EIT Food
EIT Food is a Belgium-headquartered, EU-funded agrifood innovation consortium (founded 2017) that runs accelerator programmes, open innovation calls, and consumer research to connect startups, farmers, corporates, and policymakers across Europe's food system.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLeuven, Belgium
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EIT Food does
EIT Food, legally registered as EIT FOOD iVZW, is a Belgium-based consortium founded in 2017 that operates as the food-focused Knowledge and Innovation Community within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. Headquartered in Leuven/Heverlee, the organization is positioned as Europe's largest food innovation community and serves four primary beneficiary groups: agrifood startups and entrepreneurs, young and next-generation farmers, large food and beverage corporations, and food-system policymakers and researchers. Its core activities span three pillars: innovation project coordination, education and training (including free regenerative agriculture and soil health courses), and entrepreneurship support through accelerator and venture-catalyst programmes.
EIT Food's operational model combines institutional grant funding from the EIT with philanthropic capital (e.g., PepsiCo Foundation for Future Harvest), corporate co-development partnerships (Corporación Hijos de Rivera for Impact Sips; Wolt and FEBA for food insecurity), and event-based engagement. Its product surface comprises accelerator programmes (Food Accelerator Network/FAN, Seedbed, EWA for women entrepreneurs, Sales Booster, and the Bilbao Campus Experience), open innovation calls, the Consumer Observatory (which runs the TrustTracker study of approximately 20,000 consumers across 18 European countries annually and the Citizen Participation Forum of ~300 participants in 13 countries), and a regional innovation scheme delivered through five offices covering South, North & East, West, Central, and Belgium HQ. Technology assets include the publicly available EIT Food LCA Methodology and the FoodHIVE community platform; EIT Food is not a software company but an ecosystem orchestrator that coordinates research, funding flows, and stakeholder convening.
The revenue model is institutional rather than commercial. Primary funding flows from EIT grant cycles, supplemented by philanthropic and foundation grants, corporate programme co-investment, and limited fees from select events and competitions. The majority of education programmes and accelerator participation are offered free of charge to selected beneficiaries. EIT Food's stated 2035 ambitions include mobilizing €1 billion in funding, attracting €10 billion in subsequent investment into sustainable agrifood businesses, equipping 35,000 farmers, bringing 350 innovations to market, and mitigating 35MtCO2e — targets that describe ecosystem-level outcomes rather than EIT Food's own income statement.
EIT Food firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EIT Food
- Legal name
- EIT FOOD iVZW
- Website
- https://eitfood.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- EIT Food is a Belgium-headquartered, EU-funded agrifood innovation consortium (founded 2017) that runs accelerator programmes, open innovation calls, and consumer research to connect startups, farmers, corporates, and policymakers across Europe's food system.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EIT Food industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agrifood Innovation Services
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition (BPADAJAG)
Keywords
Where EIT Food is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leuven
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
EIT Food business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- EU Institutional Funding (EIT): EIT Food is primarily funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. This constitutes the core funding mechanism for its operations, programmes, and innovation projects.
- Philanthropic / Foundation Grants: EIT Food receives funding from philanthropic partners such as the PepsiCo Foundation to implement specific programmes like Future Harvest, targeting farmers across multiple European countries.
- Programme Participation Fees: EIT Food runs open innovation competitions, accelerator programmes, and education courses. While many educational offerings are free, some programmes and events may charge fees or require co-investment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | Free education and training programmes |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels11 records
EIT Food product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EIT Food operates a pan-European food innovation ecosystem, running accelerator and venture catalyst programmes (FAN, Seedbed), entrepreneurship support initiatives (EWA, Sales Booster, Bilbao Campus Experience), open innovation calls, and consumer research services (Consumer Observatory/TrustTracker). It convenes agrifood startups, corporates, farmers, researchers, and policymakers across five regional offices in Europe, providing funding, mentorship, education, and market access to drive systemic change toward a sustainable, resilient food system.
Product overview
EIT Food is Europe's largest food innovation community, operating as a platform organisation rather than a single product. The core offerings include accelerator programmes (FAN, Seedbed), entrepreneurship support (EWA, Sales Booster, Bilbao Campus Experience), open innovation calls, and consumer insights services (Consumer Observatory). The organisation is structured around three strategic Missions (Healthier Lives Through Food, Net Zero Food System, Food System Resilience) and three Priority Areas (Protein Diversification, Resilient Agriculture, Agri-food Biotech), delivered through regional offices across Europe and events such as Next Bite. Support services include IP management tools, the Marketed Innovation Prize, and education programmes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FoodUnfolded: Public-facing brand of EIT Food that brings science-based insights to consumers about food origins, the broader food system, and latest food and agricultural innovations.
