agrifood

Agrifood Disruptor

Unlocking the Innovation Potential of Research

BGI team energetically celebrating at an event, with everyone jumping and smiling in a display of joy and camaraderie

Overview

The agrifood sector faces urgent sustainability challenges, many of which could be addressed by innovative research technologies that often don't make it to market. The Agrifood Disruptor is here to change that.

Our program is designed to accelerate the journey from research to real-world impact, equipping researchers with the tools they need to succeed. Through a focused 3-step approach, the Agrifood Disruptor will help you develop an entrepreneurial Mindset, build essential Skills, and offer the Opportunity to discover the right market fit for your research through expert mentorship.

By fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, the Agrifood Disruptor bridges the gap between groundbreaking research and industry, ensuring that new technologies reach the market to solve the pressing sustainability challenges in the agrifood sector.

Final Event & Pitch

Agrifood Disruptor will be ending with a bang on Católica Lisbon University on the 11th of December 2024! If you want to see our researchers soon to become entrepreneurs showcasing their ventures, come join us! During this In-Person event you will also have the opportunity to network with Agrifood industry stakeholders, including Delta, CGD and Jerónimo Martins.
Hope to see you there!

The Disruptor Program

Vision

To become the go-to platform to unlock the innovation potential of the portuguese researchers.

Mission

Support researchers to understand the market landscape for their innovation.

Purpose

Change the mindset, develop skills and provide opportunities for researchers to leverage their technology towards market innovations.

The program

Roadshow: Building the mindset for the innovation journey.
One morning online event focused on cultivating an entrepreneurial Mindset among participants. This experience will prepare you for the next step in our program: the Bootcamp.

Bootcamp: Developing key entrepreneurship Skills.
Online Bootcamp tailored for research teams, focusing on essential Skills for market research. You'll learn about technology assessment, market needs and trends, intellectual property, and effective communication and pitching strategies. The Bootcamp also includes mentoring sessions to guide researchers in their market discovery journey.

Market Discovery Journey/Pitch: Provide you with the Opportunity of discovering the Research-Market fit.
Expert mentoring activity designed to empower researchers on their Market Discovery Journey. You will have the Opportunity to explore partnerships, identify research market fit, and receive guidance for technology redesign.

The program ends in a dedicated In-person Pitch Event, where you will present your work to a diverse range of Industry Stakeholders, allowing you to expand your network and showcase your research effectively.

What to expect?

Build an entrepreneurship mindset to start building your own path.

Discover the market fit for your research.

Build awareness on research to deeptech innovation path.

Build awareness on research Engage with industry stakeholders and entrepreneurs.to deeptech innovation path.

Engage with industry stakeholders and entrepreneurs.

Identify post-programme opportunities to drive your research.

Partners

Do you have any questions?

Applications
1st of April to 25th May 2025

Duration
3 Months

‍‍Language
English

Price
Free

Location
Online

For more information, contact: agrifood@bgi.pt

Turning Research into Market-Ready Innovation in the Agrifood Sector

Register here
BGI team energetically celebrating at an event, with everyone jumping and smiling in a display of joy and camaraderie

Overview

Agrifood Disruptor is an online program designed to empower researchers and early-stage entrepreneurs to bring their agrifood innovations to the market. It’s built for those developing breakthrough technologies,  eager to discover its market fit, connect with the industry, and develop entrepreneurial skills.

With a focus on sustainability and impact, the program is tailored to help bridge the gap between research and market application, offering a journey that includes training, mentoring, market validation, and networking.

Offered free of charge to support the next generation of agrifood innovators.

Rules & Regulations

Why Join?

Discover the market fit for your research

 Build your entrepreneurial, pitching & storytelling skills

Connect with industry leaders, researchers & relevant stakeholders

Access to EIT Food’s innovation ecosystem and vibrant community

The winning team will be awarded expert support to apply to EIT Food opportunities and tickets to EIT Food’s Next Bite event in Brussels.

Access to follow-up support through AmpliAqua® R&D (for top teams in the field)

Who Should Apply?

We’re looking for:

Junior or senior researchers in agrifood-related areas of expertise
Early-stage entrepreneurs with agrifood-related technologies
Innovators in the agrifood sector working in TRL 3–6*

All applicants should be either based in Portugal, of any nationality, or with Portuguese citizenship, based anywhere in Europe and associated countries.

*TRL 3-6 means Technology Readiness Levels progressing from early experimental proof-of-concept to a system or prototype demonstrated in a relevant environment.

Which Innovations are Eligible

Your innovation can be related to any area within the agrifood sector. However, particular preference will be given to those aligned with one or more of the innovation areas detailed below:

Biostimulants & Biofertilizers
Natural inputs that boost plant growth, soil health, and resilience

Fermentation
Microbial processes to produce sustainable, bio-based solutions

Byproduct Valorisation
Byproduct Valorisation to enhance soil health and functionality

Circular Economy
Redesigning agrifood systems to minimize waste and close resource loops.

