EWA 2025 Kicks Off in Lisbon: Ten Women, Ten Ideas and One Shared Mission to Transform Agrifood

This year’s cohort brings together ten innovative women working across diverse areas of the agrifood sector, from circular economy and biotechnology to digital tools and sustainable nutrition. Their ventures aim to reduce waste, improve food systems, and foster more conscious consumption. Below is an overview of the projects they will develop over the course of the programme:

• Ana Pires is developing PackWAI, a digital solution designed to optimise the design of biodegradable food packaging. Her platform focuses on accessibility and usability, offering tailored support to small producers and packaging designers seeking to transition towards compostable alternatives and more sustainable materials.
• Ítala Marx leads VIDA, a project that gives new life to agrifood by-products such as olive pomace by turning them into high-value functional ingredients. Her work contributes to the circular economy while opening up opportunities in the field of health-focused food innovation.
• Joana Castro is behind PreTECHt, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to monitor soil and plant microbiomes in real time. By providing early detection of imbalances and disease risks, the tool enables farmers to act preventively, enhancing soil health, crop quality and sustainability.
• Viviana Ribeiro is working on AgriDerma, a project that creates a dermal matrix from agrifood industry by-products. Her innovation offers a sustainable and ethical alternative for lab testing and biomedical research, reducing the need for animal-based materials and bridging agrifood with biotech.
• Ana Vilas-Boas is developing BioUpCycle, a venture that upcycles food waste into biostimulants and culture media for agricultural and research use. Her solution supports regenerative farming and promotes the reuse of materials that would otherwise go to waste.
• Paula Galvanini founded MAI Fermentation House, a platform that helps people reconnect with traditional food practices by producing fermented foods at home. Through hands-on workshops and DIY kits, she empowers consumers to care for their gut health while reducing reliance on industrial food systems.
• Maria Antunes is building Nula, a digital platform to support households in reducing food waste. Her app offers grocery planning, inventory tracking and meal suggestions to help users make the most of what they have and shop more consciously.
• Mariana Fortes runs Pegada Distinta by Pluralgae, a project that develops food and beverage products enriched with spirulina. Her work combines innovation in nutrition with low environmental impact, offering accessible, sustainable alternatives to conventional protein sources.
• Inês Luís is developing Susplus, a digital tool that enables agrifood companies to measure and report on their environmental impact. The platform aims to support companies in tracking emissions, water and resource use, helping them align with sustainability goals and regulatory frameworks.
• Ana Cristina Vítor leads BugPep, a project creating a functional feed additive for ruminants made from black soldier fly larvae. Her solution is designed to reduce methane emissions, support animal health and improve the sustainability of livestock production.

Over the coming months, the participants will benefit from mentoring, online workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities. The programme will conclude with a Demo Day, where they will present their projects to a jury for a chance to win €10,000 or €5,000, and represent Portugal at the NEXT BITE final event in Warsaw.