Innovation and sustainability define the winners of the Startup Europe Awards AL-INVEST Verde Sustainable Fruit Chile 2025
The Finnova Foundation and the Chilean Fruit Producers Federation (Fedefruta) are pleased to announce the winning projects of the Startup Europe Awards AL-INVEST Verde Sustainable Fruit Chile 2025, an initiative that recognizes innovation and commitment to sustainability in the Chilean fruit ecosystem.
The awards honor five startup SMEs that stand out for their solutions in circular economy, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable packaging, positioning Chile as a regional benchmark in ecological and digital transition.
The Startup Europe Awards Sustainable Fruit were held within the framework of the AL-INVEST Verde Sustainable Fruit project.
Winning projects
🌱 The Circular Hub – AgroSimBiótica
An intelligent digital ecosystem that connects fruit waste generators and valorization actors through artificial intelligence and specialized facilitators to promote a circular economy in the sector.
🌱 ACHIGANAR – Fructífera
A community of practice in regenerative fruit farming that promotes peer learning, innovation, and climate resilience through pilot plots and mentoring programs.
🌱 Ecosuelo Lab – Regenerative European Hazelnut Carbon Sequestration
A regenerative agriculture model that combines sap analysis, satellite data, and artificial intelligence to improve productivity and capture carbon in agricultural soils.
🌱 Hera Materials SpA – Compostable and Recyclable Clamshells
Packaging developed from the biomaterial Woodpack, aiming to replace plastics in the packaging of fruits and nuts with circular and sustainable solutions.
🌱 Agronomic – Science and Silicon to Mitigate Crop Stress
A project that enhances the resilience of agro-fruit crops to climate change through early diagnosis and mitigation of plant stress, optimizing resources and promoting sustainability.
A step towards sustainable fruit farming
The presented projects reflect the high level of innovation in the Chilean fruit sector, with initiatives focusing on waste reuse, soil regeneration, and reducing environmental impact through technological and circular solutions.
Chile, one of the world’s leading fruit producers, faces the challenge of advancing toward a fair and competitive ecological transition, and these startups pave the way toward a more resilient and sustainable model.
Support for the winning SMEs
Over the coming months, the selected companies will receive:
✅ Personalized mentorship to explore European funding opportunities.
✅ Free access to the EU Training Platform, with courses specializing in European funds.
✅ International visibility through the network of the Finnova Foundation and its strategic partners.
European cooperation for a greener future
The project, coordinated by Fedefruta and co-executed by the Finnova Foundation, is mainly implemented in the O’Higgins, Maule, and Ñuble regions, aiming to strengthen the capacities of the Chilean fruit sector through sustainability training, B certifications, and international cooperation with European actors.
What is the AL-INVEST Verde Sustainable Fruit project?
The AL-INVEST Verde Sustainable Fruit Chile project is part of the European Union’s AL-INVEST Verde program, which aims to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America. In Chile, the initiative—led by Fedefruta and the Finnova Foundation—seeks to accelerate the transition of over 150 fruit SMEs toward sustainable and circular production models, reducing carbon emissions, optimizing resources, and strengthening international cooperation with Europe.
What are the Startup Europe Awards?
The Startup Europe Awards (SEUA) are an initiative promoted by the European Commission and managed by the Finnova Foundation to identify, support, and give visibility to startups with disruptive ideas that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Green Deal. These awards foster open innovation, public-private collaboration, and synergies between Europe and Latin America.
What is the Finnova Foundation?
The Finnova Foundation is a Spanish-Belgian non-profit organization with over 14 years of experience in managing European funds, accelerating startups, and promoting sustainable innovation. Based in Brussels and present in Spain and Latin America, Finnova works on European programs such as LIFE, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Interreg, NextGenerationEU, and AL-INVEST Verde, driving projects that promote sustainability, the circular economy, and international cooperation.