EIT Food promotes innovation and health in the European agrifood sector during Food 4 Future
The event, held from 13 to 15 May, brought together experts at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre to provide solutions to the challenges the food industry is facing.
EIT Food participated as a key actor in Food4Future, held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre between 13 and 15 May. This event brings together all types of agents from the agrifood sector and seeks to transform the industry through collaboration and new technologies.
For three days, representatives of EIT Food took part in six talks and presentations, where topics such as healthy ageing and investments in the agritech sector were discussed. In addition, seven startups were present at EIT Food's stand to introduce their innovations: Artzai Gazta, Bio2coat, Agrikola.ai, Genky, Tetis Biotech (Turkey), MUKA (Portugal) and Ferreira da Estrela (Portugal). In addition, the Horizon Europe Hub4Food project was also presented.
On Tuesday, Marleen Onwezen from EIT Food's Consumer Observatory analysed consumer trends in the search for healthier and more sustainable options. The latest report, which involved more than 19,000 respondents from 18 countries, found that more than half of respondents (51%) prioritise eating healthier, followed by making food more affordable (12%) and sustainable (9%). Onwezen gave examples from the report where consumers chose a healthier option based on factors such as the message on the packaging. Among her conclusions, she said that "they are open to making healthier and more sustainable choices, but they need support from the industry".
Belen Moscoso, Corporate Venturing Manager at EIT Food, participated in a round table where cases of collaboration between large companies and startups were discussed. Moscoso highlighted the work done by the consortium in connecting startups and large corporations, which are increasingly open to working on their innovation with external collaborators. “The challenge is to find the right startup that fits the needs of the company" she said. "Facilitators such as EIT Food are key to helping projects scale up”. It is worth noting that the European consortium is currently working with more than 30 corporates, such as Danone, on open innovation projects.
Amparo San José, Head of Network and Business Development at EIT Food, moderated a discussion with several representatives of investment funds from Europe and Latin America working in the agritech sector. The fact that there are more than 300 investment funds active in the sector was provided. In this context, it is vital to detect the needs of the market and the cases with the most opportunities for success. One of the areas on which the sector has been betting the most in recent years is the digitalisation of the sector, with improvements in production and a great advance in the measurement of impact. In conclusion, the speakers stressed the importance of a startup being efficient in order to be attractive to investment and thus be able to scale.
The first day ended with a talk by Lorena Savani, Mission Lead of Healthier Lives Through Food, on healthy ageing. "80% of chronic diseases can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle, and food is key in that role. We need to turn our relationship with food on its head," remarked Savani. By 2050, 30% of Europeans will be over 65 years old. In view of this scenario, EIT Food is working with all types of partners to identify challenges and opportunities for healthy ageing, for example by reducing salt and fat intake and increasing fibre intake.
Speakers from major food companies such as Danone and Campofrío also took part. Suelen Souza, head of nutrition and health at Danone Iberia, highlighted the fact that products such as kefir and yoghurts made with vegetable proteins have seen an exponential increase in the market in recent years. Juana Manso, marketing director of Campofrío, pointed out that consumers are asking companies to be more transparent about their ingredients.
On Wednesday, Javier González, Senior Business Support Manager at EIT Food, moderated a talk on technologies to improve food. Representatives of the maritime sector agreed in their analysis; overfishing is a major problem in the sector, and to face it we must focus on underutilised species or even invasive species such as algae, or techniques such as fermentation. They also made clear the importance of technological collaboration and digitalisation in the sector.
In the closing session, Juliet Bray, Regional Programme Manager, took part in a round table on the future of plastics in the sector. Only 9% of global plastic waste is recycled, and every week we ingest around 5 grams of microplastics. In this context, the industry is calling for more sustainable and compostable packaging, without neglecting food protection and preservation. The heads of packaging companies presented different solutions, for example by working with paper, natural fibres or compostable labels. “We are not here to replace plastic, but to promote a sustainable alternative. We have to work together with the plastics industry”, they stated.
EIT Food’s presence at Food 4 Future not only showcased innovative solutions and collaborative projects, but also reflected the growing momentum behind a more connected and forward-thinking food system in Europe. The event served as a valuable platform to exchange ideas, strengthen networks, and highlight the urgent need for joint action across sectors to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future.
