Editor’s Word: This put up was created in collaboration with and with monetary help from EIT Meals.
The Empowering Girls in Agrifood (EWA) programme by EIT Meals gives an unparalleled platform for feminine entrepreneurs to drive innovation in making a sustainable meals system. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Expertise (EIT), a physique of the European Union, this initiative champions girls in agriculture by equipping them with the instruments, abilities, and networks wanted to succeed. Girls’s contributions to sustainable meals methods and rural communities are invaluable, but typically ignored, and this programme seeks to bridge that hole by fostering management, confidence, and enterprise acumen amongst contributors.
The 2024 version of the EWA programme marked its fifth profitable 12 months, partaking 120 feminine entrepreneurs from 12 international locations, together with Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine. Over the course of six months, contributors benefited from a complete suite of mentoring, enterprise teaching, and networking alternatives, alongside specialised coaching provided in native languages. Remarkably, the initiative has led to the creation of 35 startups and the elevating of €13 million in funding, demonstrating its transformative affect on the sector.
As a part of this sequence, we are going to function interviews with three exceptional winners from the 2024 EWA programme. Every interview will supply a novel glimpse into the methods this programme empowers girls to drive significant change within the agri-food sector. Let’s get proper into it!
Interview with Yulia Logvinovska, Co-founder at LUCA
We’re thrilled to share our interview with Yulia, the founding father of LUCA and one of many contributors and winners of the 2024 EWA programme! Yulia’s revolutionary vertical farming undertaking focuses on offering recent, high-quality greens whereas prioritising sustainability and concrete agriculture. On this interview, we’ll delve into her entrepreneurial journey, the creation of LUCA, and the position the EWA programme performed in her progress.
Are you able to begin by sharing the inspiration behind LUCA and the way your journey into vertical farming started?
LUCA began as an concept deeply rooted in my childhood reminiscences. I used to promote greens on the market in my house metropolis with my grandparents, the place I realized the worth of recent produce and the onerous work behind it. Quick ahead to shifting to the town, I noticed how disconnected city life can really feel from high quality, recent meals. That’s when the thought clicked—why not carry farming into the town? With Serhiy, my accomplice and the engineering genius behind LUCA, we mixed our abilities to create a farm that might match into city life and ship (for the start) greens which are as recent as in the event you picked them your self.
What motivated you to give attention to vertical farming, and the way do you imagine this strategy contributes to a extra sustainable meals system?
We didn’t dive into vertical farming as a result of it was a pattern or a shiny new factor. We needed to create high-quality, recent merchandise, and after cautious evaluation, we realised that vertical farming was one of the best ways to realize that. Furthermore, it’s sustainable, it minimises the usage of sources like water, and it permits us to develop year-round, even in city environments. What we discovered is that this strategy isn’t simply good for our farm; it’s additionally a wiser approach to develop meals for the long run.
LUCA specialises in rising recent, high-quality salads and greens. Are you able to stroll us by means of your revolutionary farming course of and clarify what units it aside?
We develop hydroponically, that means the crops get their vitamins from water, not soil. This permits us to regulate each issue—mild, temperature, humidity—to create the right setting for them to thrive. Consider it as a spa day for greens each single day. What actually units us aside, although, is our consideration to style. Our greens aren’t simply wholesome; they’re scrumptious. I firmly imagine meals that’s good for you also needs to be a pleasure to eat.
What have been a number of the greatest challenges you confronted in launching LUCA, and the way did you overcome them?
Oh, the place do I begin? Past the apparent monetary hurdles and operational hiccups, one of many greatest difficulties is the character of the product itself. Greens are delicate—they don’t have a protracted shelf life, and so much can go unsuitable within the rising course of. Plus, the struggle in Ukraine introduced an added layer of unpredictability, with energy outages, provide chain points and excessive dangers. However we simply maintain shifting ahead, adapting and studying as we go.
When did you first hear concerning the EWA programme, and what motivated you to take part?
I first heard about it whereas exploring alternatives for girls entrepreneurs, and I assumed, “That’s what I would like.” What actually grabbed me was the give attention to agriculture, which is such a particular sector. It’s not nearly basic enterprise data—it’s about deep, specialised understanding. Plus, the mentorship over six months? That’s gold. I knew it will give me the additional help I wanted to scale LUCA and make it much more impactful.
How did the mentorship and coaching in the course of the EWA programme affect your small business technique for LUCA? What would you determine because the three most important classes you realized?
The mentorship was invaluable. Since we launched the farm simply because the programme kicked off, we have been capable of form our technique whereas truly within the means of constructing the enterprise. It was the right timing. Listed here are three key classes:
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- Don’t underestimate the ability of a robust community. It’s important to have the fitting individuals round you.
- Put money into creating a stable product quite than flashy advertising and marketing. An amazing product will all the time converse for itself.
- Startups are all about speculation testing. Crucial factor is to not be afraid, to not intention for perfection, however to only begin and maintain going and doing.
Sustainability is on the core of LUCA’s mission. How do you guarantee your merchandise and practices align with this dedication to the setting?
Vertical farming is the bridge between cities and sustainable meals methods. It permits city areas to supply recent meals domestically, decreasing dependency on lengthy provide chains. And because the international inhabitants grows, we’ll want sensible options like this to feed extra individuals with out exhausting our planet’s sources.
Lastly, what recommendation would you supply to different girls entrepreneurs focused on beginning their very own entrepreneurial journey?
Motion is crucial forex for any entrepreneur. Don’t be afraid to take steps, even when they appear small. Generally you possibly can’t even think about how one little transfer can set off a sequence of occasions that results in one thing larger.
Celebrating success and searching forward
The EWA programme continues demonstrating the ability of focused help for girls entrepreneurs within the agri-food sector. Offering mentorship, networking, and hands-on coaching, this program allows contributors to carry their revolutionary concepts to life whereas fostering a extra inclusive and sustainable meals system. The success tales from the 2024 version spotlight the programme’s far-reaching affect, from securing funding to scaling companies and coming into new markets.
Keep tuned for our subsequent interview, the place we are going to highlight one other inspiring participant from the EWA programme. Every story underscores the transformative potential of empowering girls in agrifood and reminds us of the important position they play in shaping the way forward for sustainable meals methods.