From circular food systems to biotech proteins and precision farming, the agrifood sector is transforming fast. Yet across Europe, women remain underrepresented in building its future.
Food innovation in Europe is gaining momentum. Startups are redefining how we produce, process and consume food: think climate-resilient agriculture; personalised nutrition; AI-enabled logistics. However, within this growing ecosystem, women entrepreneurs remain significantly underrepresented.
This problem isn't limited to foodtech and agritech startups. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the early-stage entrepreneurship rate for women in Europe is just 5.7%, far below the global average. Women also represent just one third of business owners in the region. The gap widens further in access to investment: a 2024 report from the European Commission reveals that just 2.4% of VC funding in the EU goes to startups founded exclusively by women.
This imbalance is not only a question of representation. It reflects missed opportunities for innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth. Supporting women in launching and scaling agritech and foodtech ventures is essential for building a future-fit food system.
A pan-European initiative with real impact
This is where EWA — Empowering Women in Agrifood — comes in. Launched by EIT Food in 2020, the programme provides early-stage female entrepreneurs with tools, guidance and visibility to grow their businesses.
Since its creation, EWA has supported more than 450 women across over 17 countries. In 2025, the programme will take place in 13 European countries: Albania, Estonia, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Portugal and Greece. A total of 130 participants — ten per country — will be selected.
Over the course of six months, from July to November, selected entrepreneurs will receive:
- Tailored training in business and entrepreneurship
- Personalised mentoring from local experts
- Access to investor networks, industry connections and peers
To recognise progress made during the programme, two participants in each country will receive prizes of €10k and €5,000 respectively.
Voices from the field: EWA alumni speak
Behind each project supported by EWA is a personal story. The programme has helped founders pivot, grow and gain confidence to scale their ideas into viable businesses.
“Being part of the EWA programme has been an incredible opportunity for us. EWA provided a valuable platform to connect, learn and grow. The mentorship, resources and network we gained have been instrumental in strengthening Yugen’s growth strategy,” says İpek Tüysüzoğlu, founder of Yugen, a foodtech from Turkey which turns pomegranate peels into leather.
“We had a prototype, test result, and an idea, but no business plan. After EWA, we now have a five-year roadmap and financial support to implement it,” says Tetiana Kulahina, cofounder of MIR, a Ukrainian agritech.
EWA 2025 is open to women from participating countries who are developing or have recently launched a business idea related to the agrifood sector. The programme is free of charge and designed to adapt to each founder’s context, including rural entrepreneurs, first-time founders and those outside the traditional startup ecosystem.
Applications are open until 25 May 2025. To find out more or apply, click here.
