GROW, a collaborative initiative supported by EIT Food, is spearheaded by a consortium comprising 7 partners across Portugal, Sweden, the UK, Germany, and Poland. The primary objective of GROW is to establish an European ‘farmers club’ shaped by your input as a farmer. Your active participation allows you to influence the content and activities of GROW by sharing your specific needs and challenges.
Drawing upon the insights gathered, we have developed a series of farmer-driven initiatives. These initiatives are designed to provide you with state-of-the-art skills, knowledge, tools, and the confidence needed to elevate your agricultural business towards innovation and sustainability. GROW facilitates education and training programs tailored for sustainable agriculture, promoting a culture of knowledge exchange and systemic thinking crucial for achieving agricultural success.
Designed for key actors in the primary production phase of the food supply chain. Farmers, but also SMEs, startups, industry and public/private organisations.
We provide essential tools, resources, and networking opportunities to help farmers transition to more sustainable practices and build a resilient food system.
GROW drives innovation in sustainable agriculture.
GROW facilitates the exchange of knowledge and best practices.
GROW connects farmers with experts and other stakeholders.
GROW equips you with resources and tools to enhance your farming business and promote sustainable agriculture. Topics range from regenerative agriculture and soil health to digital technologies, entrepreneurial strategies for the agricultural sector, waste reduction, and reversing the impact of unsustainable practices. By participating in the project, you will gain access to a vast network of industry experts, mentors, and potential collaborators who can guide and support your professional growth.
Help us improve the project's curriculum by sharing your opinion and experience in the survey below!
Addressing global challenges:Sustainable agriculture is crucial for combating climate change, ensuring food security, and protecting biodiversity.
Empowering farmers: GROW provides farmers, producers and agri-food professionals with the tools and resources they need to succeed in a changing agricultural landscape.
Driving innovation: GROW fosters innovation and collaboration within the agri-food sector.
Building a sustainable future:Together, we can create a more resilient and sustainable food system for generations to come.
Talk with an expert for free for 30 minutes. We could help with your agricultural business challenges.
BGI Sustainable Ventures is a world-class accelerator of advanced technology and innovation, driving sustainable transformation in agri-food, blue economy, urban mobility, and digital sectors. A key player in the European innovation ecosystem, BGI empowers startups, companies, researchers, and students through acceleration, open innovation, and entrepreneurship education programs. Since 2010, it has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs to grow, innovate, and expand internationally.
Food4Sustainability (F4S) CoLAB is a non-profit association dedicated to innovation in sustainable food production. Based in Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal, it addresses large-scale challenges in bio-based food systems (including feed, fish, algae and vegetables) to promote climate-resilient, circular and resilient practices. Through research, collaboration and capacity-building, F4S supports producers in transitioning to sustainable and carbon-neutral food systems.
StMELF is committed to ensuring Bavaria's high-quality, healthy nutrition, preserving its forests and cultural landscapes, and bolstering agriculture, rural areas, and tourism appeal. Achieving these goals involves collaborative efforts, uniting experts from diverse fields to devise solutions, especially in climate and resource protection. The ministry maintains regular communication with farmers, forest owners, consumer groups, environmental and tourism associations, as well as municipalities to drive sustainable progress.
Founded in 1666, Lund University is a global top-tier institution with 45,000 students and 8,600 staff across Lund, Helsingborg, Malmö, and Ljungbyhed. Committed to understanding and improving the human condition, it is a popular study destination in Sweden, known for its wide range of interdisciplinary programs and cutting-edge research.
Established in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, QUB has ascended to the global stage, securing the 85th position in the world for impact according to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings of 2023. As a member of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities, QUB embodies a harmonious blend of research excellence and educational prowess, all while fostering a student-centered ethos.
The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IARFR PAS) in Olsztyn, established in 1988, is one of Poland’s leading research centres in food science, agriculture, and aquaculture. It supports sustainable farming and fisheries through interdisciplinary research that improves animal and fish reproduction, enhances feed and food quality, and drives innovation in the agri-food sector. By working with farmers, industry and research networks, it delivers practical solutions for resilient food systems and healthier diets.
Maspex is the largest private company in the food industry in Poland and one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe, being a distinct leader on the market of juices, nectars and beverages. Since 2016 they are part of the EIT network and they are continuously improving their production technologies for optimal and more environmentally friendly, as for example in preventing food waste and changing consumer habits.
Carboneg is a Czech initiative accelerating the spread of regenerative agriculture. We run Field Days, two-day Deep-Dive trainings and the Living Landscape conference, and we grow a network of demonstration farms for peer-to-peer learning. We work long-term with ~1,000 farmers through both education and a carbon-credits programme that rewards verified soil outcomes. We connect growers, buyers and communities to scale practical practices that restore soil health and resilience.
SUMA, founded in 2020 in Croatia, promotes sustainable development, agriculture, and youth engagement. It has run 300+ activities, led EU-funded projects (Erasmus+, CERV), and initiatives in conservation and digital agriculture. Flagship projects include Green Colours of Knowledge (STEM/farming) and “From Dump to Art.” Since 2023, SUMA supports 50 farmers on 8,000+ ha in large-scale regenerative agriculture through study visits and knowledge exchange.
