A coalition of food innovation groups, led by EIT Food, has united to introduce the Regenerative Innovation Portfolio, a novel platform aimed at harnessing the potential of regenerative agriculture in Europe.
EIT Food, a food innovation community supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an EU agency, is committing €15 million to the portfolio. This financial commitment will be augmented by contributions from corporate donors.
The initiative aims to showcase innovative pathways and expand existing initiatives through novel partnerships across agrifood value chains.
EIT Food stated that it will match partner contributions of €5 million per year over three years, potentially leading to a total investment of up to €30 million.
“It is crucial that we establish a future-fit food system for all: a transition that can only be achieved by prioritising systemic, regenerative approaches to agriculture, in a way that keeps farmers front and centre and fosters collaboration between all stakeholders in the food chain,” commented Richard Zaltzman, chief executive of EIT Food.
“By matching funding from partners that invest in landscape level collaborations in the Regenerative Innovation Portfolio, EIT Food aims to enable a significant commitment to the regenerative transition within Europe.”
Landscape-level approach
The initiative will adopt a ‘landscape-level’ approach, looking beyond individual farms to explore collaborative strategies across various sectors.
The portfolio has identified five potential priority areas where multiple stakeholders, including regional governments, investors, and retailers, share mutual interests and complementary sourcing needs.
Corporate entities involved in the portfolio stand to gain several benefits from the collaborative approach, according to EIT Food, by promoting innovative, cross-value chain sourcing models. Moreover, by sharing costs, knowledge, and experiences, the portfolio will enable corporates to leverage complementary capabilities and resources.
Shift to regenerative agriculture
“We have already seen significant efforts and initiatives from farmers and cooperatives in the shift to regenerative agriculture,” commented Marjolein Brasz, chief executive of Foodvalley. “The Regenerative Innovation Portfolio will be crucial in helping to practically scale and expand these approaches.
“By creating a collaborative community, the Regenerative Innovation Portfolio will generate and share learnings and experiences between landscapes which will help to foster more successful partnerships and innovation in the future and get all stakeholders in the landscape transition to play their role.”
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