135 women entrepreneurs join the EWA 2025 Programme to build a more sustainable agrifood system
Led by EIT Food and implemented across 13 countries, the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme supports early-stage women entrepreneurs with training, mentorship and funding opportunities.
This summer, 135 women from across Albania, Estonia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye and Ukraine joined the 2025 edition of EWA – Empowering Women in Agrifood, a programme by EIT Food aimed at equipping women with the tools, confidence and support they need to grow their businesses in the agrifood sector.
Now in its sixth year, the EWA programme offers participants access to a dedicated training platform, one-on-one mentorship, expert masterclasses and the chance to pitch for awards of €10,000 and €5,000 at the end of the programme.
From local impact to European reach
Through the support of 13 local implementing organisations, each selected entrepreneur is able to participate in the programme in her native language and with tailored local support. This year’s activities were launched through Matchmaking events held across Europe, where participants and mentors began their six-month journey together.
The selected ventures tackle pressing challenges in food and agriculture, from circular economy and soil health to AI, sustainable packaging and nutrition.
Discover the 2025 cohorts
The ideas put forward by the 2025 participants are as diverse as the countries they represent. Among them: a biodegradable feed additive that reduces methane emissions in livestock, 3D-printed components for smallholder farms, mobile apps to reduce food waste, soil biota analysis services for regenerative agriculture, circular uses for olive pomace and kombucha waste, as well as healthy products made from microgreens, edible flowers, and even insects.
From high-tech innovation to traditional knowledge, all of them share a common goal: building a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood system.
Click on each country to learn more about the entrepreneurs, their projects and the local launch events:
A growing community of partners and supporters
In 2025, the EWA programme continues to attract the support of key partners across Europe. One highlight is the new collaboration with Anadolu Efes in Türkiye, which has joined as the first corporate sponsor of the programme. Thanks to this partnership, the cohort in Türkiye has grown from 10 to 15 participants, allowing five additional entrepreneurs to receive support.
What’s next?
In the coming months, participants will continue to grow their businesses with personalised mentoring, technical support, and peer exchange. The programme will conclude in autumn 2025 with local Demo Days, where entrepreneurs will pitch their ventures to expert juries for a chance to win financial awards and gain visibility.
The winners will then meet in December for the final event, a pan-European celebration of innovation and female entrepreneurship in agrifood.
Stay connected
Over the coming months, the selected entrepreneurs will continue developing their projects with the support of mentors, training and networking opportunities. Their progress will be shared regularly on the EIT Food Women in Entrepreneurship LinkedIn page, along with stories, insights and opportunities from across the EWA community.