The Government of Manitoba and EIT Food join forces to strengthen agrifood innovation links between Europe and Canada
A new five-year framework will create opportunities for research, knowledge exchange and innovation across Manitoba and Europe’s food ecosystems.
The Government of Manitoba and EIT Food have announced a five-year strategic framework to strengthen cooperation across agriculture, research and agrifood innovation.
The agreement brings together EIT Food’s experience in ecosystem coordination, innovation programming and international collaboration with Manitoba’s strengths in industry-academia collaboration, applied research and innovation adoption.
Through the framework, EIT Food and the Department of Agriculture of Manitoba - Manitoba Agriculture - will explore programmes, research activities and other initiatives that draw on complementary expertise across the two regions.
The collaboration is designed to work in both directions, giving European innovators opportunities to engage with Manitoba’s agriculture and agrifood ecosystem and helping Manitoba-based organisations access European partnerships, networks and markets.
Manitoba’s producers and processors are the backbone of our rural economy, and this collaboration strengthens the tools they need to stay competitive in a global market. By linking our innovation ecosystem with Europe’s largest agrifood network, we’re opening doors for new research, new technologies and new market opportunities that directly benefit Manitoba farms, local businesses and communities.
Building on EIT Food’s engagement in Canada
The framework follows EIT Food’s partnership with AgSphere, announced in May 2026, which supports cross-border startup exchanges, training and skills development, and strategic cooperation between Canada and Europe.
As part of this engagement, AgSphere will join EIT Food’s Next Bite event in Warsaw, where Canadian agrifood startups will have opportunities to engage with the European market.
This agreement offers EIT Food and our European partners a valuable opportunity to strengthen links with Manitoba-based innovators, while bringing fresh knowledge, technologies and market perspectives into Europe’s food innovation ecosystem. By connecting academia, industry players, and entrepreneurs across our regions, we look forward to exploring how this partnership can drive our shared ambition in building a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system.
Five areas for collaboration in the agrifood system
Subject to mutual interest and separate written agreements where required, EIT Food and Manitoba Agriculture will explore five areas:
- Horizon Europe and research collaboration - including connections to consortia, partnerships, funding opportunities, pilots and demonstration activities where eligible.
- Two-way innovation and market connectivity - bringing together European and Manitoba-based companies, innovators, researchers and institutions.
- The Knowledge Triangle model - exploring EIT Food’s approach to integrating academia, industry and entrepreneurship to support ecosystem development.
- Future pathways and investment readiness - including high-level frameworks and roadmaps for programming, partnerships and investment considerations.
- Global knowledge exchange - strengthening connections between Manitoba and the European Union.
This framework with Manitoba offers a practical opportunity to connect European and Canadian innovators, researchers and institutions, helping ideas, talent and entrepreneurship move more effectively across borders. By working together, we can support new routes for knowledge exchange, market access and sustainable growth.
About the EIT Food ecosystem
EIT Food is growing Europe’s largest food innovation ecosystem, bringing together innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, industry, policymakers, farmers and other food system stakeholders.
By connecting expertise and opportunities across the food value chain, we help turn science-backed ideas into real-world solutions that contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and resilient food system.
Our diverse community works towards three missions: healthier lives through food, a net-zero food system and food-system resilience.
Discover the EIT Food community and find out how to get involved.