EIT Food, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, has taken a significant step in promoting global innovation in the agrifood-tech sector. The organization has announced the expansion of its Food Accelerator Network (FAN) to Brazil, marking its first venture beyond EU and Horizon Europe-associated states. This strategic move aims to harness the potential of agrifood-tech startups in Brazil and other Latin American countries and integrate them into the European market.
FAN Hub in Brazil: A Gateway for LATAM Startups
The new FAN Hub, based in Campinas, São Paulo, will serve as a platform for budding agrifood-tech startups in Brazil and across Latin America. The program, which typically spans 2-3 months, is designed to accelerate these startups, helping them validate their technology and prepare for market entry. This hub is FAN's second outside Europe, following one in Haifa, Israel, and underscores Brazil's key role in global food production and trade, accounting for 14% of global food production and 45% of net international agrifood trade.
Program Focus and Mission
The FAN program is known for leveraging academic and corporate expertise to prepare agritech startups for commercial success. With its expansion to Brazil, the program will concentrate on key themes such as food bioprocessing, the next generation of plant-sourced solutions, and sustainable food packaging. These focus areas were chosen based on feedback and challenges shared by EIT Food partners, ensuring relevance to both European and LATAM stakeholders. The startups selected for the program are expected to align with FAN’s three mission areas: Healthier Lives Through Food, A Net-Zero Food System, and Reducing Risk for a Fair & Resilient Food System.
Partnership and Networking Opportunities
A critical aspect of the FAN program is the networking opportunities it provides. Startups in the program gain access to over 200 partners across all EU countries and now Brazil/LATAM, including research centers, corporates, and investors. This expansive network covers the entire food system, from primary production to the upcycling of food waste and food packaging. Additionally, the program facilitates participation in top agrifood-tech events, giving startups maximum exposure and the opportunity to advance their solutions in a global context.
Addressing Global Challenges
The expansion of EIT Food's FAN to Brazil signifies an acknowledgment of the region's pivotal role in addressing global challenges, including world food security and the climate crisis. This move also emphasizes the need to support agriculture while protecting tropical forests and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, highlighting the importance of sustainable and ethical food production practices.
Applications and Future Prospects
Applications for EIT Food’s entrepreneurship programs, which aim to launch, accelerate, and scale up agrifood-tech startups, will open in December 2023. The expansion of the FAN to Brazil opens a new chapter for EIT Food, bringing more innovative agrifood-tech startups into its network. This collaboration, as envisioned by Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation at EIT Food, and Paulo Silveira, Founder and CEO of FoodTech HUB Latam, is a win-win partnership that will enable European SMEs to reach the Latin American market and vice versa, creating value for startups and the entire ecosystem.
In conclusion, EIT Food's expansion to Brazil represents a significant step in fostering global innovation in the agrifood-tech sector. By bridging the gap between LATAM and European markets and focusing on sustainable and impactful solutions, EIT Food is paving the way for a healthier, more sustainable, and resilient global food system.