40 under 40: the first generation of young talents in the food chain

• A selection of 40 professionals under 40 with brave, intelligent, and high-impact ideas in our lives

Non-alcoholic wines, smart sensors for cows, or beekeeping bio-refuges… 40 talents under 40 are revolutionizing the agri-food sector with brave, sustainable, and high-impact ideas. They have reinvented cider and wool, launched award-winning kombuchas, designed smart farms, promoted pistachio cultivation in Spain, recovered native breeds, and founded regenerative agriculture projects. Their ability to merge tradition, science, and technology not only revitalizes rural areas but also paves the way for a more innovative, sustainable, and socially connected food system.

Basque Culinary Center and AgroBank have joined forces to launch Impulso Agro, an initiative that recognizes 40 professionals under 40 who are transforming the sector with talent, commitment, and a vision for the future.

A new generation with boots on

The protagonists of this story do not wear ties, but rather boots full of mud and backpacks loaded with ideas. They are engineers, biologists, entrepreneurs, chefs, ranchers, technologists, and rural activists. And they all share a conviction: that food is much more than a necessity. It is culture, health, history, enjoyment… and also a powerful tool for social transformation.

The selection of these 40 profiles —available on AgroBank Hub— has been the result of exhaustive work by a committee of experts who have tracked young talent throughout the agri-food chain: from production to gastronomy. The result is a mosaic of projects that address the major challenges of the sector: sustainability, generational change, digitalization, professionalization, consumption habits, and connection with the territory.

Women at the forefront and sustainability as a banner

One of the most revealing data points of this first edition is that the majority of the selected individuals are women. A paradigm shift in a historically masculinized rural environment, where many now decide to develop their lives and professional careers.

The most represented category has been sustainability, which shows a growing concern for achieving a balance between economic, social, and environmental aspects. But there are also projects that focus on innovation, research, and entrepreneurship as engines of change.

From Castilla y León to Andalusia, through Navarra, Murcia, or Galicia, the selected projects reflect the diversity and richness of the Spanish territory. And they all have something in common: a regenerative, creative, and deeply committed vision for the future.

A meeting to sow connections

The members of this community have gathered at the Basque Culinary Center to share their projects, ideas, and concerns through round tables, presentations, and creative workshops —such as the one by floral artist David Mola. The meeting has addressed key topics such as artificial intelligence in agriculture, climate change, female leadership, or new consumption habits.

The final touch has been the official delivery of distinctions to these 40 change-makers. Because the future of the countryside —and what we eat— is already underway. And it is under 40 years old.