Innovation, Cariplo Factory's 'Next-Gen Food' call for start-ups of the future kicks off

"Agrifood systems face unprecedented challenges: extreme weather events, conflicts, economic and social imbalances put pressure on natural resources and access to healthy, sustainable food. But innovation can turn these fragilities into opportunities. For five years now we have been telling the story of how start-ups and SMEs - contribute to the evolution of systems and to the Sustainable Development Goals," commented Riccardo Porro, chief operations officer of Cariplo Factory. "With this fifth report we have chosen to put food at the centre, because today more than ever it represents one of the crucial challenges for the future of the planet and the next generations. With Next-Gen Food we want to give a voice to the Italian realities that are redesigning the food supply chain, from production to consumption, with concrete and sustainable solutions, because it is clear that the future of food does not only lie in what we eat, but also how, where, with what resources, with what environmental impact and with what transparency we produce and consume our food'.

In fact, interesting and promising frontiers are emerging in the field of innovation, emphasised by Cariplo Factory: 'New foods and technologies are paving the way for novel foods, from novel foods to 3D printed foods. These are areas that weave together scientific research, technological development, cultural and regulatory challenges, but which could profoundly redefine the very concept of nutrition. In parallel, digital solutions such as blockchain make product traceability more transparent, while artificial intelligence is being applied to personalise diets and eating habits or even simulate alternative tastes and experiences. Innovation also touches the sustainability and security of the supply chain'

In addition, 'alongside transformations in production, modes of distribution and consumption are also changing: from the boom in food delivery to dark kitchens and the development of climate-resilient crops'. Also growing are "contaminations with other sectors - such as medical devices or edible cosmetics - and 'augmented' food experiences, ranging from immersive dinners organised via apps to restaurants experimenting with radical formats".

It is precisely in order to analyse these phenomena that 'Next-Gen Food | The future of food, the food of the future' was created, based on the answers collected through a questionnaire drawn up by the circular economy and sustainability experts of Cariplo Factory, accessible at https://cariplofactory.it/progetto/next-gen-food/.