The five-year partnership connects Manitoba’s agrifood sector with Europe’s leading food innovation network to drive research, market growth, and sustainable agriculture.
The Government of Manitoba and EIT Food have announced a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Manitoba’s agriculture and agrifood innovation ecosystem while supporting sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
The collaboration will connect Manitoba’s agricultural expertise with EIT Food’s extensive European innovation network, creating opportunities for research, knowledge sharing, and market development.
Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), EIT Food brings experience in innovation programming, international partnerships, and ecosystem development. Through this new framework, Manitoba Agriculture and EIT Food will explore initiatives that encourage collaboration among researchers, businesses, entrepreneurs, and educational institutions across Canada and Europe.
The agreement builds on EIT Food’s growing presence in Canada, including its 2026 partnership with AgSphere, which supports cross-border innovation, startup exchanges, skills development, and market access opportunities between Canadian and European agrifood sectors.
The organizations plan to examine five key areas of cooperation: research and funding opportunities through Horizon Europe, innovation and market connections, application of EIT Food’s Knowledge Triangle model, investment readiness and partnership development, and expanded knowledge exchange between Manitoba and the European Union.
"Manitoba’s producers and processors are the backbone of our rural economy, and this collaboration strengthens the tools they need to stay competitive in a global market," said The Hon. Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture.
"By linking our innovation ecosystem with Europe’s largest agrifood network, we’re opening doors for new research, new technologies and new market opportunities that directly benefit Manitoba farms, local businesses and communities. This partnership helps ensure that the ideas and products developed here at home can grow, scale and succeed on the world stage,” Kostyshyn added.
“This agreement offers EIT Food and our European partners a valuable opportunity to strengthen links with Manitoba-based innovators, while bringing fresh knowledge, technologies and market perspectives into Europe’s food innovation ecosystem," said Richard Zaltzman, CEO of EIT Food.
"By connecting academia, industry players, and entrepreneurs across our regions, we look forward to exploring how this partnership can drive our shared ambition in building a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system,” Zaltzman added.
The five-year framework reflects a shared commitment to fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating new opportunities for agrifood businesses in both Manitoba and Europe.
Photo Credit: european-institute-of-innovation-and-technology