CATS2CATS, a non-profit organization that supports and develops women entrepreneurs in agriculture and the food industry, recently hosted two groundbreaking events that showcased the power of collaboration and innovation in the agrifood sector. Those two events were the main projects of 2024.
The SEED Summit 2024 convened distinguished speakers from across Europe to explore pivotal themes: women, youth, and innovation in the agri-food sector. Hosted at the ZenWork Palace in Prague, the conference was inaugurated by Bijan Sabet, the U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, setting a collaborative tone for the day's insightful discussions. Participants delved into sustainable agriculture's current challenges and opportunities, departing with actionable strategies for future advancements.
A highlight of the summit was the "Innovation within Agri-food" panel, featuring esteemed Dutch experts. Jouke Knol, serving as the Counselor for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Poland, oversees agricultural relations for Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. His extensive experience includes roles as a policy advisor and project manager at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality, focusing on European policy and sustainable food systems.
Joining him was Puck van Holsteijn, CEO of the World Horti Center since September 2021. Her leadership emphasizes innovation, connection, inspiration, and knowledge sharing within the horticultural sector. Before this role, she directed HortiHeroes, focusing on human capital development in the food and flower industries.
The Netherlands is globally recognized for its pioneering approaches to sustainable agriculture and technological advancements. Ambassador Knol and Ms. van Holsteijn's participation underscored the country's commitment to fostering international collaboration and sharing expertise to address global agrifood challenges. Their insights facilitated a rich exchange of ideas, reinforcing the Netherlands' role as a leader in agrifood innovation.
The positive feedback from the conference has inspired Cats2Cats to continue this initiative in 2025, further promoting dialogue and innovation in the agrifood sector.
The second activity of 2024 was the EWA Accelerator 2024 (Empowering Women in Agrifood), which celebrated its third successful edition, concluding its six-month program with a thrilling Pitch Day (20 November 2024). This year, ten selected projects competed again for top honors, with the first-place prize of €10,000 and the second-place prize of €5,000: this year, some other supporters than EIT Food. Zichovec, a family brewery, partnered with the program, and one of the winning projects will collaborate to produce a special beer series. The Audience Award, sponsored by EWA alumna Lenka Bennerová (founder of Vaše zahradnice), highlighted the growing community of empowered women entrepreneurs. Jury: Lukáš Sedláček (ELAI), Zuzana Zděnková (Nadace Tipsport), Katarína Klamková (CARE Česká republika).
Both events significantly impacted agrifood discussion. We could open dialogue, discussion, and feedback with Czech and beyond Agrifood leaders based on the unique niche agendas. We addressed an issue that has gone too long without any real review and perspective regarding agrifood and the lack of attention it has received. We must continue to bring awareness in 2025 and beyond, and we will!
