Future Food Institute

What Future Food Institute does

Future Food Institute is an Italian Benefit company (Future Food Srl Società Benefit) with a US wholly-owned subsidiary (Future Food Americas Inc., d/b/a FFI), founded around 2014–2016 and headquartered in Bologna. The organization operates a global food-systems education and innovation platform anchored by four physical Living Labs in Bologna, Pollica and Montepaldi (Italy) and Tokyo (Japan), plus a North American regional hub in San Francisco. Its core platform comprises the Future Food Academy (Climate Shapers boot camps, Regeneration Tracks, Master's programs in partnership with universities, and K-12 school programs), a research and prototyping stack (R&D services, Food Alchemist innovation lab, Future Farm agritech space in Emilia Romagna), and a portfolio of thematic initiatives spanning regenerative agriculture, climate, circular systems, water, nutrition, Mediterranean food heritage, and regenerative cities.

Commercially and operationally, Future Food Institute functions as a community- and partnership-led non-profit/Benefit entity rather than a venture-backed product company. Revenue mechanics come from EU-funded projects (RegenerAction, 500-Pollica), grants and program funding (FAO Food for Earth, EIT Food EWA-Grow Italia, Moody's Foundation forest carbon project), corporate partnerships (BF Spa in regenerative agriculture, Tokyo Tatemono for the Tokyo Living Lab, Dole for nutrition research, Google Food Team for Climate Shapers), contract training with municipalities and academic institutions (University of Florence at Villa Montepaldi, Iuav University of Venice), and event-driven programming (Venice Climate Week, Earth Day Global Marathon, Osaka EXPO 2025, Edible Connections Week). No public pricing model or per-program fee schedule is disclosed, consistent with a primarily grant- and partnership-funded model served through a hybrid segmentation approach spanning students/young professionals, women entrepreneurs in agrifood, local communities, municipalities and corporate ESG partners.

Name

Future Food Institute

Legal name

Future Food Institute

Website

https://futurefoodinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Future Food Institute is an Italian Benefit company that runs a global food-systems education and innovation platform via Living Labs in Italy, Japan and the US, training change-makers and partnering with FAO, EIT Food, universities and corporates on regenerative agriculture and sustainability programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Food Systems Education and Innovation

NAICS

Special Food Services (7223)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Resilient Livelihoods & Climate-Smart Food Security (BPADAJAH), Nutrition, Special Diets & Wellness Cooking (EDAOAKAJ), Food Entrepreneurship (Food Trucks/Small Business) (EDAOAKAK), Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition (BPADAJAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable food systems education
• Regenerative agriculture training
• Food innovation programs
• Agrifood entrepreneurship support
• Living lab community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Bologna

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs and Training: The institute conducts training programs, boot camps, and master classes for students, professionals, and communities focused on food system sustainability, regeneration, and innovation. Programs include the Climate Shapers boot camp, Mediterranean diet programs, and regenerative agriculture training.
2. Partnership and Grant Funding: Funded through partnerships with international organizations (FAO, EIT Food), corporate partners, foundations, and EU grants for specific initiatives and research projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Future Food Institute is an Italian non-profit Benefit company that delivers education, training, and innovation programs to transform global food systems. Its core offerings are the Future Food Academy (boot camps, Master's, school programs, and Climate Shapers training) and a network of four Living Labs in Italy and Japan that host co-creation, research, and community engagement activities around regenerative agriculture, the Mediterranean diet, climate action, and agrifood entrepreneurship.

