FoodBytes! winners for 2017

Koupe, Neofarms and Cerescon were awarded for innovation and acumen at FoodBytes!, a pitch competition that connects food and agriculture influencers and investors with the most disruptive start-ups in the industry.

More than 120 start-ups from around the world applied for the opportunity to pitch at FoodBytes!, which took place at the food and agriculture innovation summit F&A Next at Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands.

Twenty companies demonstrating innovation, scalability and social impact were chosen to compete for three awards — the Judges’ Choice Award, the People’s Choice Award and the Highly Commended Award. A panel of expert judges were responsible for selecting the companies they felt best addressed criteria including scalability, product innovation, traction and social impact.

Netherlands-based Koupe took home the Judges’ Choice Award. Koupe has developed a healthy ice-cream product, high in protein and fibre but much lower in sugar and fat than market-leading products. Unlike rival healthy-alternative products, Koupe uses no artificial flavours or preservatives. Koupe is carried by Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo and will begin selling in the UK through online supermarket Ocado soon.

The start-up has won an accelerator program course with Paris-based food accelerator ShakeUp Factory.

The People’s Choice Award went to Neofarms, a German company that has developed a fully automated indoor greenhouse, fitted inside kitchens, that uses patented aeroponic technology. Neofarms has won a one-week start-up accelerator course with StartLife at Wageningen University & Research.

Judges selected a Highly Commended Award winner from 10 runner-up companies who were invited to deliver 60-second pitches. The award went to Cerescon, a Netherlands-based company that has developed a robotic harvesting process for asparagus. Cerescon has won the opportunity to appear as a finalist at FoodBytes! in Austin, Texas, in September.

“We were truly inspired by the range and quality of food and agriculture start-ups present and pitching, as well as with the large numbers of investors and corporates in the audience. To me, this clearly evidences the commitment of all stakeholders to take innovation in food and agri to the next level; innovation that is much needed to deal with the challenge to provide an ever-growing population with sustainable, sufficient and healthy food,” said Berry Marttin, a member of the Rabobank executive board.