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Home Events Water Management for Sustainable Food Systems: EIT Food – Isola Demo Day

Water Management for Sustainable Food Systems: EIT Food – Isola Demo Day

Thu, June 26, 2025
until Thu, June 26, 2025
Isola, Palazzo Biscari. Catania, Italy (Piazza Cardinale Pappalardo, 23, 95131 Catania CT, Italy)

June 26, 2025 | Isola, Palazzo Biscari. Catania, Italy 

Join us in Catania for the first edition of the EIT Food – Isola Demo Day, a one-of-a-kind gathering focused on Water Management for Sustainable Food Systems. Co-hosted by EIT Food and Isola, this event will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore breakthrough solutions that address one of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today: water sustainability. 

Why Attend? 

  • Discover cutting-edge solutions from 10+ EIT Food startups and emerging ventures from Isola 

  • Join panel discussions with experts, corporates, and institutional voices shaping the water-tech agenda 

  • Explore innovative water management technologies for sustainable food systems 

  • Connect with investors, corporates, and researchers committed to climate-resilient agriculture 

  • Tour the Isola innovation hub and experience its thriving Mediterranean ecosystem 

  • Vote for your favourite startup and see which innovations win the Pitch Awards 

Why Isola in Catania? 

Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Isola is a collaborative hub where innovation, entrepreneurship, impact and sustainability intersect. With its vibrant community and regional focus on Agri-Tech and beyond make it the perfect setting to explore scalable water management solutions for future food systems. 

 

Date: June 26th, 2025

Agenda highlights:   

  •  

    09:30 – 10:00  Welcome coffee 

    10:00 – 10:30 OPENING Demo Day and Salutation 

    By Mario Roccaro (MoC) Introduce the place, the event and the agenda. [5 mins] 

    Salutation from the Major of Catania Metropolitan Area Mr. Enrico Trantino [5 mins] 

    Salutation from the Rector of Palermo University Prof. Massimo Midiri  

    Salutation from the Fondazione Sicilia General Secretariat Roberto Cassata [5 mins] 

     By Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation – EIT Food  

    Importance of establishing an European Food Accelerator Network in Italy and the Mediterranean area on water. 

     By Antonio Perdichizzi, CEO Isola 

    10:30 – 10:40  European Commission work on sustainable water aspects - Laura Garcia Herrero, Scientific Policy Officer - Researcher - European Commission  [Online] 

    10:40 – 11:00  Keynote – Dr. Antonio Lo Porto, Senior Researcher - Water Research Institute IRSA-CNR /Water4All Project (Research/Academia) Water Solutions for Agriculture and beyond [In-person] 

     11:00 – 11:25 Panel #1  

    Topic: Innovating Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture: opportunities and barriers for scaling up circular water. 

    Exploring how circular water practices can scale in food and agriculture, the innovations driving them, and the systemic challenges ahead — through the lens of entrepreneurship, investment, and industry.

    • Giulia Giuffrè, Irritec S.p.A. CSO and Board Member 2021 UN Global Compact SDG Pioneer for sustainable water management (Corporate) [In-person] 

    • Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation/ AgriFoodInvest - EIT Food (Entrepreneurship/Investor) [In-person] 

     

    Moderated by Marie Russier 

    11:25 – 12:00 Startup Pitches: 

    12:00 – 12:30   Marketplace tour 

    12:30 – 14:00   LUNCH & Networking @ Palazzo Biscari  

    14:00 – 14:30 Panel # 2:  

    Topic: The Water Nexus System: systemic approaches and financial support models for circular water. 

    • Robert Brears, CEO of OurFutureWater (Financing Water Security) [Online] 

    • Barbara Sarnani  Vice President SVIMED (Centro Euromediterraneo per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile) [In-person] 

     Moderated by Mario Roccaro 

     14:30 – 14:50 Startup Pitches: 

     14:50 – 15:30 Announcement of the prize winners & Closing  words 

    By Mario Roccaro, Benoit Buntinx and Antonio Perdichizzi 

    15:30 – 16:30 Networking reception 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                             

RSVP by: June23, 2025 

About the Organisers 

EIT Food is Europe’s leading food innovation initiative, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). We connect stakeholders across the food system to tackle the most urgent challenges in sustainability, nutrition, and resilience. 

Isola is a next-generation innovation hub based in Catania, supporting startups, corporates and institutions to co-create impact-driven solutions with a Mediterranean and global perspective. 

Be part of the change

This Demo Day is more than an event—it's a launchpad for collaboration, funding, and transformation in the food system. If you're passionate about driving change in sustainable agriculture, we invite you to join us in Catania. 

We look forward to welcoming you at Isola! 

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