The Agrifood Roadmap to Market is a free programme designed by BGI Sustainable Ventures and supported by EIT Food to help agrifood innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers bridge the gap between technology validation and market adoption.

The programme targets innovations at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4–7, supporting participants to assess their market readiness, identify gaps in their development pathway and build a structured roadmap towards commercialisation and future investment.

Through practical training, industry engagement and peer collaboration, participants will refine their validation plans, strengthen their understanding of investor expectations and explore how economic, environmental and societal impact can influence investment decisions.

Programme Support and Benefits

Participants will receive support to:

• Assess market readiness: Use the Market Readiness Levels framework to evaluate the current market stage of their innovation and identify key development gaps.
• Develop a validation roadmap: Define practical milestones, resource requirements, objectives and next steps towards market fit.
• Engage with industry: Participate in a co-creation session with industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs to test assumptions, exchange insights and explore collaboration opportunities.
• Strengthen investment readiness: Understand investor expectations and assess their preparedness for future investment.
• Improve impact readiness: Explore how economic, environmental and societal impact can influence investment decisions.
• Expand networks: Connect with innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, industry experts and potential partners.
• Access future opportunities: Gain potential entry points to relevant future programmes and events offered through BGI, EIT Food and industry partners, subject to their respective eligibility and selection requirements.

Programme Format

The programme comprises three interactive sessions totalling nine hours, delivered in English through a hybrid format.

1. Market Readiness Session

• Format: Online
• Duration: 3 hours
• Focus: Assessing market readiness, identifying gaps and developing a practical roadmap towards market validation.

2. Co-Creation and Industry Insights

• Format: In person in Portugal
• Duration: 3 hours
• Focus: Refining the validation roadmap through collaboration with industry experts and peers, exploring startup–corporate partnerships and identifying practical routes to market.

3. Investment and Impact Readiness Session

• Format: Online
• Duration: 3 hours
• Focus: Understanding investment expectations, assessing investment preparedness and exploring the role of impact in investment decisions.

Participation is free of charge. At least one representative from each participating project must be available to attend the in-person session in Portugal.

Priority Innovation Areas

Innovations from across the agrifood sector may apply. Preference will be given to projects aligned with one or more of the following areas:

1. Bioinputs Natural inputs that support plant growth, improve soil health and strengthen resilience to environmental stress, including biostimulants and biofertilisers.

2. Fermentation Microbial processes that enable the production of scalable, sustainable, bio-based ingredients and solutions.

3. Blue Food and Circular Aquaculture Innovations that improve aquaculture efficiency, recover value from aquatic biomass and nutrients, and promote circular aquatic food systems.

4. Circular Economy and By-product Valorisation Solutions that reduce agrifood waste, optimise resource use and transform agro-industrial by-products into valuable soil-enhancing products, food ingredients and animal feed.

5. Digital and AI-Driven Agriculture and FoodTech Digital, data-driven and AI-powered solutions for precision farming, decision support, automation and resource efficiency, as well as food technologies improving production, processing, safety, quality, nutrition, shelf life and consumer experience.

6. Protein Diversification Alternative protein innovations, including plant-based, microbial, algae, fungi, insect and cultivated protein sources that support more sustainable and resilient food systems.

7. Novel Foods Next-generation foods and ingredients designed to improve nutrition, functionality, sustainability and consumer experience.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to:

• Agrifood innovators and entrepreneurs.
• Researchers developing agrifood innovations.
• Founders and teams working on early-stage commercialisation.
• Projects operating at TRL 4–7, from experimental proof of concept to prototypes demonstrated in relevant environments.

Applicants must have an incorporated startup or plans to incorporate one.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Be based in an eligible European country or a country formally associated with Horizon Europe.
• Work on an agrifood innovation at TRL 4–7.
• Have an incorporated startup or credible plans to establish one.
• Ensure that at least one project representative can attend the in-person session in Portugal.
• Be able to participate in the programme's required sessions and activities.

The programme's definition of associated countries is specific: countries listed only as other third countries or covered solely by transitional arrangements are not considered eligible associated countries for this programme.

Geographic Scope

The programme is open to applicants based in European Union Member States and countries formally associated with Horizon Europe, subject to the programme's eligibility conditions.

Examples of eligible countries include:

• Portugal
• Germany
• France
• Netherlands
• Italy
• Spain
• Sweden
• Finland
• Belgium
• Austria
• Norway
• Iceland
• Switzerland
• Serbia
• Türkiye

These are examples rather than an exhaustive list. Eligibility must be checked against the formal Horizon Europe association status applicable to the programme. South Africa is not eligible under the stated geographic criteria, as it is listed as an eligible third country for certain Horizon Europe funding arrangements, not a formally associated country for this programme.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated against five main criteria:

• Innovation and novelty: Originality and the use of scientific knowledge to develop new solutions.
• Feasibility and practicality: Technical and operational feasibility, resource requirements and implementation challenges.
• Impact potential: Expected economic, environmental and societal benefits.
• Scalability and growth prospects: Potential to expand into other markets or contexts.
• Strategic alignment: Fit with the programme's objectives, priority areas and the innovation's current development stage.

Submitting a pitch deck is strongly encouraged, although it is not mandatory.

Important Dates

• Applications opened: 7 October 2026
• Application deadline: 4 November 2026
• Programme period: November–December 2026
• Duration: 3 sessions totalling 9 hours

Application Process

Applicants must submit an application through the programme's official registration process. Selected applicants will be invited to participate based on the eligibility and selection criteria.

Click HERE to visit the official website.