepreneurs and farmers who are contributing towards a more sustainable food system. This highlights EIT Food’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector [1].
Addressing Food Waste and Security Issues
At the heart of EIT Food’s initiatives is the pressing issue of food waste, which accounts for a substantial 30% in some regions, coupled with enhancing food security. By inviting agrifood entrepreneurs and startups to present innovative solutions, EIT Food stresses the importance of collaborative approaches between public and private entities to mitigate food loss and its environmental impact. This effort aligns with global concerns of food wastage prominently seen in areas like South Asia, setting a benchmark for sustainable practices in Europe [1][3].
Innovations on the Horizon
Through initiatives like the Impact Funding Framework, EIT Food supports projects that promise scalable solutions in the agrifood landscape. Featured among these are the NUTRI-SEA initiative, focused on plant-based seafood alternatives, and the Bump by Mimica project, which extends the life of fresh food by using innovative tactile labels. These projects exemplify the diverse areas of innovation EIT Food is promoting to revolutionize food sustainability across Europe [2][3].
Empowering European Agrifood Entrepreneurs
The Straight2Market 2025 program is another pivotal initiative by EIT Food, targeting startups and entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector. This program provides up to €30,000 in cascade funding, encouraging the launch of food products aligned with EIT’s missions—such as reducing food waste and promoting healthier food systems. By doing so, EIT Food not only empowers entrepreneurs but also integrates sustainable practices into the core of food production and distribution frameworks [4].