EIT Food will bring seven innovative and disruptive agri-food startups to Food4Future in Bilbao, all of which have stood out in its entrepreneurship programmes, including Spanish companies Artzai Gazta, Bio2coat, Agrikola.ai, Circular Powder, and the Horizon Europe project Hub4Food.
As a key strategic partner of the event, EIT Food will host experts from Tuesday to Thursday to explore solutions to the challenges facing the food system.
European organisation experts such as Lorena Savani, Mission Lead – Healthier Lives Through Food, and Javier González, Senior Business Support Manager, among others, will participate in various sessions during the congress to discuss the relationship between food and well-being, and the technologies enabling the development of better food.
The major event aimed at transforming the food industry through new technologies, Food4Future, takes place from 13 to 15 May at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), and EIT Food’s presence is vital in two key ways: on one hand, the European organisation brings a disruptive, forward-thinking perspective to the agri-food sector, with several of its experts participating in high-profile talks; on the other, it will showcase seven startups and one European project delivering cutting-edge technologies for the future of the industry.
As a strategic partner of the event, EIT Food will participate in several roundtables featuring specialists, researchers, and key stakeholders in agri-food innovation, sharing the latest updates and trends in the field.
Among the highlights of the EIT Food team’s contributions is Belen Moscoso, Corporate Venturing Manager, who will speak in a session focused on open innovation and the evolving relationship between agri-food startups and large corporations.
Amparo San José, Head of Network and Business Development, will moderate a roundtable on new investment opportunities in the food industry.
Lorena Savani, Mission Lead – Healthier Lives Through Food, will join the talk “Food and Well-being” to share EIT Food’s vision on healthy ageing and the challenges this trend presents to the food system.
Javier González, Senior Business Support Manager, will moderate a session on disruptive technologies for healthier food development, also presenting the Horizon Europe project Hub4Food.
Lastly, Juliet Bray, Regional Programme Manager, will moderate a session dedicated to the future of plastics in the food industry and sustainable alternatives to promote a circular economy.
Seven Innovative Startups and a European Project
Alongside expert participation, EIT Food will host at its Food4Future stand a selection of innovations from seven startups that have excelled in its entrepreneurship programmes, as well as one Horizon Europe project in which EIT Food is a consortium partner:
• Artzai Gazta (Spain): This association of 90 artisanal sheep’s cheese producers from the Idiazabal denomination area has developed innovative packaging that extends the shelf life of their products.
• Bio2coat (Spain): The startup’s 100% natural edible coating extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables without compromising quality. As it leaves no residue, it offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.
• Agrikola.ai (Spain): Specialising in artificial intelligence and robotics, this startup envisions eliminating the use of pesticides, thereby reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint.
• Hub4Food: A Horizon Europe project focused on developing new and improved food products, particularly from marine sources. In addition to EIT Food, the consortium includes ten other associations and clusters from across the European food sector (Spain, Portugal, France, and Ireland), including the Galicia Food Cluster and the Spanish Association of Canned Fish and Seafood Manufacturers.
• Circular Powder (Spain): This company transforms wine surpluses and by-products into alcohol-free functional powders rich in antioxidants, which serve as natural ingredients in healthy foods and drinks.
• Tetis Biotech (Turkey): Tetis Biotech will present Seanacks, its innovative snack line made from seaweed, a sustainable and nutritious alternative aligned with the future of food.
• MUKA (Portugal): MUKA produces organic vegan cheeses using traditional fermentation techniques, delivering authentic flavours without additives.
• Ferreira da Estrela (Portugal): se dedican a la elaboración de productos derivados de leche de oveja de alta calidad, combinando tradición y excelencia en cada etapa del proceso.
Fonte: EIT Food
