On 15–16 October 2025, in the historic setting of Gare Maritime (Tour & Taxis) in Brussels, the flagship gathering of EIT Food Next Bite 2025 brought together the innovation ecosystem of the agrifood sector: start-ups, scale-ups, corporates, policy-makers, investors, and researchers.

We were proud to be part of this vibrant event, where COVERE² and all of our projects were showcased, reflecting our shared commitment to a more transparent, sustainable, and resilient food system.

Why Next Bite 2025 mattered

A premier platform: The meeting point for those driving food innovation in Europe, structured around five thematic tracks: Healthier Lives Through Food, Net Zero Food System, Food System Resilience, AgriFoodTech Ventures, and Global / Workforce Futures. A strong network opportunity: Bringing together innovators, corporates, investors, and policy actors in one place. A moment to position our projects: By showing up, we signalled that we are active participants in transforming the food system, not just observers.

What we brought to the Marketplace

At the heart of the event lies the Innovation Marketplace, where projects, solutions, and ideas gain real visibility. We presented COVERE² alongside our other initiatives, giving stakeholders a holistic view of our sustainability-driven innovation portfolio and took part in matchmaking sessions to explore partnerships, funding, and future collaborations. This captures the ambition of our work: to move beyond theory into practical tools and deliverables that support real change in the food system.

Key take-aways

Traceability and transparency

are essential: no longer niche topics but central to food-system resilience.

Cross-sector collaboration

wins: the event highlighted the strength of partnerships between universities, start-ups, corporates, investors, and public bodies.

Sustainability + tech

= acceleration: from Net Zero to Circular Economy, innovation is moving fast.

Visibility matters

: by showcasing our portfolio, we opened new avenues for collaboration and impact.

Events like Next Bite 2025 are more than networking occasions, they’re milestones in the ongoing transformation of the food system. By showcasing our full suite of projects, including COVERE², we reaffirm our role not just as participants but as shapers of what comes next.