EIT Food partners with Anuga Horizon to convene experts across Europe’s food system
This year’s conference will feature some of Europe’s most innovative agrifood entrepreneurs, ‘speed-dating’ with food systems experts, and a Communications Breakfast for international media
Leuven / Cologne – EIT Food, Europe’s largest food innovation community, is partnering with Anuga HORIZON this year to convene food systems experts and bring new interactive experiences to the renowned food trade fair. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
EIT Food will bring together a range of thought leaders from across the food system as part of a “Meet the Experts” session, which will provide an opportunity for visitors to ask questions about emerging trends and developments in food production, progress on nutrition and sustainability, and collaboration between food systems actors. The experts present from EIT Food will include:
- Dr Adam M Adamek – Director of Innovation
- Dr Christoph Mandel – Head of Corporate Venturing
- Flavio Antonelli – Junior Public Affairs Manager
- Ilario Ingravallo – Mission Lead (Reducing Risk for a Fair & Resilient Food System)
- Jente Schoutens – Head of Community
- Marieke van Schoonhoven – Public Engagement Programme Manager
Through its extensive network, EIT Food will also focus on creating opportunities for startups and scaleups to network with established food industry players and presenting examples of successful collaborations. One example comes from innovative biotech company Mushlabs, which will report on the steps it has taken to successfully enter the market and on its new partnership with beer producer Bitburger.
Also taking place at Anuga on Monday 9 October is the ECOTROPHELIA Award Ceremony. EIT Food is the new administrator of Ecotrophelia Europe, building on a long history of collaboration and led by EIT Food Director of Education, Dr Maarten van der Kamp. ECOTROPHELIA EUROPE is a food innovation competition for students in higher education. On the principle of a food innovation 'Champions League', each European country organises its own national competition to select the most innovative food project that will then be presented at ECOTROPHELIA Europe.
EIT Food will also host a first-of-its-kind ‘Communication Breakfast’ for media from around the world to find out about new cutting-edge food innovations. Over a spread of plant-based food, journalists will be invited to learn about EIT Food’s latest activities and hear two pitches from startups within EIT Food’s entrepreneurship programmes.
"Our goal is to support catering establishments in successfully implementing reusable systems and driving the change towards a sustainable future,"
Based in Hanover, Crafting Future is fighting food waste in the catering industry with innovative reusable containers
The second start-up is Berlin-based Bettaf!sh, which is developing its products from European organic seaweed grown in collaboration with local farms in Norway and Ireland.
"For us, the seas come first and with them great taste. Our “fishy alternatives” are therefore 100% plant-based and full of protein,"
Journalists will have the opportunity to sample the products during the Communications Breakfast.
Throughout the event, EIT Food will have a booth where 14 startups from its entrepreneurship programmes will be present to showcase their products and solutions.
“By supporting Anuga with experts, networking events for the food industry and deep dives for the media, we hope to amplify existing innovations and inspire new entrepreneurs, so that we can get healthier and more sustainable products onto consumers’ plates even faster.
"At EIT Food, we are firmly convinced of the transformative potential of young companies. It is precisely through the collaboration between innovative startups and established companies, as well as cooperation of all players focusing on transformation in the food sector, that we see the key to positive change and overcoming challenges in the agrifood industry."
Find out more and register here: https://www.anuga.com/
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 EU, 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: X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
