Empowering Women in Agrifood 2025: Interview with Anabel Millán Leiva, Co-founder of Cucare Diagnostics
Editor’s Note: This post was created in collaboration and with financial support from EIT Food.
On 11 November, the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) 2025 Demo Day programme took place in Seville, an initiative that supports women entrepreneurs working to create a more sustainable and innovative food system.
Now in its sixth edition, EWA 2025 is a six-month entrepreneurial programme designed to support aspiring and early-stage female entrepreneurs across 13 countries: Albania, Estonia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, and Ukraine.
Backed by EIT Food and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, EWA helps participants build the skills, confidence and networks needed to develop and scale their ideas. Although women play a vital role in agriculture and rural innovation, their work often goes underrecognised. The programme helps address this gap by offering practical support, tailored training and access to a strong, long-lasting community.
This year’s edition brought together talented founders from across the region, each working on solutions that tackle real challenges in agriculture, sustainability and food production. On that note, today we start the first of a series of three interviews highlighting standout participants from this year’s EWA programme. We begin with a remarkable woman entrepreneur, whose work brings scientific expertise and practical innovation together to address key challenges in the agrifood sector.
Interview with Anabel Millán Leiva, Co-founder of Cucare Diagnostics
Can you start by sharing the inspiration behind Cucare Diagnostics and how your journey into insect science and agrifood innovation began?
The Cucare founding team are scientists specialising in insect genetics, pathogens, and pesticide resistance. Our journey began at the University of Valencia, where we have spent over 30 years studying how insects interact with microorganisms and pesticidal compounds.
Through close work with farmers and beekeepers, we started receiving urgent calls aboutpests destroying crops and diseases wiping out hives. Existing diagnostic tools were often unavailable or impractical in real-world conditions.
As insect farming began to grow as a source of alternative proteins, a new problem emerged. Producers were facing serious health issues in their colonies, but had no way to detect or understand the diseases affecting them. Many of these threats were still unknown, and no diagnostic tools existed to guide decision-making.
We realised we had the expertise to help, but our laboratory methods were not accessible to those who needed them most. That is when we decided to move beyond academia. By working directly with beekeepers and farmers, we developed and validated practical diagnostic tools in real production environments.
In 2025, we founded Cucare Diagnostics as a spin-off from the University of Valencia, with the goal of bringing fast, reliable, and usable diagnostics to insect production and agrifood systems.
What motivated you to focus on insect health, pest resistance and pathogen detection, and how do you see this work contributing to a more sustainable and resilient food system?
Our motivation comes from understanding the crucial role insects play in food systems. They can be both a challenge and a solution: insects cause major losses in agriculture and livestock production, but they are also essential as biological control agents and as one of the most sustainable protein sources available.
Through our close work with farmers, insect producers, and other stakeholders, we see firsthand the real challenges facing the agrifood sector and the lack of practical tools to address them. We have the scientific knowledge to help, and we felt a strong responsibility to turn that knowledge into solutions that work in the real world. At the same time, we know food production must increase, but not at the expense of the environment.
Pesticide resistance is a clear example. As resistance grows, pest control becomes less effective and pesticide use increases, often without knowing whether treatments will work. By detecting resistance at the genetic level before treatments are applied, we enable more targeted pest control, reducing chemical use and environmental impact while improving crop and livestock health.
Insect farming is another important part of the solution, offering a sustainable way to meet the growing demand for protein. However, this young industry faces serious health challenges. By enabling early disease detection and preventive health management, we help make insect production more resilient, efficient, and sustainable.
Ultimately, our work supports a more resilient food system by enabling smarter pest control, reducing environmental pressure, and strengthening sustainable protein production.
Cucare Diagnostics applies advanced genetic and molecular tools to insect management and large-scale insect production. Can you walk us through your approach and explain what sets your solutions apart from more traditional methods?
Our approach combines advanced genetic and molecular technologies with bioinformatics and proprietary databases to support insect management and large-scale insect production.
These tools allow us to detect pathogens in insect colonies at very early stages, long before visible symptoms appear. Early detection is crucial, as it gives producers time to intervene and prevent outbreaks, rather than reacting once losses are unavoidable. Importantly, our methods are not limited to known pathogens. We can analyse the entire microbial community within a colony, including unknown or unexpected disease agents, which is especially important in insect farming, where many pathogens are still poorly understood.
Traditional diagnostics rely mainly on visual inspection, microbiological cultures, or targeted PCR tests. These methods usually require higher pathogen levels, are reactive rather than preventive, and can only detect what is already known, often leading to delayed or inconclusive results.
The same applies to pesticide resistance detection. While laboratory methods exist, they are often complex, slow, expensive, and not accessible to farmers or beekeepers. Our resistance detection services are designed to be fast, scalable, and cost-effective. By identifying resistance at the genetic level before treatments are applied, we support better decision-making, reduce unnecessary chemical use, lower costs, and minimise environmental impact.
What truly sets Cucare apart is our ability to turn advanced molecular science into practical, actionable solutions that work in real production environments.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while developing Cucare Diagnostics, particularly when translating scientific research into practical solutions for the agrifood industry?
One of our biggest challenges has been shifting our mindset from academic researchers to people building practical solutions and a viable company. In the lab, complexity and long timelines are acceptable, but in real production environments, they are not. Farmers and producers need reliable answers quickly, not perfect results weeks later.
From a scientific perspective, this meant adapting very advanced molecular techniques to make them fast, practical, and affordable. Another challenge was learning to balance scientific rigour with the urgency of the agrifood sector. Our clients do not just want data; they need clear guidance on what to do next. That pushed us to translate complex genetic results into simple, actionable recommendations.
