AMPLE

The Citi Foundation launched its first ever Global Innovation Challenge in February 2023 to help scale the impact of non-profits around the world that are developing innovative solutions to improve food security. The Foundation provided $25 million to 50 community organisation, of which EIT Food acquired $500,000 in funding to design and pilot the AMPLE Programme to strengthen the physical and financial health of low-income communities. In addition, EIT Food was chosen over 1,000 submissions across 80 countries.

AMPLE started in Madrid in October 2023 and runs until 30 September 2025. Its main purpose is to provide participants with enough resources to overcome food insecurity in their daily lives. As a result, the programme focuses on delivering formative and financial aid to key stakeholders, such as people at risk of social exclusion and SMEs/startups.

The 3 axis that rule the programme:

• (1) Community & (2) Learning: EIT Food closely collaborates with NGOs to co-create training courses around the agrifood system to foster job opportunities amongst vulnerable communities. AMPLE not only provides formative sessions on various topics, but it is also a hive where we provide valuable resources to enter the labour market, as well as a sense of community to network and share needs, concerns, and experiences.
• (3) Business: AMPLE is involved in supporting innovation within the agrifood system to ensure food affordability and accesibility. Throughout the programme, many agrifood startups/SMEs will benefit from boost vouchers (small grants) to implement upgrades in their production process or final products.

EIT Food provides training courses, learning resources and networking opportunities to vulnerable communities. The courses have been co-created along with non-profit organizations, which are highly experienced in contributing to the training of their audiences through courses and workshops. After the formative process, we aim to enable participants to enter the agrifood labour market.

Related to EIT Food’s mission, Healthier Lives Through Food, AMPLE is giving economic support to agrifood SMEs and startups to find innovative solutions for affordable products. We want to encourage SMEs to improve their production process or innovate the properties of a food product to provide more affordable, accessible, and healthier food.

If you are a startup or a SME looking to improve their business. Check out our call and be one of the 30 beneficiaries obtaining €2,300to make a change in the agrifood system. You only have to fill in an application form!

*Boost vouchers will be open until September 2025.