Empowering Women in Agrifood: Building Entrepreneurial Capacities

Deadline: 03-Mar-2026

The Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) Programme 2026 invites experienced organisations to support women entrepreneurs across the agrifood sector. Selected implementers will deliver Modules 2 (Grow) or 3 (Advance), providing tailored training, mentorship, ecosystem engagement, and financial awards. Funding of up to €50,000 per Module 2 organisation and €58,000 for Module 3 is available for successful programme delivery.

The EWA Programme 2026 aims to strengthen the agrifood innovation ecosystem by supporting women-led ventures, closing gender gaps in access to skills, networks, funding, and markets, and fostering innovation aligned with EIT Food priority areas.

The programme embeds a strong women empowerment perspective in all activities, targeting startups and early-stage ventures across Europe, Türkiye, Ukraine, and eligible RIS countries.

Programme Objectives

The programme focuses on:

• Strengthening the agrifood innovation ecosystem

• Supporting women entrepreneurs at various stages of growth

• Closing gender gaps in skills, networks, funding, and market opportunities

• Aligning support with priority areas such as resilient agriculture, biotechnology, and diversified proteins

• Ensuring sustainable empowerment outcomes for women entrepreneurs

Programme Modules

Module 2 (Grow)

• Delivered locally in national languages

• Targets early-stage women founders or idea-holders with high potential

• Structured support to validate and strengthen business models

• Up to 12 organisations selected:

  • 1 in Türkiye

  • 1 in Ukraine

  • Up to 10 in other eligible RIS countries

• Each cohort supports up to 10 women entrepreneurs

Module 3 (Advance)

• Delivered by a single pan-European organisation in English

• Targets women-led startups with market traction

• Focus on becoming investment-ready and scaling internationally

• Each cohort supports up to 10 women entrepreneurs

Responsibilities of Implementing Organisations

Selected organisations will be responsible for:

• Outreach and participant scouting

• Application evaluation and selection

• Mentor recruitment and management

• Programme design and delivery of training

• Coordination of personalised mentoring sessions

• Ecosystem engagement and matchmaking

• Organising key events: kick-off sessions, masterclasses, Demo Days

• Awarding financial prizes to top-performing participants

• Contributing to programme sustainability through external sponsorship

Eligibility Criteria

Organisations must demonstrate:

• Strong operational capacity and programme management skills

• Relevant expertise in agrifood and entrepreneurship

• Access to local or international innovation ecosystems

• Experience in delivering EU-funded or comparable programmes

• Ability to secure external sponsorship for participant awards

Funding and Budget

• Total programme budget: €658,000

• Module 2: Up to €50,000 per organisation

• Module 3: €58,000 for the pan-European organisation

• Funding is tied to successful delivery of defined programme deliverables

• Programme duration: March 2026 – December 2026

Programme Benefits for Participants

Women entrepreneurs supported by the programme will receive:

• Structured training to strengthen their business models

• Personalised mentoring from industry experts

• Engagement with local and international innovation ecosystems

• Networking opportunities with peers and investors

• Access to financial awards for high-performing participants

Why This Programme Matters

The EWA Programme addresses key barriers faced by women in agrifood entrepreneurship:

• Limited access to skill-building opportunities

• Gaps in networks and mentorship

• Unequal access to funding and market opportunities

By supporting women entrepreneurs, the programme strengthens the agrifood ecosystem and fosters innovation, inclusivity, and growth in the sector.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure your organisation meets operational, expertise, and ecosystem access requirements.

Step 2: Choose Module

• Module 2 (Grow) – local delivery for early-stage entrepreneurs

• Module 3 (Advance) – pan-European delivery for scaling startups

Step 3: Prepare Application

Include:

• Organisational profile and operational capacity

• Experience in agrifood or entrepreneurship programmes

• Plan for outreach, training, mentoring, and ecosystem engagement

• Strategy to secure external sponsorship for prize funding

Step 4: Submission

Submit the application according to the call timeline, clearly indicating chosen module and geographic focus.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Applying without proven operational capacity or prior programme delivery experience

2. Failing to demonstrate relevant agrifood and entrepreneurship expertise

3. Neglecting to show access to innovation ecosystems

4. Overlooking sustainability planning and sponsorship strategy

5. Submitting incomplete or unclear programme implementation plans

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many organisations will be selected for Module 2?

Up to 12 organisations: 1 in Türkiye, 1 in Ukraine, and up to 10 across other eligible RIS countries.

2. How is Module 3 delivered?

Module 3 is delivered by a single pan-European organisation in English, targeting women-led startups with market traction.

3. What is the funding per organisation?

Module 2 organisations can receive up to €50,000; Module 3 organisation receives €58,000.

4. What is the programme duration?

March 2026 to December 2026.

5. Are financial awards included for participants?

Yes. Each cohort supports up to 10 women entrepreneurs with structured training and financial prizes for top performers.

6. Can organisations outside Europe participate?

Module 2 is for eligible RIS countries, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Module 3 is pan-European.

7. Is external sponsorship required?

Yes. Organisations are expected to secure additional sponsorship to support participant prize grants.

Conclusion

The EWA Programme 2026 provides an opportunity for experienced organisations to empower women entrepreneurs across the agrifood sector.

With structured training, mentoring, ecosystem engagement, and financial awards, participating organisations help women-led ventures grow, scale, and contribute to a more inclusive and innovative agrifood ecosystem.

For more information, visit EIT Food.