Fuel the future: Back food start ups now!
Food startups are powerful engines for change: they reduce waste, add value close to the source, and bring sustainable technologies into practice. Yet scaling is a major challenge. This session explores how ecosystems can move beyond fragmented initiatives towards integrated, cross-border support.
Through panel spotlights and interactive discussion, we will address pressing questions such as:
- What are the biggest challenges food startups face in scaling their impact?
- How can public and private actors better support youth-led innovation in food processing?
- What lessons can we learn from successful programmes like Food-scalEUp and Business Factory Food?
- How can we move from fragmented support to a more connected ecosystem?
- What does meaningful intergenerational collaboration look like in practice?
The session blends audience interaction throughout, ensuring participants co-create insights and commitments on how to back startups hand in hand.
Speakers
- Norbert Reichl (Food Processing Initiative)
- Ana Felgueiras (Business Factory Food – Clusaga)
- Cortney Price (FAO, Behavioural Science & Innovation)
- Moderated by Lisanne van Oosterhoud (Next Tech Food Factories).
👉 Register here for the event
👉 Learn more about the SS4AF Innovation Hub – connecting European food clusters and partners to accelerate innovation and scale sustainable solutions.
About WFF & SIA
The World Food Forum (WFF) mobilizes youth and stakeholders globally to drive food system transformation. The Startup Innovation Awards (SIA), part of WFF, highlight and support startups in food processing, showing that youth-led innovation is not just a trend but a necessity for the future. This award is made possible with support from the HIGHFIVE project.
Practical information
When
Where
Organizer