EIT Food’s Next Bite Event unveils new innovation pathways for the future of food systems

This month, EIT Food launched its first flagship event, Next Bite, gathering hundreds of participants from across Europe in Rome. The event, held on 15-16 October, offered a unique platform for industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss solutions for transforming Europe’s food systems. As the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's (EIT) food-focused community, EIT Food leverages collaboration to drive advancements in nutrition, sustainability, and resilience within the agrifood sector.

The event’s three main stages hosted sessions aligned with EIT Food’s missions: Healthier Lives Through Food, A Net Zero Food System, and Reducing Risk for a Fair and Resilient Food System. The comprehensive program featured thought-provoking discussions, workshops, and presentations from prominent figures in food innovation, including startups, pioneer farmers, and established industry players.

According to EIT Food’s CEO, Richard Zaltzman, the ambition of this community is rapidly expanding to create impactful change in the food system. "We need three ingredients: hope, inspiration, and connections,” Zaltzman shared. “The startups bring hope, pioneers bring inspiration, and together, we forge the connections that catalyze impact.” Viktoria de Bourbon de Parme, Chief Partnership Officer at EIT Food, underscored this sentiment, emphasizing that every attendee plays a unique role in driving food system transformation. “We have the passion and dedication to make this transformation happen. Each and every one of us has a part to play,” she added.

EIT Food announced the winner of its third annual Corporate Startup Collaboration Award, celebrating corporates who excel in fostering innovation partnerships within the agrifood ecosystem. This year, 30 companies from various sectors of the food industry were nominated, highlighting the essential role that cross-sector partnerships play in innovation. German-based Südzucker Group, the world’s largest sugar producer, took home the award for its exemplary collaboration with agrifood startups. The recognition acknowledges Südzucker’s commitment to supporting startups and advancing sustainable solutions in the food and feed industry.

A major highlight of Next Bite was the official launch of the International Alliance for Impact Data, spearheaded by EIT Food. The Alliance aims to establish internationally accepted standards for environmental impact labeling in the food sector. By developing a unified framework for eco-labeling, the Alliance seeks to enable businesses to adopt consistent environmental scoring methods across different regions. This will allow companies to streamline compliance processes, making it easier for consumers to understand and trust environmental claims.

Next Bite also showcased EIT Food’s commitment to supporting cutting-edge startups, awarding a total of €650,000 through the 2024 EIT Food Accelerator Network Tech Validation Awards. The awards provide funding to high-potential startups, allowing them to accelerate their technological developments through collaborations within EIT Food’s extensive network, which includes universities, research centers, and industry partners.

A total of 15 startups received awards in three funding categories:

€50,000 recipients

AgroGrIN Tech – This startup transforms agricultural by-products into bio-based, clean-label ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries;
Esencia Foods – Pioneering sustainable, mycelium-based alternatives to fish and seafood, Esencia Foods is contributing to healthy, plant-based food options;
NOOVI – Using innovative pheromone-based markers, NOOVI offers an eco-friendly pest prevention solution that eliminates the need for toxins;
Pack2Earth – Focused on the packaging industry, Pack2Earth develops biobased materials aligned with circular economy principles;
Primogene – Primogene develops bioactive ingredients similar to human breast milk, specifically designed to support premature infant development.
‍

€30,000 recipients

Clean Food Group – Leveraging scientific partnerships, Clean Food Group promotes healthier, sustainable choices for consumers;
Quest Meat – Quest Meat is developing affordable, scalable ingredients for cultivated meat production;
CinSOIL – This company offers solutions to help the agrifood sector achieve sustainability goals through carbon insetting practices;
Senoptica Technologies – Senoptica reduces food waste through real-time monitoring of modified atmosphere packaging;
BOB FoodTech – Providing scalable solutions for toxin removal, BOB FoodTech supports both the food and biotech industries.
‍

€20,000 recipients

New Wave Biotech – New Wave Biotech empowers synthetic biology innovators by offering tools for faster, more efficient market entry;
Elaniti – With a focus on soil health, Elaniti identifies microbes that improve crop performance;
MarinaTex – This startup offers a home-compostable plastic film alternative to reduce environmental impact;
Kokomodo – Specializing in climate-resilient cacao production via cellular agriculture, Kokomodo ensures global access to real cacao throughout the year.
‍

International category: Brazilian startups also received recognition. Gran Moar transforms malt bagasse, a by-product of beer production, into a special malt flour. Typcal focuses on mycelium fermentation to create novel food ingredients, while Vaca Roxa has developed an IoT device for detecting bovine mastitis.

These startups will use the funding to advance their projects, with mentorship and resources from EIT Food’s network. As the need for innovative food solutions grows, these grants allow emerging companies to refine and validate their technologies within a supportive ecosystem, accelerating their impact on the food system.

With Next Bite, EIT Food is building momentum for change within European food systems, fostering collaborations that promise a healthier, more sustainable future. The event not only highlighted the importance of partnerships and innovation but also provided a glimpse into the advancements that are shaping the future of food.