Hack the Future of Food – Congratulations to the Winners!

TFTAK
2 hours ago
3 min read

EIT Food’s "Hack the Future of Food 2025" gathered passionate students, researchers, and entrepreneurs at the Tartu Nature House to co-create the future of sustainable food and agriculture. TFTAK is proud that we contributed not only with our scientific expertise and challenge topics but also by awarding a special prize to support innovation in the food sector.

It was clearly bigger than last year - 9 teams, 2 days, and countless brilliant ideas that bridged science, business, and creativity. Teams worked on challenges brought by co-organizers, as well as their own ideas - turning research, waste streams, and technology into real-world food innovations. Our jury had a really hard time deciding, because every project showed strong potential for real-life impact!

Winners of the Food Hackathon

Pakkify – Overall Winner Developed an AI-powered compliance and sustainability platform that helps food producers ensure their packaging and labeling meet EU regulations. By combining OCR and AI analysis, Pakkify automatically checks food labels, sustainability claims, and packaging design against EU directives (such as food labeling, additives, and single-use plastic laws), offering clear, actionable feedback. The tool also includes intellectual property checks and aims to simplify the complex world of packaging compliance - truly “compliance made simple”!

WheyCycle Solutions – TFTAK Prize Tackled one of the dairy industry’s biggest hidden problems - acid whey, a by-product of quark, skyr, and yogurt production that’s costly to dispose of and pollutes waterways if untreated. The team developed a scalable biotechnological solution that converts acid whey into single-cell protein (SCP) - a high-value, sustainable ingredient for food, feed, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Their technology could generate over €4 million in additional annual profit for Estonian dairies while turning waste into a valuable circular resource. It’s science-based, scalable, and already being tested at industrial scale - a strong step toward a zero-waste dairy sector.

NutriScan – METK Prize Created a QR code-based digital food passport that makes product information transparent and interactive. NutriScan allows shoppers to scan a product in-store and instantly see personalized nutrition data, allergen info, and sustainability impact - four times faster than reading the label. For producers and retailers, it automates EU labeling compliance, saves the equivalent of two employees’ weekly workload, and builds trust and traceability. Their scalable B2B subscription model already shows real traction with local brands like Yumtek, Muhu Pagarid, and Biomarket, and negotiations with Rimi and Prisma are ongoing.

Öseen – A. Le Coq Prize Turned brewer’s spent grain into a high-protein, fibre-rich food ingredient by combining it with mycelium. The result: a gut-friendly, zero-waste, plant-based protein alternative made from brewery side streams.

Other amazing teams and their ideas:

Talutasku – Connected local farmers and families via a platform offering AI-powered weekly meal plans and direct farm product deliveries — promoting healthy eating and supporting local producers. ReBrew – Developed upcycled yeast-based protein bars and powders for soldiers, athletes, and hikers – a sustainable, allergen-free, vegan energy source made from brewing by-products. REUCHI – “Stop Losing Money on Food Waste” – tackled food waste and profitability in restaurants with an AI-powered inventory and demand forecasting platform.

Delta – Proposed a data-driven nutrition planning tool integrating academic research with practical food design for healthier, personalized diets. Vyarna – Introduced the world’s first natural breast milk booster — a shelf-stable powdered human breast milk product designed to enhance formula-fed infants’ microbiome and immune system.

Jury & Mentors

A huge thank you goes to our incredible mentors and jury members who made this year’s food hackathon truly impactful. Their insights, encouragement, and constructive feedback guided every team toward sharper ideas and stronger solutions.

Our heartfelt thanks to Andres Huul (METK), Andres Maser (TFTAK), Mari Leito (A. Le Coq), Sulev Nõmmann (Kodas), and Viljam Viljasoo (Tartu Business Advisory Services) for their dedication on the jury and mentoring side - and to Alo Lilles (Guardtime) for his excellent mentorship throughout the event. Your combined expertise, enthusiasm, and generosity in sharing your experience helped turn concepts into actionable innovations - thank you for inspiring the next wave of foodtech changemakers!

Thank you also to speakers Taavi Tamm (PRIA) and Robin Saluoks (eAgronom), moderator Vaido Mikheim (Startup Estonia), and co-organizers & sponsors: EIT Food, Tartu Biotechnology Park, METK, TFTAK, and A. Le Coq.