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15 September 2022
Dijon, France
Agrifood'ture Challenge

The Agrifood'ture Challenge

An international pitch contest for innovative start-ups and SMEs


Applications are now closed.

Find out more about the finalists here, representing 9 countries!


4 key food industry challenges

The pitch contest is organised in 4 challenges, addressing key food industry topics, from farm to fork:

  • Agroecological farming practices – fewer chemical inputs, decarbonation, optimising use of natural resources, biodiversity etc.
  • The protein transition – plant-based foods and other innovative protein sources, addressing consumer preferences and usages
  • The circular economy and reducing food waste - designing out waste and environmental impact by keeping products and materials in use, creating new resources from discarded materials
  • Digital smart systems for addressing new consumer expectations – traceability, transparency, co-building foods and services

Finalists can win:

  • For each challenge: 
    • A cash prize of 3,000€ provided by EIT Food
    • Development support packages: direct business connections in agrifood and agriculture (partners, clients, end users etc.) 
  • 3 special prizes will be awarded by Vitagora providing free access to the ToasterLAB acceleration program
  • 1 special prize awarded by MPowerBIO, a free seat at MPowerBIO's Final Event, the Tech Tour Bioeconomy 2022

Key dates

  • August 25th, 2022Applications close 
  • September 14th & 15th, 2022 - Agrifood'ture Challenge final takes place in Dijon France

Find out more below!

or download the contest rules


Who can apply?


The Agrifood’ture Challenge is open to innovators from anywhere in the world developing solutions addressing major food and agriculture challenges.


You can apply to the Agrifood'ture challenge if you are:

  • A start-up or an SME (up to 250 employees) and your company is registered anywhere in the world
  • Your innovation is at the proof of concept stage or beyond
  • Your innovation can be a technology, an experimental practice, an innovative food or ingredient, a sustainable supply chain model, a circular economy initiative, a communication solution…
  • You are looking for support in accelerating the growth of your business


What can you win?



Taking part in the Eco Agrifood Challenge connects you to a wide network of agriculture and food companies.

You can also win cash prizes and valuable acceleration support for development and market access.


4 winners will be selected from the finalists - 1 winner for each of the 4 challenges.
Each winner gains access to a prize package including:

  • A cash prize of 3,000 provided by EIT Food
  • 1 year free membership to Vitagora - direct business connections to a network of 650 agrifood businesses, R&D and innovation support
  • 1 year free membership to Agronov, agroecology innovation hub
  • 3 months free membership to the Village by CA Champagne-Bourgogne in Dijon
  • Access to end users and experimentation partners in the agricultural and agrifood sector
3 Special prizes awarded by Vitagora - Access to the ToasterLAB acceleration program
A special prize will be awarded by contest organisers to 3 start-ups, giving access to the high quality acceleration support of the ToasterLAB program. This includes 12 months of acceleration support, with a focus on market launch and production support in Europe.
1 special prize awarded by MPowerBIO, a free seat at MPowerBIO's Final Event, the Tech Tour Bioeconomy 2022


It is possible for finalists to win both a main prize and a special prize.


How do you apply?


  1. Complete your application form on the F6S platform.
    You can do so in English or in French.
    Applications are now closed.

  2. You will be informed if you are selected for the final by August 31st, 2022

  3. If you are selected, you will be invited to take part in The Agrifood'ture Challenge Final on September 148th and 15th, 2022 in Dijon, France
    This event will include:
    September 14th, evening
       A networking meeting with the event jury and partners
    September 15th, day time -
       - A pitch contest to present your business project and its impact for the jury, European agrifood professionals and invited media (you can present your pitch in either English or French).
       - A day of matchmaking meetings to allow you to network efficiently with potential partners and investors
    Taking part in the Agrifood'ture Challenge final is free of charge for selected finalists.



  4. The winners will be announced on September 15th, 2022at the conclusion to the final.

A few tips for optimising your application

  • Complete all the questions in the application.
    You will be selected (or not) for the final on the strength of your written application.

  • Read the information on the judging criteria below. This will give you ideas for how to present your innovation in the best light.
  • You can also read the full contest rules here

Feel free to contact us for any questions or for advice on the selection and judging process.
Contact: Marthe Jewell, Vitagora
marthe.jewell@vitagora.com




What are the judging criteria?


WHAT IS THE JURY LOOKING FOR?
Innovation, business potential, impact...

Your innovation must be at or beyond the proof of concept stage.

Your innovation can be a technology, food product or ingredient, expertise or organisation model, or a communications solution able to address at least one of the following 4 key industry challenges:

  • Agroecological farming practices – fewer chemical inputs, decarbonation, optimising use of natural resources, biodiversity etc.
  • The protein transition – plant-based foods and other innovative protein sources, addressing consumer preferences and usages
  • The circular economy and reducing food waste
  • Digital smart systems for addressing new consumer expectations – traceability, transparency, co-building foods and services

Finalists and contest winners must stand out from the crowd in terms of their:

  • innovative qualities (compared to solutions already on the market)
  • business potential (potential to be developed at an industrial scale for European or world markets)
  • coherence with the following "impact" criteria: 
    Environmental
    : presenting a positive impact in terms of reducing the impact of agrifood productions on the environment and on the consumption of natural resources
    Economic: presenting a positive impact in terms of value creation or an increase in efficiency for the user/client
    Social: presenting a positive impact in terms of social cohesion or social equity


Finally, applications will be evaluated on their potential to benefit from acceleration and development support provided in the prize packages, especially for the "special prize" providing free access to the ToasterLAB acceleration program.


Any questions? Contact us!

Vitagora
Kévin André
kevin.andre@vitagora.com
Mobile: +33 674 16 69 90 

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Registration
Closed since 16 September 2022
Location
21000 Dijon, France
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