Girls Go STEM
Feeding the Future Ghent is a two-day hackathon organised by CollectiveUP within the European Girls Go STEM programme, under the coordination of EIT Food and 28DIGITAL. Taking place in Ghent and Melle, Belgium, on 20–21 November 2026, the event will bring together 40 girls aged 15–18 to explore how technology and data can contribute to food security and safety.
Participants will visit ILVO, the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to discover real challenges in the agrifood sector. They will then work in teams to develop ideas and prototypes, and present their solutions to a public audience at Mutation Festival in Ghent.
The hackathon aims to make STEM more accessible through practical experience, collaborative problem-solving and direct contact with researchers and technology professionals.
Enroll to the hackathon, register here: link to eventbrite
Project impact
The hackathon aims to encourage girls to explore STEM and technology-related careers by connecting learning with real-world challenges. Participants will develop skills in data use, digital technologies, sustainability, teamwork, creative problem-solving and pitching ideas.
The event will also provide opportunities to meet researchers and professionals, work on practical challenges and present solutions to a public audience.
Activities
Day 1 — Discover the challenge | ILVO, Melle
Participants will explore agrifood research and technology, meet researchers and examine real-world challenges. They will form teams, define problems and begin developing ideas.
Day 2 — Build and present | Mutation Festival, Ghent
Teams will develop prototypes and prepare short pitches. Their solutions will be presented to a public audience at the festival.
The hackathon focuses on two challenge areas:
- Challenge Track 1: Improving soil quality against extreme weather driven by climate change.
- Challenge Track 2: Short chains: ten kilometres, not ten thousand. Digital tools that connect local producers to local eaters.
See the full program and register here
Funding type: Commissioned activity under the Girls Go STEM programme, commissioned by 28DIGITAL and EIT Food.
Objectives
- Encourage girls to explore STEM, digital technologies and related career opportunities.
- Introduce participants to real-world challenges in food security and safety.
- Develop data literacy, creative thinking, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills.
- Explore how technology can help reduce food waste, improve food traceability and safety, and strengthen local food supply chains.
- Give participants practical experience in developing and presenting solutions.
