The 2023 Honorees of the EWA Programme Announced

EWA Program 2023 Winners Announced The 2023 winners of the EWA program, which identifies women leaders in food and agriculture, have been announced. Ten ventures have been selected to participate in the EWA Women Entrepreneurs Creating Change in Food and Agriculture Program, an EU-funded incubation program organized by an all-female team that contributes to the development of women entrepreneurs providing solutions to the global climate crisis from Turkey. The Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) program, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's food fund (EIT Food), was launched in partnership with Impact Hub Istanbul's food and agriculture entrepreneurship platforms Foodback and Topraktan to promote inclusivity and diversity in Turkey's agriculture and food sectors, increase women-led early-stage ventures, and provide entrepreneurs with the knowledge, confidence and support needed to develop their business ideas. The program, now in its fourth year, received over 700 applications in four years. Following evaluation of applications against criteria communicated by EIT Food, a shortlist of 20 candidates was drawn up, after which the EWA team selected 10 ventures through online interviews.

Entrepreneurs:

Nazife Nur Yazgan - NFS Global, producing fermented yogurt and fermented probiotic beverages from domestic plant sources. Canan Tiryaki - Aquafaba, developing innovative products based on the use of chickpea products as raw materials or finished goods. Fatma Hafsa Tuğrul-Semanur Erdoğan-İrem Şen / Enature, producing 100 percent natural recyclable milk fabric from waste milk. Eylül Er – Palgae, producing algae-based bioplastic feedstock through carbon capture technology and incorporating industrial waste into the circular economy. Sultan Gül - Tuğçe Nur Erçetin - Züleyha Demirci - Büşra Yılmaz / Microhobist, a plant growth regulator developed from products produced by beneficial microorganisms or a postbiotic plant growth regulator produced from beneficial microorganisms. Merve Bozdemir Akçil / Cyberlabor, providing digital network platform services that promote local workforce employment in the agricultural sector and enable specialization. Pelin Kaya / Cyberlabor, providing digital network platform services that promote local workforce employment in the agricultural sector and enable specialization. Duygu Yilmaz Koksal / Saledo, producing innovative foods including green bananas with a healthy, delicious and nature-inspired advanced transformation philosophy. Sine Özmen Toğay, Yasemin Şahan, Aycan Yiğit Çınar, Asuman Cansev / 4W-NutrASYA, developing natural, reliable, healthy and standard products on a zero-waste principle and producing food supplements from artichoke waste. Ebrar Yıldırım / Gojenie, producing confectionery alternatives such as lollipops and jellybeans made of beneficial ingredients without glucose syrup, refined sugar and sweeteners.

"We continue to support women leaders in food and agriculture in the face of the climate crisis and natural disasters occurring worldwide"

In statements on the matter, Foodback Co-Founder Tuğçe Ergün Cireli said, "The EWA program, which is entering its fourth year, is growing across all of Europe. We are delighted to be part of this. Over 700 women entrepreneurs in the food and agriculture sectors applied to our program in four years, and EWA winners received a total of EUR 45,000 in awards over three years. The EWA program is running simultaneously in 11 European countries this year and out of 495 women who applied in total, 118 came from Turkey. Following the disaster we experienced in Turkey, to prevent the deepening women workforce crisis, to find solutions to the climate crises and natural disasters occurring worldwide this year, and to make a positive impact, we will continue to support women leaders in the food and agriculture sectors."

Program application criteria

The program, designed for entrepreneurs in Turkey whose founder or co-founder is a woman, requires participants to be in an early-stage venture that will create impact in the agriculture and food sectors. If the venture is incorporated, business operations must not exceed two years, and the company must have received a maximum of EUR 30,000 in investment since its establishment.