EIT Food: EUR 1 Investment in Agri-Food Innovation Generates EUR 21.50 Return Over 15 Years
A new report commissioned by EIT Food shows that for every EUR 1 invested in its innovation initiatives, EUR 21.50 will be generated over 15 years.
The independent assessment looks at the impact of EIT Food’s funding on 252 innovation projects from 2018 to 2024.
The Innovation Impact Report also provides an initial benchmark for the carbon savings achieved, estimated at 1.2 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent over 15 years, as well as a EUR 512M reduction in consumer health impacts.
Measuring our impact is a key component of our work in driving systems change towards a healthier, equitable and sustainable food system. Our projects accelerate transformation, and this report sheds new light on the positive impact these projects will continue to have in the future to deliver benefits in mitigating climate change and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. The return on investment showcases how vital it is that we continue to accelerate and scale food systems innovation, for the environment, our health, and the economy
Adam M. Adamek, PhD, Director of Innovation, EIT Food
The Bigger Picture
EIT Food drives research and innovation in products and services, helping new applications and business models scale up to increase their market impact. This is achieved by leveraging shared knowledge within its innovation ecosystem, combined with targeted programs and consortium-based funding.
EIT Food projects aim to drive systems change, accelerating innovation for a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable food system. Their vision is a world where everyone has access to sustainable, safe, and healthy food, with trust and fairness from farm to fork.
These innovation initiatives are crucial as the global food sector faces major challenges, including:
- Feeding 9-10 billion people by 2050
- Addressing 3 billion people with obesity
- Tackling the undernourishment of 2 billion people
- Reducing the more than 30% of food that is wasted
Improving the efficiency and sustainability of Europe’s food system will also support broader EU goals, such as the EU Green Deal, EU Circular Economy, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Impact Report
Brookdale Consulting, an independent research and strategy consultancy, conducted an impact assessment of the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) and health benefits from EIT Food’s portfolio, focusing on six key innovation projects.
This builds on last year’s Entrepreneurship Impact Report, which estimated a return on investment (ROI) of EUR 6-13 for every EUR 1 invested in EIT Food startups over 10–15 years.
Impact Matters to EIT Food
From 2018 to 2024, EIT Food funded 252 innovation projects totaling EUR 84M an average of EUR 334 000 per project. Measuring ROI is crucial for demonstrating the value of investments that accelerate the transformation of our food system.
For this study, ROI is presented in two parts:
- ROI based on individual project costs, using innovation case studies.
- ROI based on the broader EIT Food Innovation Programme.
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