Spain’s Demo Day celebrates five years of Empowering Women in Agrifood

After months of work and preparation, Claudia Calzada, creator of the project Generación Agro, was awarded the first prize (€10,000). Her initiative facilitates the transfer of knowledge and skills between generations of farmers through an online community and educational resources. By connecting farmers with traditional businesses offering products and services, Generación Agro promotes sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring the continuity and innovation of rural enterprises.

The second prize (€5,000) was awarded to Elena Vitoria for her project Salmoira. Focused on revitalising the traditional fish and seafood salting methods of Galicia, Salmoira creates healthy foods with a positive impact on the circular economy. Additionally, Elena won the Visibility Pack, which will allow her to present her innovative project at the global EWA final, Women in Agrifood Stories, to be held in Lisbon on 4 December.

Opening the event, Mercedes Pérez, Head of Entrepreneurship at Loyola University, who highlighted the gender gap in entrepreneurship and leadership. “In 2024, women represent 52.31% of Europe’s population, yet only one-third of self-employed workers are women. This gap is even wider in the agrifood sector, where women hold just 27.5% of leadership roles. At Loyola, we work to foster entrepreneurship and support those who take the leap into creating innovative solutions.”

Alba Molina, from EIT Food’s communication team, extended her gratitude to all the participants for their dedication and to the University Loyola team for implementing the 2024 Spanish edition of EWA and organising the event. She reminded the audience that “entrepreneurship is a journey filled with challenges, but also a unique opportunity to transform an idea into real impact.”

Following these remarks, the women entrepreneurs presented their projects to a distinguished audience that included agrifood professionals, mentors, and peers.

The pitches highlighted projects addressing sustainability, circular economy, and technological innovation. Among the participants were initiatives focused on creating innovative food products from underutilised resources, employing advanced technologies to enhance food safety, and developing sustainable protein alternatives using circular economy practices. These projects reflect the creativity and forward-thinking solutions driving the future of the agrifood sector in Spain.

The day also included a keynote by Beatriz Romanos, FoodTech expert, who explored the transformative role of technology in reshaping food systems, consumer trends, and sustainability challenges.

The event concluded with reflections from the jury: Elena Iglesias (Partner and Director at Strategyco), Ada Bernal (Director of Institutional Relations at Heineken Andalucía and Vice President of Landaluz and Dircom Andalucía), and Isabel Miralles (Writer, Director of the "1,2,3 Emprende" project, and Manager of the Fulgencio Meseguer Foundation), who praised the creativity, passion, and dedication of all the participants.

Since its launch in 2020, the EWA programme has supported over 370 women entrepreneurs, provided €560,000 in prizes, and facilitated over €12 million in investments. Beyond financial support, it has fostered collaboration, networking, and innovation, helping startups grow and thrive.

This year’s Demo Day is a testament to the collective effort of participants, mentors, and partners like Loyola University, who have played a pivotal role in shaping the future of agrifood entrepreneurship.