A4IP Flagship Event 2025: Innovating Agri-Food Research & Development Models for a Changing Landscape
As science and innovation enter a period of rapid transformation, new models of collaboration, investment, and impact are urgently needed. The third annual Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) Flagship Event offers a front-row seat to this global shift.
Watch it online
Held under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and hosted at the headquarters of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in Rome, the event convenes leaders from research, industry, government, finance, and the startup world to explore how bold ideas in agrifood, climate, and sustainability can move from breakthrough to scale.
This event goes beyond conversation—it's a catalyst for action. With a sharp focus on Ideation, Development, and Deployment, the agenda is designed to unpack how science-based innovation can become market-ready, policy-aligned, and community-driven.
Participants will dive into key topics including:
- Emerging trends in agricultural and climate innovation—genomics, regenerative practices, AI-driven R&D, and more
- New research and commercialization models through open innovation and venture-science
- De-risking development and building capacity for a new generation of scientific entrepreneurs
- Strategies for international collaboration and tech transfer that accelerate real-world deployment
Integrated throughout the day, the Startup Arena will bring this journey to life—spotlighting cutting-edge ventures through live pitches and hands-on engagement. Here, innovators meet funders, scientists, and policymakers to forge the cross-sector partnerships needed to scale impact.
Mission
This event is about more than ideas—it’s about action. We aim to:
- Bridge research and impact through cross-sector dialogue
- Spotlight transformative trends in agrifood innovation
- Accelerate investment in and adoption of high-impact solutions
What to Expect
Expect a fast-paced, high-energy day where science meets entrepreneurship and insight meets action. The agenda is built to inspire, provoke, and connect, featuring:
- Fireside Chats with top voices in industry and innovation
- Panels exploring ideation, financing, and deployment strategies
- Startup Pitch Showcases from the A4IP RAMP accelerator, Eatable Ventures, and beyond
- Rapid-fire case studies on what works—and what doesn’t
- Data snapshots that decode the current agritech investment landscape
- Curated networking with investors, scientists, startups, and public sector leaders
- Startup Arena featuring interactive booths, product demos, and game-changing solutions ready for scale
Let’s rewire the future of agrifood innovation—together.
Speakers
Alberto Barbari
Board Member and Regional Vice President for Italy, Eatable Adventures
Alessandro Chelli
CEO and Co-Founder of Trusty
Ana Maria Loboguerrero
Director of Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Annette Schneegans
Deputy Permanent Representative – Head of UN Section, EU Delegation to the UN Organisations in Rome
Antonella Bellina
Co-Founder and CEO, AlmaSerum
Biagio Di Terlizzi
Director, CIHEAM Bari
Brando Okolo
Head of Science Technology and Innovation, African Union Development Agency - NEPAD
Cecilia D'Alessandro
Policy Analyst, European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM)
Charlotte Verburg
First Secretary of Water and Food Security Advisor, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Niger
Chris Fellingham
Co-founder and Director, Kindling Ventures
Chris J Kettle
Principal Scientist, Lead Tree Biodiversity for Resilient LandscapesClaudia Zaccari
Senior Project Analyst
Filippo Lonardo
Deputy Head of Unit for Finance for Development, Environment and Digital, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Don Andrea Ciucci
Coordinator of the Secretariat, Pontifical Academy for Life
Dorothy Shaver
Global Foods Sustainability Lead, Unilever Food Business Group
Elisabet Nyquist
Managing Director, Opes Fund
Elliott Grant
Visiting Fellow, Cambridge University Institute for Manufacturing
Elzandi Oosthuizen
SVP, Head Enterprise Corn Product Team Crop Science Division – Bayer
Ena Derenoncourt
Senior Officer, CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF)
Fabio Beninati
Research & Development Manager at Granarolo
Fatma Trabelsi
International Cooperation Director, IRESA
Federico Ronca
Lead, Data and Digital Solutions, Food and Water, World Economic Forum
Francesco Tramontin
VP Global Public Affairs, FerreroGianpiero Menza
Senior Manager, Partnerships & Innovative Finance
Jacob van Etten
Director, Digital Inclusion
Juan Lucas Restrepo
Director General, and Trustee, Bioversity International UK/USA
Justin Ahmed
Director, Beanstalk AgTech
Lisa Blangy
Deputy Director of the Directorate for Science Impact and Marketing (DIMS) CIRAD
Mariëlle Karssenberg
Partnerships Builder, Netherlands Food PartnershipMegan Steele
Project Coordinator I, Innovation Ecosystem Engagement
Mohamed Wageih
Project Officer, PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area)
Monika Froehler
CEO, Ban Ki-Moon Centre
Moritz Dolinga
AgriTech Market Research Analyst
Shiva Loccisano
CEO, Almacube
Winnie Wambugu
Venture Scientist, Deep Science Ventures
Ygor Scarcia
Industrial Development Expert, UNIDO
Julien Simonis
Programme Manager, Cacao of Excellence
Hana Gajdosova
Research Team Leader
Mario Edoardo Simmaco
CEO, GreenAntMichael Gomez Selvaraj
Leader, Digital Agriculture Platform
Pierfrancesco Di Giuseppe
CEO, Regrowth
Reggie Okoko
CEO and Co-Founder, Jani AI
Slava Drigloff
Co-Founder & CEO, PeelPack
Wendy-Yam Osman
Founder, NormaTech
Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg
Managing Director, Africa, and Trustee, Bioversity International USA
Fernando Cantão
Crop Physiology & Food Security, Fundraising, Technology Transfer & Innovation (ICGEB)
