Ten Latvian women entrepreneurs have started participation in EIT Food’s Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) business support program. This program runs simultaneously in 12 European countries and is implemented in Latvia by the Riga Technical University (RTU) Science and Innovation Centre (SIC). The program aims to tackle gender inequalities in the agrifood sector by providing women with comprehensive support to help them start and grow sustainable businesses successfully. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
From Latvia, in the programme will take part entrepreneurial women from Riga, Jelgava, Jurmala and several Latvian regions, such as Ventspils, Sigulda, Aizraukle, Cesis, Rezekne and Jekabpils. After a thorough selection process, the chosen participants gathered in mid-June at the EWA programme launch event, which took place at the RTU SIC and where the participants of the programme met their mentors for the first time and presented their business ideas to the audience:
• Inese Skapste – setting up a biorefinery in which using Baltic seaweed as a sustainable agricultural resource;
• llze Kalniņa – production of energy drink powders rich in quality and natural ingredients
• Liega Krasovska – production of antioxidant extracts and fully biodegradable active food packaging using potato peel and potato starch;
• Krista Rozenberga – production of apple fibre powder; made from apple pomace, without preservatives or added sugar;
• Kristīne Štikāne – «Gutopia» production of fermented vegetable products; alternative to sour milk products;
• Līga Pollaka – production of a protein-rich food or food ingredient from mushrooms grown in Latvian climatic conditions;
• Jūlija Vilcāne – soil additives with biological components that help to reduce soil and substrate leaching, protect plants from root rots and significantly reduce the impact of pests by promoting plant growth;
• Jolanta Smane – production of goat's cheese, quince juice, syrup and succades;
• Zane Migliniece – «Botanical shaman» kombucha production from teas harvested in Latvia;
• Elīna Zandere – production of ready meals of vegetable origin corresponding to the daily vegetable intake.
To reduce gender inequalities in the agrifood sector in the European Union, strengthen the position of women entrepreneurs in the market and empower women to succeed, EWA provides comprehensive support to women entrepreneurs, inspiring them to realise the potential of their ideas and opportunities and providing the necessary knowledge for successful and sustainable business development.
By participating in the programme, women entrepreneurs will spend the next six months learning about business development and strengthening their entrepreneurial capacities. Programme participants will also have access to a wide range of partners and contacts who can provide crucial support in the early stages of business development. They will also have access to individual mentor support, which will be an important asset in taking their business idea to the next level.
At the end of the programme, scheduled for November, during the international innovation ecosystem summit Innovate 360, the participants will present their achievements and compete for a grand prize of up to EUR 10,000 to further develop the business idea.
The EWA programme is being implemented internationally for the fifth time and will take place in Latvia for the second time. It is running simultaneously in 12 countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Ukraine, supporting 120 women in total.
About EIT Food
EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community. We accelerate innovation to build a future-fit food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all.
Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, we invest in projects, organisations and individuals that share our goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. We unlock innovation potential in businesses and universities and create and scale agrifood startups to bring new technologies and products to market. We equip entrepreneurs and professionals with the skills needed to transform the food system and put consumers at the heart of our work, helping build trust by reconnecting them to the origins of their food.
We are one of nine innovation communities established by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body set up in 2008 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.
Find out more at www.eitfood.eu or follow us via social media: X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
