UK joins prestigious food innovation competition
Ecotrophelia Europe is backed by the European Commission in charge of Industry and Entrepreneurship and global brands such as The Coca-Cola Company and Nestlé.
It has been established since 2000 with 12 participating countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia, but 2013 will mark the first year the UK has participated.
Innovation, creativity and sustainability
It has been set up to promote innovation, creativity and sustainability and challenges students to develop brand-new, innovative, eco-friendly food products. Participants can win a share of a prize pot of up to €15,000.
The UK heat of the competition is being organised jointly by Campden BRI and the IFST and is open to teams of students from UK universities.
Shortlisted students will be invited to pitch on June 5, 2013 to the ‘dragons’, a distinguished judging panel of top food industry specialists. These will include representatives from PepsiCo, Sainsbury’s, Warburtons, Coca Cola, Genius and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
20 other participating countries
The winning student team will be announced the following day at Campden BRI’s annual, high-profile food industry event ‘Campden BRI Day’ on June 6, 2013. The successful students will then go forward as the UK entry to the European leg of the competition to compete with 20 other participating countries.
Bertrand Emond, head of membership and training at Campden BRI, said: “The food and drink manufacturing sector is one of the largest industries in Europe, with more than €1 trillion turnover accounting for over 4.3 million jobs.
“We need a steady influx of creative, intelligent, gifted students who are committed to working in food science, research and new product innovation. That is what Ecotrophelia Europe is all about.”
