From left to right: Patricia Willems-Mawenu, Senior Global Relationships Development Manager, EIT Food; Raphael Debleser, COO, EIT Food; Lindsay Smylie, Managing Director, AgSphere; Chris Paterson, Executive Director, AgSphere AgSphere partners with EIT Food to forge agri-food innovation pathway between Canada and Europe
Startups invited to apply to join AgSphere delegation at EIT Food Next Bite
CALGARY, ALBERTA, May 26, 2026 – AgSphere, the agri-food innovation hub dedicated to advancing the Canadian ecosystem, has announced a cross-border partnership with EIT Food to facilitate sector collaboration between Canada and Europe. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
Based in Brussels, Belgium, EIT Food is the world’s largest food innovation community enabling the sector across Europe. Under the partnership, the two organizations will facilitate activities for the agri-innovation sector, such as startup immersion programs and exchanges, training and skills development and strategic collaboration between the two regions.
“Our partnership with EIT Food opens up a world of possibilities for Canadian agri-food innovators to access European resources, while Canada has agricultural prowess that we can share with our European counterparts,” said Chris Paterson, AgSphere Executive Director. “EIT Food has a proven model for sector collaboration that we can learn from, to help strengthen our own ecosystem here at home.”
Richard Zaltzman, CEO at EIT Food said, “Partnerships like this are essential to delivering real change in the food system. By working together across borders with organisations like AgSphere, we are strengthening a pan-European and global innovation community that can make food more sustainable, accessible, secure and transparent for all.”
EIT Food visited Canada in April to meet with AgSphere as well as sector stakeholders in Calgary and Edmonton. AgSphere is attending the EIT Food event Next Bite on October 28-29 in Warsaw, Poland, and is inviting Canadian agri-food startups interested in or exploring the European market to join their delegation.
The Expression of Interest is open for applications from May 26 until June 15, with selections made in July.
“We’re hitting the ground running on our partnership with EIT Food by assembling a cohort for our first startup trip this fall,” said Paterson. “The EU is not only a major market for agri-food products, it’s also home to sector innovators that we want to help startups build relationships with.”
AgSphere officially launched in December 2025 to help connect the agri-food innovation ecosystem in Canada. Its founding partners are AdFarm, the Calgary Stampede, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund.
Startups can submit their Expression of Interest on the AgSphere website. To learn more about AgSphere, visit agsphere.com. For more information about EIT Food, visit eitfood.eu.
About AgSphere
AgSphere, an agri-food innovation hub, is a leading driver for Canada’s innovation ecosystem. Located in the heart of the Prairies, we connect producers, startups, researchers, investors, mentors and industry networks to build a shared advantage: bridging regional assets and global opportunity.
We welcome partners, sponsors and mentors who share our vision of accelerating agricultural innovation. Whether through funding, in-kind expertise or hands-on mentorship, your support empowers producers, students and entrepreneurs to transform ideas into real-world impact.
Stay connected with AgSphere to discover new programs, events and collaborative opportunities that strengthen Canada’s position as a global leader in ag innovation. Visit agsphere.com for more information.
About EIT Food
EIT Food is growing Europe’s food innovation ecosystem to build a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system. We empower innovators and entrepreneurs. We invest in ideas and talent. And we create space for science, research, industry, and policymakers to accelerate systemic change across the food sector.
By mobilising the collective power of our ecosystem, we tackle Europe’s most pressing food challenges – driving innovation in resilient agriculture, protein diversification, and agrifood biotech to build a sustainable future for people and the planet. EIT Food is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, set up in 2017 to accelerate food system innovation in Europe. We are Europe‘s largest food innovation ecosystem.
EIT Food. Growing Innovation. www.eitfood.eu Follow us on Linkedin and YouTube.
Media Contact:
Heidi Gammuac
PR Strategist, AdFarm
403-410-7649
heidi.gammuac@adfarm.com
EIT Food Media Contact:
Asier Sannio
Senior Communications Manager, EIT Food
+34 689240111
asier.sannio@eitfood.eu
