EIT Food

If we want to tackle deforestation, we need to answer two key questions: What’s driving it, and how can we find solutions? 🤔 Every year, the world loses around 5 million hectares of forest. 95% of this deforestation occurs in the tropics, and at least 75% is driven by agriculture – clearing forests for crops like palm oil and soy, or raising livestock. Shockingly, cattle pasture expansion alone accounts for 41% of tropical deforestation. (Our World in Data) 🌳💔 So, what can European #FoodSystems do to help reduce the loss of these vital natural landscapes? Localising sustainable food production 🌱 Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) methods, such as vertical farming, allow food to be grown in a wider range of locations, including indoor environments – reducing the need to clear forests. Scaling #RegenerativeAgriculture and agroforestry across Europe 🌾 Cross-sector initiatives like The Regenerative Innovation Portfolio are fostering partnerships across the agrifood chain to provide farmers with practical tools and business models to transition to regenerative practices. Promoting tech and innovation to boost yield, crop diversity, and profit 🤖 For example, EIT Food RisingFoodStars Computomics has created a machine-learning system that helps farmers optimise crops for different climates, reducing the need to clear natural landscapes and keeping food production local. Increasing protein diversity while reducing livestock farming 🌍 Adopting plant-based proteins like AnuLife – which upcycles vegetable waste into sustainable ingredients – can replace animal-based ingredients in meat and dairy alternatives. Fostering policies to protect natural landscapes 📜 Regulations that ensure only ‘deforestation-free’ products enter the market, require companies to trace and report where commodities are produced and how they reach consumers. Read more in our blog: https://lnkd.in/deSZupFn What else can our food systems do to conserve natural landscapes? 💬👇 #ImprovingFoodTogether #FutureOfFood #SustainableFood

Water scarcity is complex and caused by a range of factors, including climate change, overconsumption, and pollution.💧🌍 With 2/3 of the population predicted to live under ‘water stress’ by 2050, how can #FoodSystems mitigate the pressure on water sources? 🤔💦 Demand for water to grow crops and livestock has grown by 100% in the last century (WRI) and farming accounts for approximately 70% of all freshwater withdrawals (freshwater taken from ground or surface water sources and conveyed to a place of use) (FAO). When compared to crop production, livestock farming is extremely water intensive, and as meat consumption continues to increase across the world, water use will grow alongside it. 🥩🌾 So how do you think we could tackle this issue? 👉 https://lnkd.in/dPm2an6w

Protein is essential for a healthy diet, but the overproduction of animal-based protein is taking a toll on the environment. 🥩🥛 The good news? We already have sustainable ways to produce high-quality, safe, and nutritious proteins to support our growing population. 🌱🥦🌍 Protein diversification offers a promising solution to many challenges in our current food system. The introduction of new, innovative foods could be the key to building future-ready #FoodSystems. 👇 • Edible insects are rich in high-quality protein, vitamins, and amino acids. They can diversify diets, enhance nutrition security, and lower the ecological footprint of protein consumption. 🦗 EIT Food RisingFoodStars Essento Food creates sustainable insect-based products like snacks, protein bars, and burgers. • Algae is the ocean’s superfood, offering protein, dietary fibre, and bioactive compounds. It also helps regulate marine ecosystems, conserve freshwater, and scale carbon capture. Revo Foods, winner of our Marketed Innovation Prize, has developed plant-based seafood alternatives using pea proteins, algae extracts, and plant oils. 🌿 • Cultivated meat eliminates the need for animal slaughter and resource-intensive farming, offering a sustainable and customisable alternative to conventional meat. Innovators like Aleph Farms, Mosa Meat, and Peace of Meat are creating cultivated meat that replicates traditional meat in both taste and texture. 🥩 Could these novel foods become the new normal in Europe? 🌍 Read more: https://lnkd.in/d-rpN3uB #Veganuary #ProteinDiversification #ImprovingFoodTogether

As we close out a year that’s been both challenging and inspiring, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible community of innovators, partners, and changemakers. Together, we’ve made meaningful strides toward a more sustainable, fair, and resilient food system for Europe and beyond. 🌾🌍 Thank you for being part of this journey. Your dedication continues to fuel our mission to create healthier lives and a net-zero food future. 🌱✨ Here’s to a 2025 filled with new ideas, stronger partnerships, and collective action to improve food systems for everyone. 🥂 Wishing you and your loved ones health, happiness, and of course, great food in the year ahead. 💚 #HappyNewYear #EITFoodCommunity #ImprovingFoodTogether

