Terra35 Joins EIT Food Accelerator Network 2026 Cohort

Selected as one of 65 startups from across Europe, the female-founded company is tackling the real vanilla supply gap worth billions of dollars.

Dublin, Ireland, June 30, 2026 — Terra35, the only company growing bio-identical real vanilla, has earned a place in the 2026 cohort of the EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN), Europe's leading programme for early-stage agrifood ventures. Terra35 is among 65 companies selected for the network's six specialised technology hubs and will take part in the Munich Innovation Hub for smart and low-carbon supply chains.

Few problems in food have proven as stubborn as vanilla. It is the most beloved flavor in the world and, after saffron, it is also the costliest spice. Today, 99% of the vanilla we all eat and drink is synthetic, derived from petroleum or wood pulp.

Although the market is worth billions of dollars, conventionally farmed vanilla can satisfy only 1% of global demand, because it is extremely challenging to grow. Each blossom must be pollinated by hand, vines need years before they produce, and the single annual harvest is notoriously unreliable. The world's supply of real vanilla simply falls short of what buyers want.

Terra35 bridges that shortfall by cultivating real vanilla with the complete flavor profile of premium cured beans, at the volume and cost the market requires.

"Earning a spot in the EIT Food Accelerator Network places Terra35 inside Europe's agrifood innovation community at precisely the right moment," said Meagan Gleason, Co-Founder of Terra35. "The world faces a vanilla supply problem. Manufacturers want real vanilla, but there is not enough of it to go around. This programme links us with the corporates, investors and research partners who can help us deliver real vanilla at a scale and price the industry has never had access to."

"Terra35 rests on a straightforward idea: the future of real vanilla shouldn't be capped by what it takes to grow whole orchids in a few corners of the world," said Tanya Thornton, Co-Founder of Terra35. "EIT FAN's commitment to rigorous technology validation aligns closely with how we operate. With our proprietary technology, we hold onto the full depth of the vanilla plant's flavor and aroma while building a supply chain that is more resilient and far easier to scale."

EIT Food is growing Europe’s food innovation ecosystem to build a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system by empowering innovators and entrepreneurs. EIT Food is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, set up in 2017 to accelerate food system innovation in Europe.

Terra35 was founded by Meagan Gleason and Tanya Thornton, who bring more than 55 years of combined commercial leadership experience. The company is currently growing its first vanilla.

About Terra35

Terra35 grows real vanilla, delivering the full-spectrum flavor the market wants at the scale and price it needs, securing the future of vanilla. Learn more at www.terra35.com.

Terra35 Selected for MassChallenge 2026 Accelerator

Selected from nearly 2,000 applicants, this female-founded startup is unlocking the 99% of real vanilla the world can't grow and solving a multi-billion-dollar challenge.

Dublin, Ireland, June 3, 2026 — Terra35, the only company growing bio-identical real vanilla, has been named a finalist in MassChallenge's Switzerland & UK 2026 Accelerator.

Vanilla is one of the most intractable gaps in food. It is the world's most popular flavor and the second-most expensive spice after saffron, yet less than 1% of all vanilla comes from the bean itself. In major U.S. food and beverage categories, roughly one in five products is vanilla-flavored, and 99% of that is synthetic, made from petroleum or wood pulp.

With a market worth billions, traditionally grown, real vanilla can only meet a fraction of global demand because it is one of the most labor-intensive crops in the world. Every flower is hand-pollinated, a new vine takes years to mature, and the once-a-year harvests are unpredictable. There is simply not enough real vanilla in the world to meet demand, and the brands that want it often cannot get it.

Terra35 closes that gap by growing real vanilla that delivers the full flavor profile of the highest-quality cured vanilla at the scale and price the market needs.

"Being chosen as a finalist for MassChallenge confirms what we have believed from day one. The world does not have a vanilla preference problem; it has a vanilla supply problem, and the industry is finally ready for the answer," said Meagan Gleason, Co-Founder of Terra35. "Our work gives every manufacturer and every brand access to real vanilla at a scale and price never before possible."

"Terra35 is built on a simple premise: the future of real vanilla should not be limited by the constraints of growing whole orchids in a handful of regions around the world," said Tanya Thornton, Co-Founder of Terra35. "Using our proprietary technology, we can preserve the complexity of the vanilla plant's flavor and aroma while dramatically reducing resource requirements and creating a more resilient, scalable supply. That's the impact this science unlocks."