Key Benefits

The programme is completely free of charge

Designed specifically for researchers in the early stages of entrepreneurship

Strong focus on capacity-building & real-world testing, and market exposure

Connects researchers to market stakeholders, bridging the gap between research and market application in the agrifood sector

Full program delivered online, with a physical Final Demo Day

Supported by BGI Sustainable Ventures and EIT Food, without equity or IP requirements

Identification of post-programme opportunities to drive your research

BGI team energetically celebrating at an event, with everyone jumping and smiling in a display of joy and camaraderie

Program Timeline

Phase
Date

Product or CMS Item Name

Overall rating*
Name*
Email*
Review*
Provide name & email details above to comment as guest or
Comment as guest or login to test our membership feature
Thank you! Your review has been posted!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Description

Applications Open

Until May 25th

Product or CMS Item Name

Overall rating*
Name*
Email*
Review*
Provide name & email details above to comment as guest or
Comment as guest or login to test our membership feature
Thank you! Your review has been posted!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Join the Online Roadshow;

Apply for the Online Bootcamp + Market Discovery Journey + Final Demo Day;

Or get the full experience - both opportunities!

Online Roadshow

May 30th

Product or CMS Item Name

Overall rating*
Name*
Email*
Review*
Provide name & email details above to comment as guest or
Comment as guest or login to test our membership feature
Thank you! Your review has been posted!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Explore how to transform research into innovation through an inspiring, interactive half-day online session with renowned experts in the area.

A half-day online session

Online Bootcamp

June 2025

Product or CMS Item Name

Overall rating*
Name*
Email*
Review*
Provide name & email details above to comment as guest or
Comment as guest or login to test our membership feature
Thank you! Your review has been posted!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Develop key entrepreneurial skills, refine your solution and pitch, and develop a focused market discovery strategy for your research,  supported by thought leaders in the field.

4 half-day online sessions

Market Discovery Journey

July 2025

Product or CMS Item Name

Overall rating*
Name*
Email*
Review*
Provide name & email details above to comment as guest or
Comment as guest or login to test our membership feature
Thank you! Your review has been posted!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Identify and validate your market fit through direct engagement with industry stakeholders and expert mentors.

1 online session + asynchronous mentoring 

Demo Day

TBD

Product or CMS Item Name

Overall rating*
Name*
Email*
Review*
Provide name & email details above to comment as guest or
Comment as guest or login to test our membership feature
Thank you! Your review has been posted!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Pitch live to a panel of experts, industry leaders, corporates, and investors.

1 in-person final event

Alumni - Testimonials

NUTRIALGA

Valorizing invasive macroalgae for nutraceuticals and agro-fertilizers

CASEUS

Optimizing renewable energy usage for cheese production

AGRORADWASTE

Valorization of natural bioactive compounds from agro-industrial waste through irradiation

SURRENDER

Alternative food products sourced from regenerative agriculture

SUSTECH

Production of bioactive compounds from in vitro plant cultures for sustainable biopesticides

GREENCIDE

Sustainable crop protection using eucalyptus-based alternatives

TRIPLE’Ss

Development of nutritious and eco-conscious chickpea-based snack

2024 Partners

AmpliAqua®

AmpliAqua® is a research and innovation unit focused on making land-based aquaculture more sustainable. Still in a pre-commercial stage, it aims to solve key challenges in traditional aquaculture by reducing environmental and social impacts in line with the European Green Deal. This facility helps drive the industry’s green transformation by allowing Startups and Innovators to develop and test new solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions — Agrifood Disruptor 2025

Who can apply to the Agrifood Disruptor program?

- Junior or senior researchers in agrifood-related areas of expertise
- Early-stage entrepreneurs with agrifood-related technologies
- Innovators in the agrifood sector working in TRL 3–6

All applicants should be either based in Portugal, from any nationality, or with Portuguese citizenship, based anywhere in Europe and associated countries.

What is the timeline of the program?

- April–May: Applications open
- May–June: Online Roadshow
- June: Bootcamp (solution refinement + pitch training)
- July: Market Discovery Journey (discover your research-market fit)
-TBD: Final Demo Day (in person)

Is there a financial prize?

Not financial but…the winning team will be awarded expert support to apply to EIT Food opportunities and tickets to EIT Food’s Next Bite event in Brussels.

The top teams will also have access to follow-up support through AmpliAqua® R&D incubation.

Is the program fully online?

Yes. All program activities (Roadshow, Bootcamp, Market Discovery Journey) are conducted online, except for the Final Demo Day, which will be held in person (location to be confirmed).

What language will the program be in?

The working language of the Agrifood Disruptor program is English.

Do I need a registered company to apply?

No. You do not need a registered company to apply. This program is designed to help junior and senior researchers and innovators validate their ideas before creating a startup.

Can I join just one part of the program?

While we strongly encourage participants to join the full program, you can register independently for the:

- Online Roadshow:  1 half-day online session
- Online Bootcamp + Market Discovery Journey + Final Demo Day: 3-months program
- Full Experience - Both opportunities!

How will my research be protected during the program?

It will be up to you to decide what to disclose about your research, but in any case BGI Sustainable Ventures will require all mentors working with research teams to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement before starting their collaboration.

How much do I have to pay to participate?

This program is fully funded by EIT Food and BGI Sustainable Ventures, with the support of our partners, so participants do NOT have to pay to attend.
We just ask for your commitment and motivation.

Ready to take your research to the next level? 

The program offers a flexible structure to accommodate different levels of commitment and interest.When registering, you can choose one of the following options:

Sign up for the Online Roadshow only
A half-day online session open to everyone. No commitment to the full program is required - simply join, get inspired, and explore how to turn research into innovation.

Apply for the Online Bootcamp + Market Discovery Journey + Final Demo Day
Apply if you’re ready to take your innovation further. Even if you can’t attend the Online Roadshow, you’re still fully eligible to apply and become one of the 10 selected teams - we just ask for your commitment and motivation!

Get the full experience - register for both opportunities
We strongly encourage you to join all program stages!

Register here