NEW YORK — Fifteen food and agriculture startups were selected to participate in Rabobank’s FoodBytes! Pitch 2020 virtual competition on Dec. 2.
The program offers opportunities for emerging brands across the globe to network with investors and industry professionals representing some of the biggest food and agriculture corporations in the world. Hundreds of entrepreneurs applied to the program. This year an expanded selection of 45 startups received one-on-one connections to investors and corporate members and will permanently join the FoodBytes! alumni network.

“In five short years, FoodBytes! has become one of the most valuable networks for startups who are pioneering sustainable ways to feed the planet, but we can’t stop there if we want to drive change at a global scale,” said Anne Greven, head of food and agriculture innovation for Rabobank. “That’s why we redesigned FoodBytes! Pitch this year to include some of the world’s largest food and ag companies who want to work alongside startups to build a sustainable food system. The FoodBytes! innovation platform has now expanded far beyond a pitch slam. We’re connecting emerging and established leaders who want to solve real problems like climate change, plastic waste and food insecurity.”

The 15 finalists advancing to the final round are developing sustainable solutions to address key challenges in the food system such as food waste, nutrition and food safety. A winner will be named in each sector —consumer packaged goods, food technology and agriculture technology — and each will receive $10,000 and consulting services from FoodBytes! Pitch member companies.

The finalists are:
Find more information and register to join the livestreamed pitch competition here.
After two years of virtual events, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) bought the food science industry back together in-person with its newly rebranded annual meeting and expo, IFT FIRST: Annual Event & Expo, which took place July 10-13 in Chicago.

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