EIT Food Launches EWA 2025 for Women Entrepreneurs in Agrifood
Netherlands, Friday, 16 May 2025.
The 2025 Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) Programme offers training, mentoring, and financial support to 130 female entrepreneurs across 13 countries, fostering sustainable business creation in the agrifood sector.
Comprehensive Support for Female Agrifood Entrepreneurs
The six-month intensive program, running from June to November 2025, offers participants over 20 hours of personalized mentoring and specialized training sessions [1][2]. Selected entrepreneurs will receive financial support of up to €12,000, including a €1,000 participation stipend and potential final prize grants of up to €10,000 [1][2]. The program specifically targets women aged 18 and above who either have innovative agrifood business ideas or have founded businesses less than three years ago [2].
Addressing Gender Disparities in Agrifood Innovation
The initiative comes at a crucial time, as recent data reveals significant gender disparities in the sector. According to a 2021 European Women in VC report, women-founded companies in Central Eastern Europe received just 1% of venture capital funding, while all-male teams secured 94% [8]. The EWA programme aims to address these imbalances by providing targeted support across 13 participating countries: Albania, Estonia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, and Ukraine [1].
Track Record of Success
The program’s effectiveness is demonstrated through numerous success stories from previous editions. Notable achievements include Greta Budreikė’s cricket-based breakfast cereals venture, Yulia Logvinovska’s vertical farming initiative in Ukraine, and Ekaterina Šprajc’s innovative edible thread project, which secured a €10,000 prize [2]. Since its inception, EWA has supported hundreds of women in launching and scaling their agrifood ventures [2][8].
Application Process and Implementation
The program will be conducted in local languages, with each participating country supporting 10 women entrepreneurs [3]. Implementation is managed through EIT Food’s Co-Location Centres – South and North-East, working in partnership with local organizations specializing in female entrepreneurship [3]. Applications for the 2025 program are currently open, with a deadline of May 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM [2].