Product overview

Future Food Institute operates a multi-faceted platform centered on education and innovation in global food systems. The core offering includes the Future Food Academy, which provides training through programs like Regeneration Tracks, Climate Shapers boot camps, Master's programs, and School Programs. Physical innovation occurs through Living Labs located in Bologna, Montepaldi, Pollica, and Tokyo. The institute also runs specialized initiatives covering Regenerative Cities, Earth Regeneration, Waste & Circular Systems, Water Safety & Security, Mediterranean Foodscape, Nutrition for All, Climate, and Humana Communitas. Additional offerings include the Food for Earth Toolbox, Research & Development services, Food Alchemist innovation lab, Future Farm agritech space, EWA-Grow Italia (women's entrepreneurship program), and event series such as Edible Connections Week, Earth Day Global Marathon, and Venice Climate Week. The organization positions itself as an ecosystem connecting research, education, innovation hubs, and community programs to drive transformation toward sustainable food systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Future Food Academy Training platform delivering boot camps, Master's programs, and School Programs for students, young professionals, and institutions focused on food innovation and sustainability transformation.
• Living Labs Network Physical innovation hubs in Bologna, Pollica, Montepaldi (Italy) and Tokyo (Japan) hosting co-creation, research, training, and community engagement for sustainable food systems.
• Research & Development Services Collaborative research initiatives addressing challenges in global food systems sustainability, delivered with academic and institutional partners.
• EWA-Grow Italia Italian implementation of the EIT Food Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) program, supporting female entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector through training, mentorship, and financial support.
• RegenerAction Project European project promoting regenerative food systems and rural revitalization through education, capacity-building, and pilot programs.
• Climate Shapers Boot Camp Intensive boot camp program within the Future Food Academy that empowers the next generation of change-makers to address climate challenges through food systems innovation.
• Regeneration Tracks Boot Camp Intensive training program within the Future Food Academy focused on regenerative agriculture and ecological practices.
• Future Farm Agricultural innovation space in Emilia Romagna featuring greenhouses, fablabs, laboratories, and farmland for developing and testing agritech solutions.
• Food Alchemist Innovation lab focused on reimagining food products and transforming food waste into valuable resources.
• Food for Earth Toolbox Collection of resources and insights compiled from the Food for Earth 24-Hour Global Marathon for Sustainability, providing ideas and initiatives for transforming global food systems.
• Master's Programs Academic degree programs in food innovation and sustainable food systems offered in partnership with universities.
• Regenerative Cities Program Program advocating for cities to become ecosystems of resilience and regeneration, integrating urban-rural systems inspired by climate and biodiversity goals.
• Mediterranean Foodscape Initiative Initiative protecting the Mediterranean Diet as a cultural epicenter, biodiversity reserve, and lifestyle model for sustainable development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000+ tonnes CO2 removed through forest carbon project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026FAO MuNe collaboration at Venice Climate Week 2026; Food for Earth initiative partnership; Regular collaboration on global food systems transformation through marathons, publications, and educational programs
• Tokyo TatemonocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025Tokyo Living Lab partnership; Regenerative Cities Manifesto collaboration at RegenerAction Japan; Urban regeneration initiatives
• University of Florence (Università di Firenze)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2024Regenerative agriculture and integrated ecological development at Villa Montepaldi; Academic research collaboration; Student programs and campus development
• EIT FoodflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEWA (Empowering Women in Agrifood) program partnership in Italy; European network of food system innovators; Co-funding for agrifood entrepreneurship programs
• Google Food TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood for Climate League collaboration; Climate Shapers boot camp partnership
• Iuav University of VeniceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO MuNe installation collaboration at Venice Climate Week; Academic partnership for research and education
• DoleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNutrition Unpacked white paper collaboration; Food inequality research study; Joint publication on nutritional gaps
• European Commission Representation in ItalycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Agrifood Week collaboration; EU-funded projects including RegenerAction and 500-Pollica initiative
• Certified B Corp CommunityminorOthersPart of global B Corp community meeting high standards of social and environmental impact
• Farm Tech SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerControlled Environment Agriculture roundtable; Biodiversity action plan collaboration

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Slow Food: Slow Food is an Italian-founded global non-profit dedicated to preserving traditional food cultures, biodiversity, and sustainable food production. Direct peer because Future Food's Mediterranean Diet Living Lab in Pollica and Mediterranean Foodscape initiative overlap directly with Slow Food's mandate to protect food heritage and promote regenerative practices.
• EIT Food: EIT Food is an EU-funded knowledge and innovation community focused on transforming food systems through education, entrepreneurship, and consumer engagement. Direct peer because Future Food Institute is a delivery partner for EIT Food's EWA-Grow Italia programme and operates in the same European food systems innovation ecosystem.
• Global Alliance for the Future of Food: The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is a philanthropic foundation consortium working on sustainable food systems transformation. Direct peer because it funds and convenes similar regenerative agriculture and food systems work, often with overlapping grantees and partner networks.
• Food Tank: Food Tank is a non-profit research and media organization that highlights innovative approaches to food systems transformation globally. Direct peer because it operates a similar model of research-driven publications, events, and partnerships focused on sustainable food and agriculture, often cited alongside Future Food Institute in media coverage.
• The Lexicon: The Lexicon is a non-profit platform that curates frameworks and resources for food systems practitioners and changemakers. Direct peer because it operates as a knowledge and community hub serving the same audience of food systems innovators that Future Food Academy targets.
• Food Foundation: Food Foundation is a UK-based think tank and charity focused on food systems policy, nutrition, and public engagement. Direct peer because it pairs research and policy advocacy (similar to Future Food's Nutrition Unpacked work) with educational programming aimed at consumers and professionals.
• World Food Forum (FAO Youth): The World Food Forum is a FAO-hosted youth-driven movement that convenes global forums and policy dialogues on food systems and agriculture. Direct peer because it overlaps with Future Food's Climate Shapers boot camps and the FAO partnership for the Earth Day Global Marathon, both targeting the next generation of food system leaders.

Emerging players

• Food System Innovations: Food System Innovations is an emerging food systems accelerator and venture-building organization. Emerging player because it focuses on entrepreneurial solutions within the same food systems transformation space that Future Food Institute serves through EWA-Grow Italia and Climate Shapers.

Broad incumbents

• Rockefeller Foundation (Food Initiative): The Rockefeller Foundation's Food Initiative is a philanthropic effort focused on regenerating food systems and addressing food insecurity at global scale. Broad incumbent because it funds and convenes similar food systems work but as part of a much larger philanthropic portfolio and from the funder side rather than as an operator.
• Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen is the leading global institution for agricultural and food sciences research and education. Broad incumbent because it operates Master's programmes, applied research, and industry partnerships across the same food systems transformation themes that Future Food Institute addresses, but at vastly larger scale and longer history.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Ffoodinstitute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/FutureFoodInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/futurefoodinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/futurefoodinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/ffoodinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Future Food Institute