Eight EIT Food startups explore opportunities for international expansion in Brazil
From 19 to 23 October 2026, eight startups connected to EIT Food's entrepreneurship ecosystem took part in the Brazil Market Access Programme, exploring opportunities for international growth and building connections with the country's agrifood sector.
As one of the world's leading agricultural and food-producing economies, Brazil offers significant opportunities for European agrifood innovation. However, navigating regulations, identifying suitable partners and understanding local market needs can be challenging for startups seeking to expand internationally.
To address these barriers, the Brazil Market Access Programme brought together 12 founders and executives from eight EIT Food-related startups for a five-day visit to São Paulo, Piracicaba, Campinas and JundiaÃ. Delivered by Upvisor Global in cooperation with Sterna International Business, with EIT Food as the European launching partner, the initiative combined market preparation, business connections and expert guidance to support the companies' expansion plans.
Brazil is Latin America's largest economy and the world's largest chicken exporter. It has an agtech scene hungry for innovation and runs on the integrator model we're built for. That makes it the natural start of our Latin American expansion.
From preparation to market engagement
The programme began in late September with four online sessions covering Brazil's agtech and agrifood market, market-entry strategies using the Expansion Canvas, legal requirements, business development and pitching.
During the week in Brazil, participants had the opportunity to engage with local businesses, investors, research institutions and innovation hubs through meetings, workshops and technical visits.
Activities began at Cubo Itaú in São Paulo, where startups explored the legal and commercial aspects of operating in Brazil. In Piracicaba, the itinerary included the 12th Agtech Meeting organised by PwC Agtech Innovation, providing opportunities to connect with the country's agricultural technology ecosystem.
Pitching and matchmaking were central to the programme. Founders had the opportunity to present their solutions to Brazilian companies and ecosystem representatives. A reverse-pitching format was also planned, allowing local organisations to share their challenges and innovation needs to encourage more targeted collaboration.
The programme also included visits to research and innovation organisations, including Embrapa Digital Agriculture, the Campinas Agronomic Institute (IAC) and BRF's innovation hub in JundiaÃ.
Meet the eight participating startups
The delegation brought together companies developing solutions across food production, biotechnology, agriculture and supply chains:
- PFx Biotech (Portugal): Developing bioactive proteins through precision fermentation.
- Pacifico Biolabs (Germany): Producing alternative seafood using mycelium.
- NEW ERA FOOD (Germany): Improving the protein content and texture of mushroom-based foods.
- Nanomik Biotechnology (Turkey): Developing microencapsulation technologies for crop protection, animal health and food preservation.
- Shelfion (Belgium): Providing shelf-life prediction software and testing services.
- Scindo.bio (Sweden): Using artificial intelligence and enzyme design to transform agrifood and forestry by-products into valuable ingredients.
- Arborea (UK): Developing microalgae production systems for food and agricultural applications.
- FLOX (UK): Using artificial intelligence and computer vision to monitor poultry health and production.
As a Portuguese company, Brazil is an important commercial partner and a bridge to the rest of the Americas. We see important learnings for our company from the highly developed Brazilian biotech experience, in particular related to large scale fermentations from specialised crops.
What's next for the participating startups?
Following the visit, the companies will continue working on their market-entry strategies with support from Brazilian industry experts.
An early November follow-up workshop will help participants develop individual 90-day action plans, informed by the insights and contacts gained during the programme. Startups will also have access to one-to-one mentoring to explore potential partnerships, pilot projects, regulatory requirements and commercial opportunities.
By supporting startups beyond their initial entrepreneurship programmes, EIT Food aims to help agrifood innovators access international opportunities, develop partnerships and bring solutions that contribute to more sustainable and resilient food systems into new markets.