Funding: FS4Africa Supports Food Safety Solutions Across Africa

FS4Africa has rolled out a generous €800,000 grant scheme to support entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators who are tackling Africa’s pressing food safety challenges. The initiative comes as part of a larger effort to scale up innovation and transform food systems across both Africa and Europe.

The support will be distributed through two Open Calls, each targeting a different segment of the food innovation ecosystem. Through its Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) model, FS4Africa aims to stimulate impact-driven projects and unlock market-ready solutions.

Under the first Open Call, FS4Africa will back 10 different projects with up to €60,000 each, totalling €600,000. The funding will help startups, research groups, and SMEs validate tools and business models aligned with FS4Africa’s food safety objectives.

“This initiative is not just about money—it’s about building real, sustainable value in the food supply chain,” one FS4Africa spokesperson said during the launch announcement.

Second Call to Boost Mentorship and Innovation Culture

The second Open Call shifts focus slightly, offering support to innovation hubs across the continent. Here, five selected hubs will each receive €40,000, bringing the total to €200,000. These hubs will be tasked with training and mentoring the selected innovators, supporting their business development and helping them scale ideas across Africa and Europe.

The goal isn’t just to test technology but to build a culture of innovation through hands-on mentorship, business acceleration, and access to markets. Program activities may be virtual or held in person, depending on the needs and location of the participants.

According to project organisers, this combined approach—funding innovators while also resourcing innovation hubs—aims to double the impact of the investment and ensure project results are practical and scalable.

Who’s Eligible and How to Apply

FS4Africa is calling on startups, SMEs, research bodies, and multidisciplinary tech actors in the agri-food space to submit their applications. The selected innovators will gain more than just funding—they’ll gain a supportive ecosystem ready to mentor them through commercialisation, scaling, and eventual market introduction.

Applicants can find more information and submit proposals through FS4Africa’s official platform or follow updates via the European Commission website.