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EIT Food Accelerator Network 2025: Pioneering Startups for Food Technology

The EIT Food Accelerator Network (EIT FAN) has recently revealed its cohort for 2025, comprising 65 groundbreaking startups chosen from a competitive pool of candidates across Europe. This initiative has drawn attention for its potential to reshape the future of agri-food technologies, accelerating innovation and creating sustainable solutions in the food sector.

Who is EIT Food Accelerator Network?

EIT FAN is recognized as one of Europe’s premier agritech accelerators, fostering a collaborative ecosystem in which innovators, industry experts, investors, and businesses can unite to address pressing challenges in food technology. The network is driven by a fundamental idea: connecting those in need of innovation with those who can create it, alongside the necessary financial support for development.

Benoit Buntinx, Head of Entrepreneurship at EIT Food, stated, “For us to truly shape our food system, we require more than just innovation; we need bold collaboration. EIT FAN creates a launchpad where innovative ideas transform into real-world impact.” This ethos underpins the selection of startups within the 2025 cohort, emphasizing diversity and visionary solutions.

Highlights of the 2025 Cohort

The selected cohort exemplifies a wide array of innovative concepts aligned with EIT FAN's six strategic hubs:

1. Circular Food Solutions (Helsinki Hub): Focused on creating sustainable practices within the food system.
2. New Ingredients and Bioprocesses (Paris Hub): Innovating with alternative ingredients for healthier food options.
3. Sustainable Food Packaging (Bilbao Hub): Aiming to reduce environmental impact through eco-friendly packaging solutions.
4. Resilient Agriculture (Warsaw Hub): Addressing agricultural challenges with resilience, co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
5. Resilient Supply Chains and Scope 3 Emissions (Munich Hub): Creating more robust supply chains that consider comprehensive environmental impacts.
6. Food as Medicine (Haifa Hub): Exploring the health benefits of food and its role in disease prevention.

Each startup targets critical issues of health, sustainability, transparency, and resilience, showcasing the depth and ambition of Europe’s agri-food innovation ecosystem.

Power of Partnerships

The program's success is further bolstered by collaboration with leading industry partners, offering startups essential access to mentorship, technological validation, and direct connections to major businesses within the EIT FAN network, including organizations like AAK, Cargill, and Unilever. Marie Russier, Head of Entrepreneurial Programs at EIT Food, emphasized, “This program is designed not just to accelerate growth but to integrate startups into a purpose-driven ecosystem that fosters long-term sustainable change.”

Proven Impact and Growth

Since its inception in 2018, EIT FAN has supported over 348 startups, establishing a strong track record in fostering growth and preparing these enterprises for investments and market entry. Startups benefit from a hands-on program, expert-led workshops, and exclusive access to key industry events, providing a comprehensive support system.

Yulia Bodnar, Program Director at EIT Food Accelerator Network, welcomed the new cohort by stating, “We are thrilled to support these exceptional startups. Each brings a spark of transformation, and our role is to help turn that spark into a sustainable flame by providing the necessary tools, mentorship, and community to create real impact and achieve long-term success.”

For more information on the EIT Food Accelerator Network and the innovative startups within the 2025 cohort, visit their official website or follow them on LinkedIn. EIT Food is the world's most dynamic innovation community dedicated to building a sustainable and healthy food system that benefits everyone, supported by investments from the EU. Through collaboration, EIT Food aims to drive sustainable change in the food industry, ensuring healthy and nutritious food options for all.

Conclusion

As we look to the future, the EIT Food Accelerator Network's 2025 cohort sets a promising stage for revolutionary advancements in food technology. The proactive approach of these startups could lead to significant transformations, enhancing the sustainability and resilience of our global food system.