• Five startups from Valencia are wrapping up the Agro·lab ToNoWaste acceleration program with a Demo Day, where they will present innovative solutions for preventing and reducing food waste
• Agro·Lab ToNoWaste is an acceleration program that aims to help build a more sustainable food system by reducing its environmental, economic, and social impact
• Imita Natura was awarded first prize at an event that also recognized the innovative and entrepreneurial capabilities of the companies Plato Limpio and Fibtray® Ultratech Solutions

The Valencia City Council, through Valencia Innovation Capital and as part of the European ToNoWaste project, is wrapping up the second edition of an accelerator program that began in 2024 and is aimed at agri-food initiatives that, through the use of technology, contribute to the prevention and reduction of food waste.

Five startups have participated in the two editions of this six-month program, which was specifically designed to promote innovation and sustainability in the agri-food sector and combines intensive growth, learning, and mentoring provided by València Innovation Capital, industry professionals, and experts.

In the words of Paula Llobet, Councilor for Innovation, Tourism, and Investment Attraction for the City of Valencia: “The participating startups have provided innovative and technological solutions to a global challenge such as reducing food waste, while also putting people first. These types of initiatives demonstrate the potential of Valencia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to generate a positive impact.”

He also emphasized the institutional commitment to promoting this type of initiative: “At the Valencia City Council and Valencia Innovation Capital, we are working to turn innovation into real impact for citizens by fostering entrepreneurial opportunities in the agri-food sector that have an impact on Valencia and can be scaled up to the European ecosystem.”

Driving Innovation with Real Impact

Over the course of six months, five startups from Valencia—AI Harvest, Fibtray® Ultratech Solutions, Imita Natura, Plato Limpio, and Oreka Circular Economy—have participated in the Agro·lab ToNoWaste acceleration program to develop innovative solutions that contribute to the sustainable transformation of the agri-food sector, with a special focus on preventing and reducing food waste and promoting the circular economy.

A program specifically designed to promote innovation and sustainability in the agri-food sector, aimed at startups that want to validate their technology, gain visibility, and access specialized mentoring from experts within Valencia’s innovation ecosystem.

During Demo Day, the five companies presented the solutions they developed during the acceleration program, competing for cash prizes of €5,000, €3,000, and €2,000. First place went to Imita Natura, which took the top spot thanks to its innovative proposal based on natural eutectic solvents—a technology designed to improve stability, effectiveness, and safety in post-harvest preservation without generating waste. This solution has great potential to transform the future of the agri-food industry.

Plato Limpio, with its technological solution designed to measure and reduce food waste in school cafeterias, and Fibtray® Ultratech Solutions, with its patented technology that extends the shelf life of food and reduces waste through sustainable packaging, took second and third place, respectively.

Technology to Prevent, Raise Awareness, and Donate

In addition to the winning proposals, the jury recognized the contributions of the startups Oreka Circular Economy—which facilitates food donations through an app that simplifies and optimizes the process—and AI Harvest, which uses artificial intelligence to prevent overproduction at the source.

Next issue

The event also served as a platform to present the next edition of this accelerator program, which will continue to support startups interested in validating their technology, gaining visibility, accessing specialized mentoring, and competing for €10,000 in prizes within Valencia’s innovation ecosystem.

A program that reaffirms València Innovation Capital’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, contributing to a more responsible, healthy, and resilient agri-food system capable of reducing its environmental, economic, and social impact.