How key food-tech players are advancing food innovation to ensure a healthy and sustainable future

As the need for healthy and climate-friendly food and ingredients grows, the role of innovation and collaboration is more important than ever. Whether developing alternative ingredients to tackle climate and environmental challenges or reformulating to provide healthier products and adapting to consumer demand, driving R&D and innovation is essential for the food industry to overcome challenges and evolve. Collaboration fuelled by R&D further strengthens partnerships across the supply chain, fostering transparency and shared solutions to disruptions. These efforts not only help navigate immediate challenges but also support the creation of a supply chain ecosystem that is sustainable, robust, and responsive to the growing demand for healthier, environmentally friendly options. Future Food-Tech returns to the innovation hub of San Francisco on March 13-14, bringing leaders together from across the globe to navigate the R&D, strategy and partnerships necessary to ensure a healthy and sustainable future through food. Cargill, The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Heinz, Mars, Louis Dreyfus, and Ingredion are among the international line-up of over 100 speakers who will take to the stage at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on March 13-14. Alongside an action-packed main stage agenda, the Start-Up Arena returns for innovator-centric content and pitching showcases highlighting cutting-edge technologies. Join breakout sessions and workshops for deep dive discussions in an interactive setting, and enjoy the full food-tech experience at the live demo kitchen and in taste-labs where you can experience the future of food. The action kicks off on Thursday, March 13, with the first panel ‘Strengthening Food Innovation to Build a Healthy & Sustainable Future’. High-profile industry leaders including Cargill, Mars, and Tate & Lyle with the latest advancements transforming the food system. The first question shaping this discussion looks at leveraging R&D to ensure a resilient and healthy supply chain in times of instability, both for present day and years to come. While taste reigns king, nutrition is a crucial factor for businesses and consumers alike. The speakers will examine the technologies enhancing product development to create delicious and nutritious products that improve health With collaboration as important as ever, the final question asks how the sector can encourage meaningful partnership to ensure innovations reach price parity and consumer shelves. More highlight sessions across the packed two days include: Future Food-Tech is a key discovery platform to meet exciting early-stage food-tech companies seeking new connections, investment, and collaborations among the investment and global food-tech community. The Start-Up Arena in San Francisco is a hub for creativity where early-stage companies can exhibit breakthrough technologies. This year will see a whole floor dedicated to spotlighting start-up talent, with over 40 start-up booths, a networking lounge, and busy pitching stage. Start-ups confirmed to present their solutions at the summit are Codomax, Cultivated Biosciences, Evergreen Biotech, Get Saucy, Ironic Biotech, Marine Biologics Poseidona, Regen Crops, Sound, VELOZBIO, Vivagran, and Yeti Foods. On the scale-up side, Better Dairy, Carbiotix, Fermelanta, MAIA SCO2, and WASE are confirmed, with more joining the line-up daily. Networking opportunities at the summit include daily breakfast briefings, coffee and lunch breaks, drinks reception, and a dedicated 1-1 meeting hub for scheduled meetings, in addition to those corridor connections that are so vital. The online networking platform opens two weeks prior to the summit, giving delegates a head start on connecting with peers, arranging valuable meetings, and planning out their schedule. This is a powerful tool, offering high return on time invested as senior strategic leaders connect across the food-tech value chain, forging partnerships, and accelerating the innovation needed to design healthier foods for people and the planet. Senior representation is confirmed already from innovation-leaders across the food-tech ecosystem from technology to investment, food brands and retail including: Dates: March 13-14, 2025 Venue: San Francisco Marriott Marquis Register now - the Early Bird offer ends January 23, saving delegates $500. Save a further 10% on registration with Food Navigator’s special code FOODNAV10.