EIT Food Challenge Labs 2025: Beyond the Pea

From September 15 to 25, the EIT Food Challenge Labs 2025 – Beyond the Pea will bring together creative minds to develop sustainable and practical solutions based on the potential of pea processing side-streams. Applications are open until September 11, 2025!

EIT Food Challenge Labs 2025 is an initiative of EIT Food, the Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). In Latvia, it is organized by the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) as the EIT Food Hub Latvia, in collaboration with BirgerMind, providing organizational and prototyping support, and ASNS Ingredient, which sets the real-life business challenges and awards cash prizes to the best solutions.

The programme includes online mentoring sessions to support teams throughout the process, as well as a mix of online and on-site masterclasses on design thinking, prototyping, and pitching skills. The journey culminates with the Final Pitch & Awards on 25 September at Jelgava Palace, Silver Hall, where teams present their solutions, receive expert feedback, and compete for prizes.

Two challenges from ASNS Ingredient:

  • Expanding Non-Traditional Markets for Purified Pea Starch through Fermentation
  • Unlocking Non-Food Potential for Pea Inner Fibre After Wet Processing

Awards: 

  • 1500 EUR cash prizes for the best solutions in each challenge
  • Special recognition prizes from mentors and industry representatives
  • Opportunities to continue idea development through EIT Food entrepreneurship programmes

What’s in it for you?

  • Interactive online and on-site sessions combining teamwork and prototyping
  • Expert-led workshops: design thinking, prototyping, and pitching skills
  • Support from 10+ mentors in food, innovation, business, and design
  • Networking with industry experts and potential customers
  • Public pitch at Jelgava Palace, Silver Hall
  • A chance to turn your idea into a real solution with international visibility

Key Dates: 

15 September – Online kick-off & introduction (17:00–19:30, Zoom) 
16 September – Online pitch masterclass part 1 (17:00–18:00, Zoom) 
16 September – Online design thinking masterclass part 1 (18:00–19:00, via Zoom) 
20 September – Prototyping session (11:00–13:30, TEPEK, Rīgas iela 22a, Jelgava / Zoom) 
22 September – Online design thinking session (17:00–18:00, Zoom) 
23 September – Pitch masterclass part 2 (17:00–18:00, TEPEK / Zoom) 
25 September – Final Pitch & Awards (17:00–19:30, Jelgava Palace, Silver Hall)

Location: Zoom & in-person sessions in Jelgava, Final Pitch at Jelgava Palace

Working language: English 

Don’t miss your chance – apply here by 11 September!

For more information about EIT Food Challenge Labs 2025: Please contact the organisers – EIT Food Hub Latvia at eitfood@lbtu.lv