- FoodHIVE
- Consumer Observatory
- Next Bite
- EWA - Empowering Women in Agrifood
- Seedbed
- FAN - Food Accelerator Network
Products and services
- FAN - Food Accelerator Network An accelerator programme that supports agrifood startups through mentorship, training, and access to industry players to help scale their innovations. For early to growth-stage agrifood startups seeking acceleration, funding, and market entry support across Europe.
- Seedbed - Venture Catalyst A programme that supports early-stage entrepreneurs in developing and validating their agrifood business concepts through mentorship and resources. For early-stage agrifood entrepreneurs.
- EWA - Empowering Women in Agrifood A six-month programme supporting female entrepreneurs across 13 European countries to develop agrifood businesses with mentorship and visibility. For female entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector.
- Sales Booster A programme helping agrifood startups expand across European markets through tailored growth strategies, dedicated advisors, and industry stakeholder access. For agrifood startups seeking pan-European market entry.
- Open Calls Funding and support opportunities for organisations and individuals working on innovative food system solutions, including proof-of-concept co-financing instruments. For agrifood innovators, startups, and organisations.
- Consumer Observatory Europe's central hub for consumer insights on agrifood topics, providing research, analysis, and consumer behavior data including the TrustTracker study surveying approximately 20,000 consumers across 18 European countries annually. For food businesses, policymakers, and researchers.
- Bilbao Campus Experience (BCE) A post-accelerator programme hosted at the BAT Tower in Bilbao, Spain, offering bespoke mentorship and collaboration with local industry players. For agrifood startups seeking post-acceleration and access to Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American markets.
- Regional Innovation Scheme Regional offices and initiatives including EIT Food South, North & East, West, and Central providing localised innovation support across Europe. For agrifood innovators across European regions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 35MtCO₂e mitigated by 2035 through resilient agriculture and next-generation biotechnology
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use EIT Food
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
EIT Food technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
EIT Food partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, regional, strategic, minor and core.
- Corporación Hijos de RiveraflagshipEIT Food and Corporación Hijos de Rivera co-launched the second edition of Impact Sips, an open innovation programme seeking science-backed functional beverage ingredients and drink concepts. The inaugural edition attracted nearly 90 applications from startups across 39 countries. Finalists pitch at Demo Day in A Coruña, Spain, with pilot collaboration valued from €50,000.
- Local Partners across France, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, and TürkiyeregionalFuture Harvest is implemented by EIT Food with local partners in each of the five target countries (France, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, and Türkiye) to deliver hands-on farm experiences and training to young farmers.
- AgSpherestrategicAgSphere (Alberta, Canada), launched with $2.75 million from The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, partnered with EIT Food to facilitate cross-border collaboration between Canadian and European agrifood ecosystems. Activities include startup immersion, training, skills development, and strategic exchanges. A Canadian delegation is planned for EIT Food's Next Bite event in Poland, October 2026.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandminorVTT Technical Research Centre partnered with Time-Travelling Milkman on the Sunflopro project (€700,000 EU-backed) to convert sunflower fat production sidestreams into plant-based protein powder, with EIT Food ecosystem connections supporting the initiative.
- WoltstrategicWolt announced a strategic partnership with EIT Food to advance sustainable and inclusive food systems across Europe, focusing on reducing food waste through sustainable packaging initiatives and strengthening food assistance systems to address food insecurity affecting nearly 38 million people in the EU.
- European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA)strategicWolt's partnership with FEBA (co-announced alongside EIT Food) focuses on strengthening food assistance systems and addressing EU food insecurity. EIT Food collaborates on systemic change from farm to fork, including virtual food banks and emergency preparedness.
- Basque Government and Provincial Council of BizkaiaregionalThe Basque Government and Provincial Council of Bizkaia back EIT Food's Bilbao Campus Experience (BCE), a post-accelerator programme at the BAT Tower, offering 80% customised curriculum for agrifood startups and access to Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American markets.
- Basque Country Industry Partners (Eroski, Biolan, Conservas Arroyabe)regionalEroski, Biolan, and Conservas Arroyabe serve as local industry collaborators in the Bilbao Campus Experience, providing startups with mentorship, industry expertise, and market access in the Basque Country.
