EIT Food announced on 14 July 2026 that 18 companies had joined its 2026 RisingFoodStars cohort, with the programme redesigned from an accelerator into a verification-based recognition intended to signal commercial readiness to investors and corporate partners. According to EIT Food, selected companies were assessed on leadership, commercial model, operational readiness and growth potential, and those passing the review receive a Scaleup Verification Badge. The cohort includes companies working on alternative proteins, functional ingredients, circularity, sidestream valorisation, digital agriculture and regenerative agriculture. EIT Food also said the 2026 edition adds support for international market entry, regulatory navigation and commercial partnership development. For agri-food stakeholders, the programme points to emerging scale-up activity in food innovation and the wider ecosystem needed to move products from development to market.

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