The digital transformation in the Food & Beverage industry has had a radical effect on factory production and distribution. From processing to retail and dining, Digitalisation and AI act as the key driver to optimise processes, reduce human error and cut costs. Due to innovation in software development, IoT, cloud computing and monitoring, the industry is pushing forward and seemingly knocking out several traditional business models. As automation & AI development advances, the food industry will be facing vast changes at every level of the supply chain. When if not now is the best time to invest?

In a world dominated by smart technology, the Food and Beverage industry is undergoing a revolution. Businesses globally are adopting personalisation to improve customer experience, diet and health, making it one of the biggest trends in Food Tech. Be it custom-made food and drinks based on the customer’s DNA, 3D-printed vitamins, personalised diet plans, or computer-aided intelligence for recipe creation, personalisation will be taking the food industry by storm. Thus, we will explore how businesses are evolving to capture the newest opportunities in this market over the next decade.

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There is no bigger industry than food and agriculture, as almost 8 billion lives depend on it daily. Technology is slowly becoming one of the most important contributors in food’s journey from farms to our plates, making an increasing impact on the industry each year. Food Tech Congress 2021 is bringing together top global investors, entrepreneurs and government leaders for exclusive talks and hands-on learning experiences. The main stage is where you’ll explore the industry’s insights, learn from the best, and connect with people who build things – your next big thing starts here, on the main stage.

As modern consumer preferences change and become more sustainable, alternative proteins have been a major topic of discussion over the last decade. It is estimated that the global alternative protein market is growing by 9.5% yearly and will be worth €15 billion by 2025. From plant-based protein to mycoprotein, insect powder and lab-grown meat, Food Tech is accelerating in developing sustainable proteins that will revolutionise the food industry. These significant innovations are the key to meet the increasing demands of the fast-growing population, improve nutrition and reduce global warming issues.

Food waste is a serious problem across the entire supply chain. From agricultural production to the consumption stage, about a third of all food produced for human consumption gets wasted each year. It equals to around 1.6 billion tonnes of waste that creates 3.3 billion tons of CO2. As the need to tackle this crisis rises, the demand for alternatives is growing fast. Food Tech companies are already developing food-sharing apps, “smart” storage systems, high-tech packaging and turning waste into energy. The food industry is experiencing more changes and challenges than ever, and it is only a matter of time when emerging technologies in this sector will start to boom.

Food science is slowly shifting away from identifying and correcting nutritional deficiencies to designing products that provide more concrete health benefits. The emergence of multivitamin and other functional food supplement products laid a solid foundation for the food industry to enter the wellness and New Tech space. As consumers start to focus more on their health and diet, the demand for functional food is rising rapidly. It is estimated that by 2025, the revenue generated by the global functional food market is going to grow by 40%. With the help of innovations, functional food will be shaping the future of the food industry and is no passing fad.

Due to rising consumer demands, the agriculture sector has to face the transformation challenges while maintaining the reliability and safety of the food supply chains. Agritech is the key in accelerating the future of agriculture, making the farm-to-table process more efficient, sustainable and safe. Be it growing more food in less space, saving water, automating the manufacturing processes or using AI to improve the health of the soil, Agritech will change how food is grown, harvested, packaged, stored, transported and sold. By 2025 the smart agriculture market is predicted to grow by 10% yearly, making a lot of room for new technologies and investments to step in.