AMPLE Closes in Madrid with Startups and Jobs Boost in Vulnerable Communities
The two-year social innovation initiative led by EIT Food with the support of the Citi Foundation, has officially concluded with a celebration at Impact Hub Madrid – Piamonte on the 9th of September.
The programme, which has worked with vulnerable communities across Madrid and Warsaw since 2023, has resulted in the creation of new businesses and jobs, while providing skills and opportunities to those at risk of exclusion.
The closing event brought together representatives from public institutions, industry experts, NGOs and former participants to mark the project’s achievements. Over its two-year run, AMPLE supported 36 startups, delivered 84 training sessions, and trained 285 people in areas such as food handling, regenerative urban agriculture and agrifood entrepreneurship. By the end of the programme, 10 new startups were launched and 30 participants successfully entered the labour market.
Strategic collaborations with Acción Contra el Hambre, Entreculturas and Germinando were central to the project’s success, combining expertise in social inclusion, education and sustainable agriculture.
AMPLE has been our focus for improving the quality of life of vulnerable communities by offering resources and opportunities for growth. At EIT Food, we believe that healthy, sustainable and safe food should be accessible to everyone.
While celebrating its impact, the event also provided a platform to discuss pressing challenges, including universal food security and reducing waste along the agrifood value chain.
Almudena Guerrero, representing Citi Foundation, introduced the Global Innovation Challenge, a worldwide initiative that supports organisations developing innovative solutions to food insecurity.
From the public sector, Susana Belmonte, Head of the Nutrition and Lifestyles Unit at the Madrid Regional Ministry of Health, highlighted the importance of healthy eating habits and outlined the region’s initiatives to promote healthier lifestyles.
A roundtable discussion featuring Gregorio Varela-Moreiras (Director, CEU University Institute of Food and Society), Adrián Gallero (Head of Sustainable Food Programmes, Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation) and Ana Alarcón (Entrepreneurship Programme Manager, Acción Contra el Hambre) examined how social vulnerabilities impact nutrition.
Varela-Moreiras raised the issue of “hidden hunger”—nutritional deficiencies in essential macronutrients directly linked to poverty and social vulnerability. As a response, NGOs shared practical measures, such as Acción Contra el Hambre’s food ticket initiative, which allows families at risk of exclusion to make healthier, balanced food choices.
Don’t forget to celebrate and work together. Collaborate with people that are doing the same as you to empower a social and solidarity-based economy.
The programme’s commitment to sustainability was also underlined through a focus on zero waste. Experts María J. Herrero and Silvia Ros provided guidance on legislation and tools available to agrifood entrepreneurs, while AMPLE alumni took part in a practical workshop, turning surplus cucumbers and onions into pickles.
Although AMPLE has formally concluded, its legacy continues through the entrepreneurs, communities and networks it has fostered. The initiative has demonstrated how innovation, collaboration and solidarity can drive meaningful social change and create lasting opportunities for vulnerable groups.
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