- Consumer Observatory Partners (Aarhus University, AZTI, University of Reading, Wageningen Economic Research, Future of Food Institute, Greenhouse Communications, House of Insights, The REAL Leadership Consultancy, Thinktank International Research, Your Allies)coreThe Consumer Observatory is led by a consortium of 11 organisations including Aarhus University, AZTI, University of Reading, and Wageningen Economic Research, among others, producing consumer insights and research on agrifood topics.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EIT Food competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EIT Climate-KIC: EIT Climate-KIC is a sibling Knowledge and Innovation Community under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), operating with the same institutional structure, EU grant model, and pan-European mission-and-priority-area framework as EIT Food. The most direct structural peer.
- Food Valley: Food Valley is the Netherlands' flagship agrifood innovation ecosystem, convening corporates, startups, researchers, and government around food innovation. Highly comparable to EIT Food's regional ecosystem model, though smaller in geographic scope.
- Plug and Play Food & Beverage: Plug and Play operates a global Food & Beverage accelerator programme connecting agrifood startups with corporate partners for pilots and investment. Closely comparable in accelerator/cohort design and corporate-startup matchmaking, though privately funded rather than EU-backed.
- Startupbootcamp FoodTech: Startupbootcamp FoodTech runs accelerator cohorts for early-stage food and agriculture startups with mentor networks and corporate partner access. Directly comparable to EIT Food's FAN and Seedbed programmes in cohort structure and target founders.
- Rockstart AgriFood: Rockstart's AgriFood accelerator supports early-stage startups across the food value chain with mentorship and investor connections. Comparable in accelerator design and agrifood focus, though operates at smaller cohort scale than EIT Food's network.
Broad incumbents
- EIT Manufacturing: EIT Manufacturing is another EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community supporting industrial innovation across Europe. Comparable as an EIT KIC sibling, though its sectoral focus is broader industrial manufacturing rather than agrifood specifically.
- Innovate UK: Innovate UK is the UK's national innovation agency funding and connecting innovative businesses. Comparable in its role as a publicly funded innovation ecosystem builder, though broader than agrifood and national rather than pan-European.
- Rabobank FoodBytes!: Rabobank's FoodBytes! is a food and agtech innovation platform connecting startups with corporate partners and investors. Comparable in agrifood-startup-corporate matchmaking, though run by a single commercial bank rather than a multi-stakeholder consortium.
Others
- AgFunder: AgFunder is a venture capital firm and agrifood innovation media platform covering the global agrifood tech ecosystem. Comparable as a connector in the agrifood innovation space, though it operates as an investor/news outlet rather than an accelerator consortium.
- European Food Banks Federation (FEBA): FEBA is a partner of EIT Food in food-assistance and food-waste initiatives. Adjacent rather than directly competitive; shares the food-system-resilience mission and is a co-collaborator on EIT Food programmes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EIT Food social profiles
Digital presenceEIT Food financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EIT Food leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
EIT Food funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EIT Food M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments133 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EIT Food
What does EIT Food do?
EIT Food operates a pan-European food innovation ecosystem, running accelerator and venture catalyst programmes (FAN, Seedbed), entrepreneurship support initiatives (EWA, Sales Booster, Bilbao Campus Experience), open innovation calls, and consumer research services (Consumer Observatory/TrustTracker). It convenes agrifood startups, corporates, farmers, researchers, and policymakers across five regional offices in Europe, providing funding, mentorship, education, and market access to drive systemic change toward a sustainable, resilient food system.
Is EIT Food a public or private company?
EIT Food is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was EIT Food founded?
EIT Food was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is EIT Food based?
EIT Food is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does EIT Food make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. EU Institutional Funding (EIT) is the primary driver. The others are philanthropic / Foundation Grants and programme Participation Fees.
Who are EIT Food's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EIT Climate-KIC, Food Valley, Plug and Play Food & Beverage, Startupbootcamp FoodTech and Rockstart AgriFood. Broad incumbents are EIT Manufacturing, Innovate UK and Rabobank FoodBytes!. Others are AgFunder and European Food Banks Federation (FEBA).
Does EIT Food have an API?
No public API is recorded for EIT Food.
What industry is EIT Food in?
EIT Food's product category is Agrifood Innovation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAJAG, Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition. Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2000.