Ga verder naar de inhoud

AgriFood Innovation Camp 2024: Boosting Agrifood Innovation in Ukraine

Despite ongoing challenges, Ukraine's agrifood sector is driving innovation and modernisation. The AgriFood Innovation Camp 2024, organised by EIT Food, provided a unique platform for startups to develop groundbreaking solutions, gain expert mentorship, and attract investments. With 13 selected startups and over 450 industry leaders attending the New Food Summit 2024, the programme showcased Ukraine’s potential as a hub for agrifood technologies. 🌱✨

29 Jan 2025
EIT Food North & East

Agro-industrial sector of Ukraine: 20% of GDP and the foundation of exports

The agro-industrial sector is one of Ukraine's most developed industries, contributing approximately 20% to the nation’s GDP and forming the backbone of its export potential. In 2024, the total export volume of agricultural products reached $24.5 billion, representing 59% of Ukraine’s overall exports. This figure is second only to the record year of 2021 when exports totalled $27.7 billion.

Despite these impressive numbers, modern challenges demand further progress. The global market is evolving rapidly, driven by emerging technologies and new trade dynamics. Ukraine, despite the ongoing war and its associated risks, must actively transform its food industry into a modernized sector capable of producing high-value-added products, innovative ingredients, and organic components.

Solutions for growth

The transformation of Ukraine's agrifood sector hinges on the development of foodtech and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies to enhance resilience, efficiency, and competitiveness on the global stage. These advancements can drive modernization, attract investments, and create new jobs, positioning Ukraine as a leader in the global food market.

In 2024, EIT Food made significant strides in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in Ukraine’s agrifood sector through two dedicated editions of Challenge Labs. These ambitious programs were strategically designed to promote sustainability, empower local innovators, and integrate Ukrainian businesses into European markets. This initiative not only underscored Ukraine’s potential as a hub for agrifood technologies but also demonstrated EIT Food’s commitment to creating impactful change in the region.

Challenge Labs (AgriFood Innovation Camp): developing foodtech and innovations in Ukraine

In 2024, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in Food (EIT Food, CLC North-East), in collaboration with Radar Tech and CIVITTA Ukraine and supported by Volia Innovation Kitchen, launched the AgriFood Innovation Camp. The program aimed to create a platform for Ukrainian agrifood startups, providing expert guidance and mentorship to help them scale, access international markets, and attract investments.

Approach

The programme consisted of three stages:

1. Online workshops and trainings:

Thirteen selected startups collaborated with leading experts to refine their solutions and enhance their knowledge in areas such as:

  • Customer Journey
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Legal Aspects and Intellectual Property
  • Entering International Markets
  • Financial Planning
  • Pitching and Public Speaking

2. Empowering startups: from entorship to live pitching

Over four weeks, participants worked with mentors to strengthen their business models, explore market entry strategies, and prepare for financing opportunities. The most promising startups presented their solutions online, with select teams pitching live at the New Food Summit 2024 before investors and industry leaders, including MHP, Enzym Group, and HD-group. Eight teams showcased their innovations during a pitch session attended by over 450 guests, including investors and business representatives.

  • The grand prize of 50,000 UAH was awarded to GrainMole from Lviv for their grain storage monitoring system that prevents product spoilage.
  • The Audience Choice Award went to Sublimated Organic Fresh, which introduced an innovative line of nutrient-rich freeze-dried products.

3. Mentorship support:
The program concluded with 1.5 months of post-mentorship support, offering individual consultations with experts.

Results of the AgriFood Innovation Camp

58
teams applied to the program. 176 participants in total!
13
startups were selected for the bootcamp
8
teams presented their solutions at the New Food Summit 2024

The significance of the project

Events like AgriFood Innovation Camp are not only a catalyst for increasing competitiveness but also a driver of the modern economy. AgriFood Innovation Camp has become a crucial step in the development of Ukraine’s agrifood sector, supporting startups and fostering the implementation of innovative solutions. The program demonstrates how the integration of international experience, expert support, and local innovations can strengthen Ukraine’s economic resilience and its position as a leader in agri-food technologies.

Attracting investments, increasing processing capacities, and exploring new technologies can lay the foundation for long-term and sustainable growth in the country’s agro-industrial sector. Considering its natural and economic resources, Ukraine can become a symbol of innovation in the food industry and pave the way for a future full of opportunities and success.

If you have any questions about the Challenge Labs, feel free to reach out to us. We are happy to assist you with any inquiries regarding the process, requirements, or next steps.

Contact Vira Voievodina, Junior Project Manager at EIT Food


More News from EIT Food North & East

regional news
EIT Food CLC North-East is proud to announce that 8 organizations from Albania, Estonia, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine have been selected to implement activities to build entrepreneurial capacities for…
regional news
On November 27, Kyiv hosted the Demo Day of the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme, organized by Radar Tech in partnership with EIT Food. The Pitching event celebrated the achievements of ten remarkable women entrepreneurs who…
regional news
Last week, as part of the EWA programme, EIT Food, in collaboration with the Inicijativa organization, launched a comprehensive Communication Skills course for EWA participants from 12 countries. Now in its third edition, the course…