EIT Food

EIT Food is the largest and most dynamic innovation network in Europe, focusing on the transformation of the nutrition, food, and agriculture sectors. Supported by the European Union, EIT Food leads the world's largest and most dynamic community for food innovations.

The main mission of EIT Food is to change the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed, and to increase its value for European society. This is achieved by addressing the biggest innovation challenges through collaboration with trusted industry, education, and research partners, along with informed and engaged citizens[4].

EIT Food is committed to inclusive system innovations that enable all people and places to participate and benefit. The organization emphasizes the importance of transparency, sustainability, and the direct involvement of consumers in the innovation process[4].

• Investments in Innovations: EIT Food invests in projects, individuals, and organizations that share common goals to achieve positive and sustainable changes quickly and at scale[2][4].
• Networking Stakeholders: The organization brings together stakeholders from across the food system to drive change through collective learning, problem-solving, and inventions[2][4].
• Entrepreneurship and Startups: EIT Food supports innovative and influential agrifood entrepreneurs and startups to develop and scale new food innovations and businesses across Europe[1][2][5].
• Education and Training: The organization attracts, develops, and empowers talented minds to lead the transformation of the food system into an innovative sector that produces healthy and sustainable food and is trusted by society[1][4].

EIT Food focuses on several key sustainability goals:

• Improving Environmental and Health Impacts: By developing solutions in critical innovation areas with a combination of industry, education, and research partners from all parts of the food value chain[4].
• Promoting Sustainable and Healthy Diets: EIT Food works to increase the adoption of balanced, sustainable, and healthy diets by raising awareness of the critical link between nutrition and human as well as planetary health and supporting innovative solutions that make healthy and sustainable food affordable for all[4].
• Building a Consumer-Centric and Connected Food System: The organization helps build trust by reconnecting consumers with the origins of their food, involving them directly in the innovation process, and collaborating with the food sector to promote transparency[4].

EIT Food is a pan-European consortium with over 50 partners from leading companies, research institutions, and universities from 13 countries. These partnerships enable the unlocking of innovation potential in companies and universities and the founding and scaling of startups in the agrifood sector[3][5].

Through strategic partnerships, such as with the Martin Braun Group, startups are specifically supported, and joint pilot projects are conducted to connect innovation, sustainability, and economic viability[5].

EIT Food is actively involved in various initiatives and events aimed at making the food system more sustainable and resilient. Examples include the annual "Next Bite" conferences, which serve as a platform to bring together experts, startups, and innovators to discuss and implement forward-looking ideas and solutions[4].

Additionally, EIT Food is engaged in international efforts, such as the "Action On Food" Hub at COP29, to promote sustainable food systems and strengthen climate resilience by 2030[4].

EIT Food remains a key player in the transformation of the European food system by prioritizing innovation, sustainability, and consumer orientation.

• 1 - https://www.eitfood.eu/what-we-do
• 2 - https://www.anuga.de/events/side-events/eit-food-conference/
• 3 - https://eitfood.uni-hohenheim.de
• 4 - https://www.eitfood.eu/about-us
• 5 - https://www.martinbraungruppe.com/de-de/news/martin-braun-gruppe-staerkt-ihre-startup-aktivitaeten-durch-partnerschaft-mit-eit-food/