Building trust outside academia was also essential. We had to show that molecular diagnostics could deliver real, tangible value in the field. On top of that came the realities of building a company: securing early-stage funding, dealing with bureaucracy, and learning the business side of things. It has been a steep learning curve, but one we are committed to, because we truly believe in the impact this work can have.
When did you first hear about the EWA programme, and what motivated you to participate?
I first came across EIT Food a few years ago, even before founding Cucare Diagnostics, through different training activities and programmes. I was drawn to its strong focus on practical innovation in the agrifood sector, which aligned closely with my scientific background and interests.
I later discovered the EWA Spain programme through EIT Food announcements on social media. After looking into it, it was clear how valuable it could be, both for me as an entrepreneur and for Cucare, particularly in terms of business development and mentorship.
Looking back, taking part in EWA Spain has exceeded my expectations. It has helped us sharpen Cucare’s strategy and market focus, while also supporting my personal growth as an entrepreneur and helping me build valuable connections. It has been a genuinely transformative experience, and joining the programme was absolutely the right decision.
How did the mentorship and training during the EWA programme influence your approach to building Cucare Diagnostics? What would you say are the three most valuable takeaways from the programme?
The training and mentorship we received through the EWA programme have had a strong influence on how we are building Cucare Diagnostics.
The training sessions were well structured and covered all the key aspects an early-stage startup needs, from idea validation and business models to legal topics, finance, marketing, leadership, and communication. I appreciated that each topic was addressed with the right level of depth and clearly adapted to the real needs of the participants.
If I had to highlight the three most valuable takeaways, the first would be mentorship. The mentors were highly professional, and the programme did an excellent job of matching mentor and mentee. I was paired with an exceptional mentor, someone with deep industry experience and strong human insight. She understood Cucare’s strategic direction, the right timing for decisions, and the personal pressures of leading an early-stage company. That combination of professional guidance and emotional intelligence was especially valuable during challenging moments, and I am very grateful for her support, as well as for the help of other mentors along the way.
The second key takeaway was the community. The other participants and the EWA team created a supportive and collaborative environment where we shared challenges, exchanged advice, and celebrated progress together. Building a startup can feel isolating, and being part of such a community made the journey feel much less solitary.
Finally, the training and visibility provided by the programme were extremely valuable. Beyond practical skills like pitching, market validation, and strategic planning, EWA gave Cucare visibility and credibility within the EIT Food ecosystem. Access to these networks and opportunities is helping us grow much faster than we could have on our own.
Sustainability is a core element of Cucare’s mission. How do your services help reduce the use of pesticides while protecting crops, ecosystems and insect health?
Sustainability is at the core of Cucare Diagnostics because we focus on prevention and informed decision-making, rather than reacting once problems have already escalated.
In agriculture, uncertainty often leads to pesticide overuse. Farmers frequently apply treatments without knowing whether they will actually work against the pests present. When resistance goes undetected and a treatment fails, additional pesticides are applied to avoid crop losses, increasing costs and environmental impact.
Our molecular resistance diagnostics remove that uncertainty. By identifying resistance genes before treatments are applied, we help farmers choose the most effective solution from the start. This leads to more targeted pest control, fewer applications, and lower chemical use. As a result, environmental pressure is reduced, residues on crops are minimised, and the effectiveness of existing pesticides is preserved for longer, while protecting ecosystems and beneficial insects.
How do you see advances in insect science and biotechnology shaping the future of agriculture, pest management and sustainable protein production?
I believe advances in insect science will play a major role in transforming food production, helping it become more sustainable and better managed. This means moving away from reacting to problems once they occur and towards preventive strategies that reduce losses and limit environmental impact from the start.
In pest control, we are shifting towards more precise, data-driven approaches. Instead of broad, one-size-fits-all treatments, pest management is becoming more targeted, effective, and environmentally responsible. At the same time, the insect production sector is still learning how to fully support insect health and welfare, but progress is clearly being made. Growing research into insect nutrition, health, and disease is helping make large-scale insect farming more reliable and resilient.
Overall, I see huge potential to improve how food is produced, and I am confident we are moving in the right direction towards systems that are more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally friendly.
To conclude this interview, what advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs considering starting a science-based business in the agrifood sector?
My advice is to focus on solving real problems, stay adaptable, and validate your ideas early. Trust your expertise and do not underestimate your knowledge and capabilities. Remember that being different and having a scientific background is not a limitation; it is a powerful competitive advantage.
Most importantly, do not do it alone. Seek out mentorship, peer networks, and programmes like EWA that combine technical, business, and personal support. Building a company is demanding, especially in the early stages, and having the right community makes a huge difference.
More on the programme
As part of EWA 2025, Anabel joined a growing #EWAProgramme community of more than 600 alumnae across Europe. This network continues to support and unlock the potential of early-stage female founders well beyond the duration of the programme.
She also had the opportunity to pitch her idea at the Next Bite Satellite event, Accelerating Innovation Through Women Leadership, held on 4 December in Warsaw. The event brought together nearly 350 innovators, founders, and investors to rethink the future of food and highlight women-led innovation across the agrifood ecosystem.
Registration for EWA 2026 opens soon! Stay tuned and help build a future of food powered by women. More information is available here
About EIT Food
EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community. Backed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, it works across the food value chain to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship, equipping changemakers with the skills, tools, and support they need to reshape the future of food.
EIT Food is one of nine innovation communities established by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body set up in 2008 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.
Learn more at EIT Food or follow EIT Food on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
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