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Italy launches its 2025 EWA cohort with a new wave of female-led agrifood innovation

On 16 June 2025, the EWA programme officially began in Italy with a kick-off event held in Bologna. Organised by the Future Food Institute as part of the EIT Food initiative, the event brought together the ten selected entrepreneurs and their mentors to mark the start of a six-month journey of mentoring, training and business growth.

08 Jul 2025
EIT Food South

Now in its fourth edition, the EWA – Empowering Women in Agrifood programme in Italy is once again led by the Future Food Institute, with the support of Angels4Women, Angels4Impact and media partner UNARGA. The 2025 edition began with a kick-off event in Bologna, attended by Carolina Marques, Regional Manager at EIT Food, where the new cohort met their mentors, explored the programme roadmap, and began building the relationships that will support their journey.

The session introduced the mission of EIT Food and the structure of the EWA programme, with expectations and goals clearly defined. Participants were given an overview of the training they will receive over the coming months, and had the opportunity to begin connecting with one another and with their mentors in a collaborative setting.

Applications were reviewed in collaboration with Hi!Founders, TheFoodCons, Angels4Women and Angels4Impact who also contributed to the selection process of this year's ten participants.

Innovative women-led startups from across Italy

This year’s EWA cohort in Italy brings together entrepreneurs working on diverse solutions at the intersection of agrifood, circular economy, technology and wellness. From on-site wastewater recovery and regenerative retail formats to biosensors, fermented beverages and smart diagnostics, the selected startups demonstrate the creativity and commitment of women transforming the agrifood sector.

Here is an overview of the 10 startups participating in the 2025 Italian edition of EWA:

Eubiosinergy (Alessia Cicognani) – Supporting small agricultural businesses through environmental impact analysis, CO₂ credit sales and multichannel marketing tools.
SenseItaly (Caterina Cambrea) – Developer of The Scentinel Sensor, a smartphone-compatible paper biosensor for fast and accessible water quality testing.
C’era un tarallo (Laura Bolognesi) – Reinventing taralli using ancient grains to encourage healthy eating and support small-scale producers.
PeepPopFert – Azienda Agricola Verde Mare (Luana Ciambellini) – A dry composting toilet system turning organic waste into natural fertiliser for eco-oriented farms and agritourism.
Free Eat (Mariachiara Leonardi) – A digital marketplace connecting artisanal “free-from” producers with consumers and the food service sector across Italy.
ReMyco (Rosamaria Provenzale) – Using agro-industrial waste to cultivate mushrooms enriched with vitamin D2, reducing waste and improving nutrition.
Tipo (Sapyr Sebaoun) – A line of functional fermented drinks promoting a more inclusive, health-conscious approach to the Italian aperitivo.
AgriCheck – Genera S.r.l (Serena Fruttaldo) – A portable diagnostic tool for predictive maintenance of agricultural machinery, connected to an app and online platform.
Verde (Valentina Suligoj) – Promoting regenerative agriculture through retail formats that exclusively source from soil-regenerating farmers.
scartUP (Virginia Milvia Temperini) – A service that transforms olive mill wastewater into clean water and high-value polyphenols on-site, reducing environmental impact.

Empowering women for a sustainable future

As Sara Roversi, President of the Future Food Institute, stated:

“We are proud to begin the fourth edition of EWA – Empowering Women in Agrifood. This programme continues to prove how female talent is a true driver of innovation and regeneration in the food system. Supporting women entrepreneurs means investing in a more equitable, resilient and sustainable future.”

Follow the cohort’s journey

Want to see how these entrepreneurs progress over the coming months? Follow EIT Food Women in Entrepreneurship on LinkedIn for updates, success stories and behind-the-scenes insights from the 2025 EWA programme in Italy.

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