In 2025, the Biotech4Food project reinforced its role as a key European initiative supporting biotechnology-driven innovation in the agri-food sector through a combination of strategic governance activities, policy engagement, and international outreach. Two major milestones marked the year: a strategic meeting with several representatives from the EU commission in Brussels, and an important French ecosystem event gathering French and European companies, RTOs and innovation actors around microalgae.
In June, Biotech4Food organized a meeting in Brussels bringing together clusters and innovation intermediaries, highlighting the importance of cluster-driven actions and collaborative projects. The program also included visits to key biotechnology innovation infrastructures, such as the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP) and the Food Pilot by ILVO.
Companies from several European countries met with representatives of the European Commission Directorates-General to discuss challenges related to novel foods and biotechnology. Panel discussions and presentations enabled open and constructive dialogue on the operational, regulatory and administrative barriers faced by businesses, which hinder their growth and competitiveness potential. The meeting highlighted the need for clearer pathways from innovation to market.
Later in the year, from 30 September to 2 October, the consortium met in Rennes for its 6th Steering Committee meeting, hosted by Valorial, the agri-food cluster of western France. Over two and a half days, the agenda combined study visits to leading biotechnology companies in Brittany, including Antofénol, Seaweed Concept, and BCF Life Sciences, with a hybrid ecosystem event organised by Valorial entitled “Microalgae, probiotics, microbial proteins: the food of tomorrow”. The event brought together regional companies and European stakeholders, providing an overview of key biotechnology applications in western France and fostering interregional dialogue. Together, these activities offered partners first-hand insight into concrete biotechnology applications in the fields of food, nutrition and nutraceuticals.
“Biotech4Food goes beyond knowledge sharing. Through company visits and strategic meetings, it creates the conditions for meaningful encounters: companies connect, exchange openly, and gain a deeper understanding of each other’s regional ecosystems. By sharing challenges, constraints and best practices, participants build trust and identify common ground — often paving the way for concrete collaborations. This is the very essence of a European project: turning diversity into collective strength and innovation into shared impact.” said Betty Milano, Project Coordinator of Biotech4Food.
In parallel to these strategic meetings, Biotech4Food increased its international visibility throughout 2025 by participating in major fairs and international conferences related to food, biotechnology and innovation, including EIT Food events, Vitafoods Europe, ANUGA or Future Food Tech, where project partners presented Biotech4Food and its objectives, supporting dissemination efforts and strengthening connections with European and international stakeholders.
Biotech4Food is a 36-month European project, funded under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument – Strand 2a, managed by EISMEA, and will run until 31 October 2026. The project supports interregional collaboration and SME scale-up in the circular bioeconomy, with a strong focus on biotechnology-based solutions for food and feed applications.
For more information, visit: https://i4ce.eu/biotech4food/
Media Contact:
[Betty Milano]
[European Affairs Officer, Wagralim]
[betty.milano@wagralim.be]
[https://i4ce.eu/biotech4food/home/]
