FoodTech Innovation Awards 2024

Technology is changing the world and agriculture is not an exception. The deployment and adoption of smart farming tools enables to boost agri-business and become a key in achievement of SDGs for the transition to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and industrialization. Thus, optimizing of agricultural production basing on innovative technologies as a priority will lead to high levels of productivity, competitiveness and improved environmental performance.

Agricolus, which received the Tecnalia Award for the Most Innovative Solution in Digitalization for the Food and Beverage Industry, for its digital platform that uses precision agriculture, with real-time data, to get the most out of crops.

BRAINR is a Next-Generation AI enabled cloud MES for the food industry, built on a highly scalable and secure cloud, that allows 360 real time management of factory operations. From goods receipt to production planning and execution, warehouse management, and dispatch, BRAINR covers every factory operation with custom quality controls and perfect traceability.

At the heart of Hyperplan is the conviction that timely and reliable visibility into agricultural production is critical for the food chain industry to outpace the trends. Our mission is to provide unparalleled visibility that bolsters the growth and sustainability of the entire agri-food chain.

The sustainable model project responds to the need to bring about a transformational change in the way we produce. In addition to offering quality, healthy and nutritious food, these must be in balance with our environment and the planet. Our strategic lines of sustainability, based on the decarbonization of the model and the circularity of resources, have led us to this current model, which we want to serve as an example to others in the livestock and agri-food sectors.

Coca-Cola has the strategic objective of Reducing water use in production processes and protecting water sources through risk analysis, Replenishing to nature through environmental projects the same amount of water contained in its beverages, and Regenerating water used in manufacturing and converting it into water suitable for other uses: in plants located in areas of greater water stress, the objective is focused on regenerating 100% of the water used in them by 2030.

My-Eco-Ruler is a service that enables you to measure, analyze, and communicate eco-indicators for food products or initiatives led by companies/communities such as regenerative community farming and solar sharing with farming lands. It includes diverse indicators such as GHG and biodiversity, with a high efficiency analytics model combined with variety of big databases. This service allows users to drive your companies/products to authentic SX through digitalized multifaceted eco-indicators.

Diabetes is a devastating metabolic disease that affects over 500M adults worldwide, causing more than 6M deaths per year. Recent evidence suggests that specific bacteria can regulate metabolism and improve health. Imbalances in the gut microbiota can alter the glucose metabolism. Current treatments do not stop the increasing prevalence of diabetes. Thus, our first product is focused on Glucose Control as a complementary approach to medication by balancing the gut microbiota.

Microencapsulated probiotic bacteria; Taylor-made to be used in food matrices. Natural, with half costs, to prevent and solve microbiota disorders, improving digestive wellness and human health. The encapsulation protects the bacteria from extreme temperatures (sterilization, pasteurization, UHT, ovening, cooking…) and the probiotics reach alive the intestine where they are delivered. A simple, clean-label, natural and affordable solution to add probiotics and claim “containing probiotics”.

Usually shapes of foods have been created by materials such as sugar, syrup, butter, gluten, gelatin, etc while there are many people who have dietary restrictions due to diabetes, hypertension, obesity, allergies, etc. We’re fiber material tech focusing on the shape of food, binding, molding and texturizing for creating a new shape of foods. We bring joy and satisfaction to eating.

Inefficient water usage is an issue in the food industry, where substantial volumes of water are wasted during its processes, for producing 1 kg of lettuce 10 L of water is required and 1 can of asparagus demands 5 L.Urtech Water has developed a unique technology, which saves up to 90% of water in the food industry. Based on photo electrochemistry, we have developed an intelligent and sustainable solution, capable of regenerating water in situ in industrial processes without the use of chemicals.

Adam is an automated work robot for orchard environments. It can work both with alongside farmers, such as carrying hundreds of kilograms of fertilizer for the farmer to spray, as well as autonomous, such as automatically cutting the grass and spraying pesticide. The automation helps solve labor shortages while also lowering machinery investment and physical burden, with the overhead goal of increase farmer area to increase their revenue and maintain sustainability and environmentally friendly.

