Director of AgriFood Lithuania DIH among the candidates for 2022 awards of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology

"Women are still a minority in the heavily male dominated agricultural and food sector, which is surrounded by various myths. However, the ongoing transformation of the agrifood sector is changing the established norms and EIT Food strongly contributes to this. They have nominated me as the only candidate from this community to become the EIT Woman of the Year. This decision of the most prestigious European initiative in the agrifood sector is a great appreciation for the entire ecosystem of the Lithuanian agrifood sector, its innovativeness, potential and the leadership shown by the actors of our country's sector in achieving the goals of sustainability and progress. The activities and initiatives organized by AgriFood Lithuania DIH would be pointless if Lithuanian farmers and other actors in the sector did not want to use these opportunities. The EIT Food EWA program in Lithuania, which has just started, is an excellent example of Lithuanian women's leadership and desire to create innovative technologies that might contribute to the qualitative leap of the country's agrifood sector. We should be proud that all Europe can see these achievements", said the first woman in the history of Lithuania nominated to become the EIT Woman of the Year K. Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė.

While congratulating the announced nominees, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, said that this year's candidates are examples of the work and importance of the EIT organization to the European innovation ecosystem and their contribution to the spread of innovation in Europe is significant.