Food of the future using sustainable processes

TECNALIA provides innovative technologies to improve the competitiveness of agri-food companies and improve the quality of life of people through healthy eating

• The research and technological development centre presents the latest technological trends related to health, sustainability and digitalisation at the Food4Future fair, which will be held from 17 to 19 May.
  

• It presents six case studies related to the development of ingredients and food for sport, neuroprotection and food allergies, as well as innovative food formats, natural sweeteners and alternative sources of protein.
  

• It also invites visitors to undergo an immersive experience at TECNALIA's healthy food laboratories and to discover the latest technologies in robotics and automation for the agri-food industry.

17 May 2022. TECNALIA, the research and technological development centre, works with agri-food sector companies to develop technological solutions to anticipate the most crucial challenges in the future of the food industry while improving people’s quality of life.

In this sense, TECNALIA is committed to healthy eating, sustainability, and digitalisation and it will present its latest advances at the Food4Future - Bilbao Foodtech World Summit. The second edition of this event will take place from 17 to 19 June at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre. This entrepreneurial forum will showcase the most innovative business proposals for the agri-food industry, as well as the latest scientific breakthroughs and trends that will determine the path for the development of foods and beverages over the next ten years.

TECNALIA will participate for yet another year as Global Partner and will have a stand at the fair to showcase its leading solutions for the agri-food sector. It will also take part in various round tables with the participation of several of its expert researchers in the different fields addressed at the fair.

Healthy food

TECNALIA’s research in the agri-food sector seeks to boost competitiveness for the agri-food industry, while improving people’s quality of life through an increasingly customised nutrition that will help prevent diseases and achieve well-being and active ageing of the population.

TECNALIA’s work focuses on obtaining and developing ingredients and foods adapted to the demands of an increasingly health-focused society. The ultimate goal is to obtain personalised ingredients, foods and food supplements adapted to the needs of each person to ensure a balanced nutrition that contributes to maintaining a good state of health.

At the TECNALIA stand, six case stories will be presented, related to the development of ingredients and food for sport, neuroprotection and food allergies, as well as innovative food formats, natural sweeteners and alternative sources of protein. It will also be possible to find out more about the knowledge and technology that TECNALIA offers agri-food companies to obtain ingredients and innovative food adapted to the needs of the consumer and to achieve a personalised diet.

Digitalisation

Technology plays a crucial role in food production processes, as well as in the competitiveness of production companies. It is also key to the sustainability of the agri-food sector.

The experience acquired in recent years leading this transformation in the productive sectors, allows them to offer enabling technologies adapted to the specificities of the agri-food sector, such as artificial vision to guarantee maximum levels of hygiene and quality, digital twins that combine the most advanced digital technologies, intelligent sensorics that add value to the components used in the process systems, predictive and prescriptive maintenance for optimal management of the production process, big data analytics for better use of resources, and particularly, planning based on business opportunities, Deep Learning, robotics, IoT, extended reality, Blockchain, etc.

As in other sectors, these technologies make new ways of working and new business models possible and are already a reality: with mature applications, such as the use of collaborative robotics and drones and autonomous vehicles in agriculture (as examples of the new digital technologies that we are gradually working on in conjunction with companies in the agri-food sector).

Several of the examples of the innovative technologies that will be seen on the stand are an immersive experience at TECNALIA's healthy eating laboratories, generated through KAYROX, a web platform that allows immersive experiences to be created with the possibility of remote assistance, all in a single tool, as well as a collaborative robot for the control and handling of substances.

Sustainability

TECNALIA contributes towards generating economic impact in companies and improving the quality of life of people by converting energy, climate and urban challenges into high impact opportunities. For this reason, TECNALIA develops solutions for a decarbonised economy and energy system.

We are committed to new technologies, such as hydrogen that foster the integration of renewable energies in the agri-food, transport, and building sectors.

Through technological research and innovation, we foster a circular economy that optimises resources, reduces environmental impact and boosts competitiveness.

Discussion Tables

TECNALIA will participate in different round tables, where it will address the latest trends in food of the future:

• 17th May (afternoon): “Fusing digital technologies to build sustainable agri-food processes.” Presentation: Aranzazu Bereciartua (Industry and Movility). Companies taking part in the round table: MULTISCAN, ACEITUNAS GUADALQUIVIR (AGOLIVES).
• 18th May (afternoon): “The role of probiotics and postbiotics in microbiome modulation and their effect on health”. Presentation: María Chávarri (Healthy eating). Companies participating in the round table: AORA Health.
• 19th May (afternoon): “Biotechnology for the generation of the ingredients of the future”. Presentation: Mª Carmen Villarán (Director of the Healthy Food Area). Companies participating in the round table: FRUSELVA and LA CAÑA.

About TECNALIA

As part of the BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), TECNALIA is a benchmark Research and Technological Development Centre for Europe, with 1,400 professionals representing 30 different nationalities, focusing on transforming technology into GDP to improve people’s quality of life, by creating business opportunities for companies. Its main areas of action are: Digital Transformation, Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Transition, Sustainable Mobility, Urban Ecosystem and Health.