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Drone-based weed mapping and cultivated seaweed among EIT Food’s Marketed Innovation Prize winners

  • Eight prizes awarded to food innovation startups across Europe that have brought impactful products or services to market.
  • €55,000 awarded across prizes including alternative proteins, sustainable packaging, food waste reduction and regenerative agriculture.
11 Dec 2024

EIT Food, the world’s largest food innovation community, has announced the results of its Marketed Innovation Prize, designed to reward innovative food startups that have successfully brought products or services to market. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

The best marketed innovations per region (North-East, West and South) have been awarded a prize of €10,000 each, and the best marketed innovation of each of five subcategories have been awarded a prize of €5,000 each.

The Marketed Innovation Prize was introduced as a way to reward innovative and impactful agrifood startups whose products or services are supporting the transition to a more healthy, sustainable and resilient food system.

The full list of the prize winners is as follows:

  • Best Marketed Innovation for the North-East region: ULLMANNA: a smart, nonchemical, in-row farming solution, powered by artificial intelligence.
  • Best Marketed Innovation for the West region and Best Regenerative Agriculture Solution: SAM-DIMENSION GmbH: a drone-based weed mapping that helps to identify and target upcoming weed problems.
  • Best Marketed Innovation for the South region: farmAIr: a plant stress management company, specialising in crop protection and the Early & Accurate Detection of Biotic & Abiotic Plant Stress.
  • Best Alternative Protein-based Solution and Woman in Innovation for Deniz Ficicioglu, Managing Director and Co-Founder of BettaFish: creators of fish alternatives produced from regeneratively cultivated seaweed.
  • Best Food Waste Reduction Solution: Kern Tec GmbH: an upcycling company turning unused fruit pits into high value ingredients for the food and beverage industry as well as for cosmetic and industrial applications.

All awarded startups have developed a product or service that has reached the market, following their involvement with EIT Food.

"We're thrilled to have the chance to acknowledge and reward startups that have participated in EIT Food programmes and are now making a tangible impact by introducing their products and services to the market. These winners of the Marketed Innovation Prize are leading change across our entire food system, from advancing protein diversification to developing AI-powered farming solutions. They’re bringing exciting, healthier choices to consumers and empowering food producers with innovative and sustainable techniques to boost efficiency and productivity. We look forward to supporting their continued journey and success in the years to come."

- Richard Zaltzman, CEO of EIT Food

We are incredibly honored to receive the ‘Best Food Waste Reduction Solution’ award. This recognition reinforces our mission to transform food waste into valuable, sustainable products. By upcycling apricot seeds into nutritious snacking options, we aim to reduce waste while promoting a more circular and sustainable food system. This prize not only validates our efforts but also inspires us to continue innovating and scaling solutions that contribute to a better food system for everyone.”

- Luca Fichtinger, Kern Tec GmbH

"We are honored to receive the 'Best Innovation for the South Region' award under the Marketed Innovation Prize 2024 by EIT Food, marking another milestone in our journey to revolutionize plant stress management. This recognition reinforces farmAIr's mission to equip growers with cutting-edge tools for early detection of biotic and abiotic stress, enabling proactive action, reduced input use, and increased yield efficiency. Building on our commitment to sustainable agriculture, we are expanding internationally, broadening our crop applications, and forging synergies with industry leaders to create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable global food system — one that ensures better production, improved nutrition, and a healthier environment for future generations."

- Stamatis Diavatidis, FarmAIr

"We are beyond honored to receive the 'Best Alternative Protein-based Solution' and 'Woman in Innovation' awards from EIT Food. These accolades fuel our mission to build a new ocean economy—one that eases the burden on overused land-based agriculture and preserves precious resources for future generations. The ocean feeds billions, produces half of our oxygen, and holds the key to a truly sustainable future—yet it receives just 1% of climate investments. This must change. With EIT Food’s incredible network amplifying our message and the financial support these awards provide, we’re empowered to create the awareness that our oceans so urgently deserve. By transforming seaweed into zero-input, nutrient-rich food solutions and collaborating with traditional industries like fishing and food production, we’re not just raising awareness of our oceans—we’re building a regenerative food system that nourishes both people and the planet."

- Deniz Ficicioglu, BettaFish

“Winning the award for Best Marketed Innovation for the North-East region is an incredible honor for us. This recognition will not only boost our visibility but also fuel our mission to create a better food system — one that is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. With this support, we aim to expand our initiatives that help farmers adopt more innovative practices, ultimately ensuring that fresh, nutritious food is accessible to all. Our AI-driven AROW box is transforming agriculture by merging eco-friendly practices with efficiency, and we’re excited to continue redefining sustainable farming on a global scale.”

- Martin Ullmanna, Ullmanna

“These awards affirm our mission to deliver actionable insights with precision mapping technologies that boost sustainability and reduce chemical use. They inspire and enable us to keep improving and innovating our mapping system to support professional arable farming with robust and simple spot-spray technology. Our solution empowers farmers to take immediate action, reducing pesticide use while achieving both ecological and financial impact. Together, we’re driving toward a more resilient food system that benefits farmers, ecosystems, and future generations.”

- Sebastian Steimer, SAM – DIMENSION GmbH

For media and interview enquiries, please contact communication@eitfood.eu.

About EIT Food 

EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community. We accelerate innovation to build a future-fit food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all.

Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, we invest in projects, organisations and individuals that share our goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. We unlock innovation potential in businesses and universities and create and scale agrifood startups to bring new technologies and products to market. We equip entrepreneurs and professionals with the skills needed to transform the food system and put consumers at the heart of our work, helping build trust by reconnecting them to the origins of their food.

We are one of nine innovation communities established by the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT), an independent EU body set up in 2008 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.

Find out more at www.eitfood.eu or follow us via social media:

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