Recognising the most promising startups bringing food biotechnology to market
A competition for food biotech startups looking to showcase their solutions to industry leaders, investors and innovation experts at FEBIO 2026. The selected startups will pitch their projects live in Valencia, and the winning startup will receive the FEBIO Food Biotech Startup Award.
Direct access to the industry and experts within the food biotech ecosystem.
The most promising food biotech start-ups, alongside those who can help them grow.
Goals:
Food Biotech Startup Challenge
The Food Biotech Startup Challenge aims to identify and raise the profile of the most promising food biotech startups, helping them access the market through direct contact with industry and international experts.
Looking ahead
Business
Connectivity
Getting international
Food Biotech Startup ChallengeSubject Area
Start-ups offering innovative solutions in the following areas, in line with FEBIO’s strategic priorities, are eligible to take part:
New ingredients and products through biotechnology
Design and development of a new generation of ingredients and foods through biotechnology: novel proteins, fats and functional biomolecules, microorganisms, bioprocesses, and new nutritional and sensory functionalities.
Food fermentation and biomanufacturing
Biomass and precision fermentation to produce proteins, fats, functional ingredients and other biomolecules. Novel microorganisms and biofactories, bioprocess optimization, scale-up, and the development of industrial capabilities for competitive food biomanufacturing.
New bioproduction platforms
Cell culture, plant cell culture and plant molecular farming as new platforms for producing foods, ingredients and high-value biomolecules, from biological engineering through to scale-up and industrial application.
Biotechnology, nutrition and health
The convergence of biotechnology, AI, omics and nutrition science is opening up new opportunities to discover bioactives and develop solutions targeting specific health needs. Microbiome, personalized nutrition, healthy ageing, metabolic health, and emerging nutritional needs associated with GLP-1.