In October 2024, EIT Food launched its inaugural “Next Bite” event, bringing together Europe’s leading food industry innovators, from start-ups and academics to facilitators and major corporations. With over 900 attendees, the event created a dynamic space to explore the future of food in Europe. I participated in the ‘Knowledge and technology transfer and volarization’ Panel.
The program centred around three key pillars:
- Healthier Lives Through Food
- Net Zero Food Systems
- Fair and Resilient Food Systems
Under each of these pillars, thought-provoking talks covered everything from regenerative agriculture to alternative proteins, with speakers delivering deep insights on challenges and opportunities in the food sector. But it was the energy and connections happening offstage that truly made the event stand out.
An open networking floor levelled the playing field, allowing conversations to flow in all directions of the ecosystem. Innovation leaders from prominent organizations engaged in grounded conversations with academics and start-ups, paving the way for fresh collaborations and exciting new projects.
One of the event’s highlights was the Start-Up Marketplace, a vibrant hub where agritech innovators pitched their ideas to potential partners and supporters. This open exchange of ideas showcased cutting-edge technologies, from soil microbiome platforms to food expiry indicator buttons, all backed by EIT Food’s commitment to advancing sustainable solutions.
Find them all here > https://www.eitfood.eu/next-bite/marketplace
Cheese pulling at the Casali Del Pino
To further encourage collaboration and celebrate these new connections, EIT Food hosted a beautiful networking dinner at Casali Del Pino, a traditional Italian farm now diversified into agri-tourism. Upon arrival, each attendee drew a table number, ensuring fresh connections with new colleagues. We were welcomed with live pasta-making demonstrations and tasted cheeses and cured meats, all produced on the farm. The evening continued indoors, with engaging conversations and new friendships formed over delicious food—a fitting close to an event dedicated to innovation, community, and the future of food.
I can’t wait to return next year to reconnect and see the growth of ideas sparked at this year’s event.
Dr Emma Chapelhow, Open Innovation Programme Coordinator, UK Agri-Tech Centre
