EIT Food Awards Gen Z Innovators from Serbia for Ideas Transforming Local Agriculture
The three teams – Pollinators, Regenerator Veil, and ReBlock – received financial support ranging from 500 to 1,000 euros for creating innovative solutions aimed at reducing soil degradation during winter, preserving moisture, and strengthening resilience to climate change at the Challenge Lab hackathon, organized by EIT Food and NALED. With this, they gained the opportunity to continue working on the commercialization of their ideas with the support of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
Challenge Lab is an initiative launched by EIT Food, a body of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), dedicated to developing sustainable solutions for producing healthy food and preserving health by protecting and regenerating agricultural soil. The program is designed to help participants develop creative solutions to real challenges in the food industry and apply models of regenerative agriculture, with a focus on optimal use of land and bio-resources, effective management of financial and human resources, and ensuring the functioning and sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.
Applications were open to third-, fourth-, and fifth-year undergraduate students, postgraduates, PhD candidates, startups, and entrepreneurs interested in agriculture and sustainable development. Over the past two weeks, the teams developed their ideas with the support of mentors and a series of workshops as they prepared for the final competition.
“For the second year in a row, we have the opportunity to host outstanding participants who present innovative ideas in the field of regenerative agriculture. Out of more than 50 applicants from eight different faculties, 35 participants were selected to showcase their knowledge through teamwork. We also prepared symbolic prizes for this occasion, and through EIT programs, numerous opportunities are open to participants for further product commercialization and mentoring support,” said Slobodan Krstović, NALED’s Director for Sustainable Development.
Dr. Marija Milić, Director of the Science and Technology Park Belgrade, told participants that the NTP’s doors are always open to them and that it may become a natural next step for developing their ideas.
“We know that the road to product commercialization is not always easy, but we are here to begin this process together and find ways to support you in the steps ahead. We will soon launch a new support cycle through the first pre-seed accelerator, where you will be able to apply and receive expert and financial assistance,” Milić noted.
The expert jury included Marija Milić, PhD, Director of NTP Belgrade, Ernest Vlačić, PhD Professor at FEFA, Ivanka Stojnić, Sustainability Manager, Mirjana Lalošević, PhD, Agri-Manager at Donau Soja, Lazar Kaluđerović, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Agriculture, Predrag Klepić, Founder of PK ProFarm, Dušan Obradović, CEO of SEE UP Accelerator, and Michiel van Erkel, Agricultural Advisor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Van Erkel thanked NALED for organizing the event as an important element in the development of regenerative agriculture.
“It is fantastic to see young people thinking about our shared future. You are incredibly important, and we hope you will continue working in the field of regenerative agriculture. The Netherlands is one of the most developed countries in agriculture, but it is equally important for us to exchange knowledge and experiences with Serbia,” van Erkel concluded.
EIT Food is one of nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities, unique across the European Union and the region, addressing globally relevant themes. To make the activities and impact of each “community” more visible, hubs are being opened in individual countries as central contact points for all KICs and their programs. The EIT Community Hub in Serbia is led by the NALED team.
