Food 4 Future will gather more than 6,000 food tech industry leaders in Spain in May 2022

• From 17 to 19 May, Food 4 Future – Expo Foodtech will hold its new edition in Bilbao to define the future of the agri-food industry, which have to feed more than 7.9 billion people with limited resources
• FooFood 4 Future consolidates its position as the global summit for the agri-food industry to generate business opportunities and find technological solutions to transform the entire value chain

2021, November, 18 – After a first edition that brought together more than 5,000 food industry leaders last June, Food 4 Future – Expo Foodtech is already working on its second edition in Bilbao (Spain) from 17 to 19 May, which will gather more than 6,000 food industry professionals from all over the world.

Food 4 Future consolidates its position as the global summit for the agri-food industry and its auxiliary industry (machinery companies, chemical industry, biotechnology, research, etc.) to boost innovation, technology and sustainability in all the segments of the industry: meat, beverages, fishing, dairy, agriculture, cereals, canned, and oil.

The agri-food industry challenges to face the needs of the world’s population and its commitment to the SDGs

The food industry accounts for 11% of global GDP, with demand expected to grow by 70% by 2025. Furthermore, it is estimated that the digitalization of this industry across Europe will generate an impact of more than 300 billion euros between 2021 and 2025. In Spain, the food industry moves more than 130,000 million euros, which translates into 22.1% of national employment and 19% of GDP.

The biggest challenge facing the agri-food industry today is to feed more than 7.9 billion people; a challenge that will become more complicated as there will be 9 billion people living on our planet by 2025, and approximately 11 billion by the end of the century. Along with this, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) confirms that a third of agricultural land is degraded and that 22% of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction; to which should be added the figures for populations with malnutrition and malnutrition problems, on the rise after the health crisis of 2020.

It is essential to reformulate current business models to tackle feeding the world’s differently. The challenges, the formulas and projects that are already being implemented, and the solutions that are currently being researched around the world will be present at Food 4 Future so that the leaders of the agri-food industry, responsible for feeding us, can find the technological solutions and the necessary knowledge to draw a more equitable and sustainable path.

Automation and robotics, industry 4.0, and sustainable and healthy eating

Food 4 Future is preparing a second edition full of inspiring sessions, trends, success stories and innovations where more than 250 exhibiting companies will showcase their latest technological solutions and food products that will help industry professionals to modernise and digitise the entire value chain of the industry, from raw materials to logistics processes.

In addition, the conference will bring together more than 350 speakers, in different vertical forums designed for each sector of the agri-food industry, which will focus the debate on the major challenges facing the industry, and where the application of automation and robotics, the transition to the new industry 4.0, and content related to sustainable and healthy food will shine especially bright.

Institutional support and strategic partners: Food 4 Future consolidates as a discussion forum

Food 4 Future, organised by NEBEXT and the technology centre AZTI, is supported by the Basque Government through HAZI, as well as Bilbao City Council, to consolidate Bilbao as the world capital of food tech. In addition to ICEX and MAPA to further develop the Spain FoodTech Nation brand internationally.

Other strategic organisations such as NEIKER, ELIKA, EIT Food, ILSI Europe, Food for Life, SPRI, Eatable Adventures, Santelmo Business School and IASP (international association of science parks and innovation areas) have also reiterated their support for this meeting, which is essential for reinventing the industry

If you want to see the summary of Food 4 Future 2021, click on play