In a year full of challenges, we are profoundly grateful for you — our peers, our community, and everyone working to transform our food systems into ones that are more fair, resilient, and sustainable. 🙏🌍 Your dedication to helping both people and nature thrive inspires us to keep pushing forward, even when the path isn’t always clear. ✨ This year, we’ve witnessed the incredible resilience of our community in Europe and beyond, and the real impact our collective efforts are having on people, the planet, and the climate. 🌱 Wishing you a season filled with warmth, reflection, and hope. 💚 #ImprovingFoodTogether #FoodSystems

Climate change is happening all around us, and the #FoodSystem is both a cause and casualty. 🌍🍽️ There are many ways the food system can drive positive change and reduce its environmental impact. 🌱👇 Our Net Zero Food System mission framework is based on three targets where the EIT Food community can have the most impact, and in the areas of greatest need. These are: 1️⃣ Establishing regenerative agriculture as a commercially viable option in key value chain 2️⃣ Reducing food loss and waste 3️⃣ Growing the circular food economy through packaging and labelling This is reflected in our community building and advocacy activities and underpins the design of our funding and partnership opportunities. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ds8je3bU What key areas do we need to scale to create net zero food systems? #ImprovingFoodTogether

We took big leaps forward in the transformation of the food system in 2024! Great collaborative efforts across all industry members & professionals have helped achieved pivotal milestones in our journey toward a sustainable future. 🤝✨ Change in our #FoodSystems is urgently needed to tackle climate change, give everyone access to a healthy and nutritious food, and protect the environment. 🌍🌾 At the heart of this transformation is the #EITFoodCommunity, driving innovation to create healthier lives for all. Together, we’re building fair, resilient, and sustainable food systems. Let's continue championing innovation, sustainability & resilience in 2025 for a greener #FutureOfFood 🍽️🌿 #ImprovingFoodTogether

🌱 What does it take to finance the transition to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative food system? 🚀 We have been exploring the specific challenges related to financing and scaling regenerative agriculture, including: 🔵High initial costs and transaction fees. 🔵Longer windows needed to see returns. 🔵Misaligned practices for setting goals and collecting data across the food value chain. During the discussion at Building Bridges last week, we identified several pathways for accelerating the shift towards sustainable food systems, considering solutions like: 🔵Blended public-private financing models to reduce risk. 🔵Measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) technologies to build trust. 🔵Innovative funding pathways to improve farmers’ access to capital. How do you think we can overcome barriers to financing regenerative agriculture? Listen to our Katherine Foster as she shares her thoughts on the discussion and tell us what you think in the comments.👇 #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFinance #FutureOfFood #ImprovingFood

Food plays a key role in many aspects of our lives, and we all have a part to play in ensuring everyone has access to nutritious, safe, and sustainable food. 🍽️🌱 A huge shoutout to all the innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and partners who are tirelessly working together to tackle global food challenges and drive sustainable change. 🌟 We are immensely proud of the largest agrifood innovation community, which continues to make a real difference in transforming #FoodSystems for a healthier, more sustainable future. 🌍💚 What bold steps can we take in the new year to support more sustainable and inclusive food systems? Share your thoughts! 👇 https://lnkd.in/dQ66vVkg #SustainableFood #FutureOfFood #ImprovingFoodTogether

Innovative startups are uniquely positioned to push boundaries in how we produce, manufacture, trade, and consume food. But with startups often working on solutions at a micro level, how can we ensure they make a significant impact toward transforming the whole food system? 🤔🌍 Brilliant startups in our #EITFoodCommunity are bringing countless products and services to market, supporting the transition to healthier, more sustainable, and resilient food systems. We’re proud to celebrate their success and impact through The Marketed Innovation Prize. 🎉👏 "We’re thrilled to recognise startups that have participated in EIT Food programmes and are now making a tangible impact by introducing their innovations to the market. These winners are driving meaningful change across our food system, and we look forward to supporting their continued success in the years to come," says our CEO, Richard Zaltzman. Huge congratulations to this year’s winners: 🌾Ullmanna: Next-gen AI solutions for weeding machines in agriculture. 🌿 SAM-DIMENSION: Drone-based weed mapping to identify and target upcoming weed problems. 📷 farmAIr: Using thermal and optical cameras to prevent and minimise plant stress. 🐟 BettaFish: 100% plant-based fish alternatives made primarily with European seaweed. 🍑 Kern Tec: Upcycling industrial by-products into high-value ingredients for food & beverage. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/deP5VwSt How can we continue to empower innovative startups to drive the food systems transformation we urgently need? ✨ #ImprovingFoodTogether #FutureOfFood