EIT Food launches new start-up accelerator to serve future resilient agriculture
The ‘Future Resilient Agriculture’ accelerator (applicants can submit their interest here) will support pre-Series A start-ups that have successfully validated their technology and demonstrated traction in the market across but not limited to the following themes:
- Soil health and soil biodiversity
- Water management
- Crop innovation
- Bio inputs
- Carbon and nitrogen farming
- Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) "on farm", smart farming and robotics
Start-ups will be selected for their innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation and resilience.
The selected companies will benefit from a robust capacity-building programme, including workshops, mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to industry-leading corporates and investors
They will have the potential to access investments of up to €1.5 million from EIT Food and will receive tailored support to scale up their innovative solutions, helping to address global food system challenges.
Nemanja Grgic, an associate director EBRD, said the new partnership with EIT Food aims to bridge the gap between start-ups developing cutting-edge technologies and established corporates that need innovative solutions to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. “By bringing together startups, corporates, and investors, we aim to create a sustainable, inclusive agrifood system that accelerates the adoption of green technologies in the agrifood sector.”
Meanwhile, with climate-related investment needs in the agrifood sector estimated to reach as much as $1.3 trillion, the accelerator a crucial step towards meeting these challenges, Grgic added. “The initiative will not only provide much-needed support to startups but also facilitate the greening of corporate clients in EBRD countries by introducing them to frontier technologies.”
New business models essential for the future of food systems
The new hub will operate from Warsaw, Poland, and will run over a three-year period. The accelerator will be part of the EIT Food Accelerator Network, which includes innovation Hubs in Helsinki, Munich, Paris, Bilbao, Haifa and Brazil.
“Locating the hub in Warsaw allows us to leverage our strong regional expertise in regenerative agriculture, our longstanding collaboration with agritech innovators, and the region’s rich heritage in primary production,” explained Marja-Liisa Meurice, director of EIT Food North-East.
“Through this initiative we will advance sustainable farming practices across Europe and foster the growth of innovative solutions and contribute to the creation of new business models essential for the future of our food systems.”
