News and Impact stories
Chasing the dream: How NPD Skills helped Mary Katsounotou break into Food Product Development
Testimonial •
22 Dec 2025 •
7 minutes read
Mary was so determined to land a role in food product development that she did everything she could to prove it was her professional dream. After her Bachelor in Food Science, her Master in Gastronomy, working as a Chef, she finally landed…
From opera to agroforestry and agrifoodtech: Marcela Flores’ journey to global entrepreneurship and focus on soil health
Testimonial •
11 Dec 2025 •
7 minutes read
From opera student in Hungary to sustainability leader in the UK and now founder of TierraSphere, Marcela Flores’ journey has been anything but linear
Connecting the dots between space research and food systems
Testimonial •
10 Dec 2025 •
6 minutes read
Catherine Alex (Master in Food Systems Alumna) on turning curiosity into innovation that feeds both Earth and beyond. And how her thesis led to a job at the ESA European Space Agency, Business Incubation Centres
How Ylenia Ciquera’s team won the Food Solutions EcoBite Delight challenge and used it as a launchpad for LOOOPS
Testimonial •
04 Dec 2025 •
5 minutes read
Upcycling byproducts of broken rice using advanced fermentation technology, as a substitute for sugar and sweet additives. Preparing to go to market in 2028
Changing leadership and shaping the next gen of sustainable cheese
Testimonial •
03 Dec 2025 •
6 minutes read
Mary Luz Olivares on her journey after WE Lead Food
How a RIS Fellowship launched Katarzyna Polanowska into sustainable protein innovation
Testimonial •
06 Aug 2025 •
6 minutes read
Through the EIT Food RIS Fellowships programme, Katarzyna Polanowska went from academic research in Poland to managing R&D for ENOUGH, a start-up producing sustainable protein at scale. She has split her time between Poznań and Sas van…
Turning chickpeas into change: Canan’s story as founder of Vegg Foods
Testimonial •
30 Jul 2025 •
6 minutes read
Vegg Foods is turning surplus chickpeas into sustainable, plant-based products that tackle food waste and promote healthier diets. Founder Canan Tiryaki talks about her journey from academic researcher to food entrepreneur, and how EIT…
Women leading the way in food: Josune’s role as founding member of EIT Food Education's WE Lead Food programme
Testimonial •
25 Jun 2025 •
6 minutes read
Maria-Jesús Latasa, also known as Josune, is a driving force behind EIT Food’s WE Lead Food programme and a passionate advocate for female leadership in the agrifood sector.
Laura Bolognesi discovered her entrepreneurial ambitions during the MFS programme and launched an insect-based snack within 6 months.
Testimonial •
14 May 2025 •
8 minutes read
She took over an old Italian bakery brand and now develops products that combine tradition with innovation – including savoury snacks with cricket flour.
Ian Marshall: Sustainable farming, from soil to society
Testimonial •
14 May 2025 •
9 minutes read
When Ian Marshall joined the GROW programme, he already wore many hats: not just a dairy farmer, but also a seasoned politician, former President of the Ulster Farmers' Union, and an influential voice in agri-policy circles.
From lab idea to business idea: ‘Researchpreneur’ Katherine Dybdal-Grasberger wants to make a positive impact with sustainable, plant-based protein ingredients.
Testimonial •
14 Apr 2025 •
9 minutes read
Together with two other Innovator Fellowship alumnae, she founded NOLA
Iwona Kieda, WE Lead Food Alumna, became facilitator of the main course and organiser of local WE Lead Food workshops in Poland
Testimonial •
06 Mar 2025 •
10 minutes read
Feeling the power of belonging to a global network of female leaders driving food system transformation, Iwona wanted to help women in Poland access this community.