With the MX-System it is possible for the first time to automate machines and systems without a control cabinet. Beckhoff offers a robust, IP67-protected modular system with all the functions and features of a traditional control cabinet: Power supply and electrical protection, control CPU, connection to field devices and inputs/outputs, control of motors and actuators, and generation and protection of auxiliary voltages.

We’ve developed the 1st biobased materials (flexible film & injection material, patents pending) which compost at ambient temperature for manufacturing packaging for long-life dry to liquid products, e.g. trays, pouches, doypacks, caps & cups. They’re food-grade, high barrier & compost in a short timeframe in most environments, leaving behind no toxins or microplastics. We license our formulations to packaging manufacturers. Impact KPI: Substitute 50k Tn of contaminating plastic by 2029.

Vidrala has begun manufacturing the BD NOVA LITE, a revolutionary Bordeaux-style glass bottle designed for the beverage industry. This bottle incorporates an ergonomic, streamlined design that significantly reduces its weight, allowing for more convenient and efficient handling throughout the supply chain. Thanks to its lightweight construction, the BD NOVA LITE uses fewer raw materials in its manufacture, reducing carbon emissions.

Our solution is an edible packaging with added probiotics in the formula. These bio packs would have the primary function of holding the product, extending its shelf-life and, through the addition of probiotics, control foodborne microorganisms, improve food safety and provide health benefits to consumers. In addition to maintaining the necessary and sanitary properties for food packaging, the packaging produced promotes a beneficial effect on the body when ingested, as it contains probiotics.

Alcheme Bio is the pioneer of ‘Cellular Flavoring’; influencing foods to express their own flavors through a proprietary process that mimics the environments organisms grow in, in the wild. Cellular Flavoring is clean label, non-GMO and replicates robust flavors like bacon and salmon in cultivated, precision fermented and plant/funghi foods at reduced costs.

Inefficient water usage is an issue in the food industry, where substantial volumes of water are wasted during its processes, for producing 1 kg of lettuce 10 L of water is required and 1 can of asparagus demands 5 L.Urtech Water has developed a unique technology, which saves up to 90% of water in the food industry. Based on photo electrochemistry, we have developed an intelligent and sustainable solution, capable of regenerating water in situ in industrial processes without the use of chemicals

At AOTECH, we see photonics as a bridge to the digitalisation of the food industry, leading to a more efficient and sustainable industry. For this reason, we are carrying out R&D projects in two lines of research. On the one hand, we have developed a system consisting of optical sensors based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for in-line monitorisation, and on the other hand, we are developing a portable system for real-time quality control and traceability.

Keepcool innovates with solutions to extend perishables’ shelf life, preventing over 3.5M kg of monthly waste and potentially feeding 250K people annually. A decade of R&D has positioned it as a leader in agri-food and post-harvest preservation. Its mission supports sustainability and aligns with the UN’s Agenda 2030, aiming to reduce global food waste.
Keep Cool empowers businesses to deliver fresher produce for longer, fostering a more sustainable and secure food system.

We’ve developed the 1st biobased materials (flexible film & injection material, patents pending) which compost at ambient temperature for manufacturing packaging for long-life dry to liquid products, e.g. trays, pouches, doypacks, caps & cups. They’re food-grade, high barrier & compost in a short timeframe in most environments, leaving behind no toxins or microplastics. We license our formulations to packaging manufacturers. Impact KPI: Substitute 50k Tn of contaminating plastic by 2029.

Innomy addresses the demand for alternative protein by recycling low-value by-products in the food industry. Leveraging the Fungal Kingdom and solid fermentation, it offers a scalable and cost-effective solution. The B2B model provides clients with the necessary inoculum, reducing the cost of by-product removal and tapping into a growing market for sustainable protein alternatives. Innomy’s strategy aligns with consumer preferences, business needs, and environmental sustainability.