_SOUTHSTART’s Post

In the lively atmosphere of Gran Canaria, right by Las Canteras beach, there’s a striking contrast. While I attend the “MAKING INNOVATION HAPPEN” event by EIT Food 2024, a convention aimed at transforming our food system, Cheepe, my canine companion, must wait outside. However, this contrast is softened by places like Picnitería, a café on the beach that welcomes dogs to enjoy brunch by the sea. This juxtaposition reflects where we stand and where we need to go. On one side, events defining the future of food, and on the other, establishments already embodying this inclusive future. Picnitería https://lnkd.in/e7pSmzXx is not just a café; it’s an exemplar of the Gran Canaria we aspire to be: a place where innovation and inclusion walk hand in paw. It prompts me to contemplate our role in shaping a tomorrow where public spaces acknowledge the significance of our four-legged friends’ companionship. A future where events like EIT Food aren’t just a space for the mind but also for the heart, opening their doors to the entire community, including Cheepe. #EITFood2024 #InclusiveInnovation #Picnitería #OpenGranCanaria #GranCanariaForAll #CheepeReflectsOurChallenge #AFutureMoreInclusive EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology

See how the Sustainable Food System Network is changing gears when reaching out to you, and you - to EVERYONE 🌏 

Learning on the go... I've never participated in an trade fair before last year, when I took part in the London Future Food Tech Event, IBA in Munich, and FIE in Frankfurt. Although I'm still new to the trade fair scene, I believe I've started to grasp the dynamics. The main objective is to raise awareness, but more importantly, to convince potential customers that upcycling is essential for the entire food industry. Initially, I thought this was the only storyline i should run with, but I've realized that you can't just attend a fair with a single sales pitch. It's crucial to be adaptable in the approaches you take with potential customers, quickly understanding what they're looking for. Some are in search of unique tastes, others prioritize sustainability and improving their ESG reports, while some seek nutritional enhancements, and there are those who want it all. This Sunday, I'll be at Foodexpo in Herning, ready to showcase the innovative work we're doing at Agrain by Circular Food Technology. I'm excited to share how #SpentGrainFlour is not just a part of groundbreaking innovation for the #Baking sector, but also crucial for shaping a sustainable future. Hope to see you there! #UpcyclingFood #FoodInnovation #SustainableFuture #BakingIndustry #FoodExpo2024

The past few weeks have been intense and rewarding, as I had the opportunity to speak at several conferences, sharing POSEIDONA’s mission to nourish the people while we care for the ocean as well as my insights as an entrepreneur+food scientist specializing in non-animal proteins and meat/ fish analogs. What struck me most was the incredible difference of approach at each event, which translates to a completely different audience. It made me reflect on how these differences should connect—and what common ground could unite us all to have a conversation that will generate real change and stop obsolete practices. I’ve already shared my great experiences at oríGenes® and La Granja Lab, and last week I had the honor of speaking at the Climate & Social Justice Summit by the Ethical Assembly. The passion and knowledge in the room were incredible, and the no-greenwashing policy made it clear that this was a space for genuine, meaningful dialogue (shout out to Patricia Imbarus). We need more of this if we are to make the changes our planet desperately needs, but we need for the message to stick to a general audience. One challenge I’ve noticed across these events is that while we seem to be all aligned on the mission, the conversations often feel like they’re happening in silos—without reaching the broader, global audience that truly needs to hear them. It’s as if those of us advocating for change are seen as the “Lisa Simpsons” in a world that feels more like “Marge" (in the best case). How do we break out of this bubble and bridge that gap? How can we start listenning to each other and looking for common points of action? I wish I had the answer. One common theme that emerged from all these events was a return to the roots—whether in terms of rewilding the anthropocene, as Deborah Vorhies and Robin Moore highlighted, or preserving tradition and product quality in food production while embracing innovation as mentioned by @Mikel Zeberio from the Basque Culinary Center in oríGenes®. Maybe that’s where the conversation with not-so-like-minded audiences should start: by honoring the roots we all share. Lucija Matic Impact Shakers Alice Segre Karsten Hirsch Nuno Lourenço André Almeida Santos Rita Sousa Raquel Gaião Silva Christopher Storey Laura Korčulanin Leanne Cullen-Unsworth

🌞You’re warmly invited to join the Kick-Off Event of our new Sustainable Food Accelerator. Meet #impactstartups dedicated to creating sustainable food systems, enjoy a keynote by Theresa Hingsammer from Food Campus Berlin, and most importantly connect with other sustainable foodies to plan the collective action needed to transform our food systems to become more #circular, #regenerative, and #interconnected. ♻ 💚We’ll be introducing the seven startup teams that have convinced us with their solutions and motivation, and just joined the Acceleration Programme and the Impact Hub Berlin Community. 🎤To provide even more input for meaningful conversations and collaboration , we invited Theresa Hingsammer from Food Campus Berlin to our stage to share reflections on sustainable food systems in a keynote. 📣📣 We're calling practitioners, investors, decision-makers, and other stakeholders working on sustainable innovations in the #agrifood sector to join us for this evening of networking, rethinking, and imagination. 👉Sign up here and join us on April 4th in person: https://lnkd.in/dQMrbz67 🤔Why a Sustainable Food Systems Accelerator?  Social and environmental crises have accentuated the need for more robust food networks that foster resilient systems and food security in the face of an increasingly volatile climate. This is why we’re building a sustainable food impact ecosystem supporting impact founders in this field, and why we designed this programme to accelerate innovations and partnerships with lasting impact. The Impact Accelerator Sustainable Food Systems is made possible thanks to the support of our partner Bank of America. #SustabaleFood #FoodSystems #FoodInnovation #ImpactAccelerator #ImpactHub

🌍🎬 Meet Mattia Battagion, Head of Sustainability at Will Media and one of the esteemed judges for the World Food Forum Film Festival. With a BA in International Studies and an MA in Environmental Policy, Mattia’s work spans Copenhagen, Barcelona, and Milan, helping organizations communicate their sustainability efforts. He’s passionate about food, travel, and documentaries, and at Will Media, he sheds light on the energy transition. 💬 Here’s what Mattia had to say about this year’s festival: "The films showcased at this year's World Food Forum Film Festival were profoundly impressive, not just for their technical quality, but for their ability to weave complex narratives around our most pressing global challenges. These works deftly navigated the intricate web of food security, climate crisis, and our prevailing linear, extractive economic model. What struck me most was how they managed to dive deep into these daunting issues while simultaneously kindling hope and sparking our collective imagination. In a world grappling with interconnected crises, these films offer a refreshing counterpoint to despair. They amplify a diverse chorus of voices often unheard in mainstream discourse, from indigenous communities to small-scale farmers and innovators. This multiplicity of perspectives not only enriches our understanding but also highlights the diverse solutions already in motion. While unflinching in their portrayal of systemic challenges, these narratives also illuminate pathways towards a more sustainable, equitable future. They challenge us to reimagine our food systems, our relationship with Planet Earth, and ultimately, our role in shaping a world where prosperity doesn't come at the cost of our shared home. In essence, these films don't just showcase problems: they curate hope, cultivate empathy, and catalyze action. It's a powerful reminder that storytelling, when done with authenticity and purpose, can be a formidable tool in our quest for a more resilient and just world." 📅 Don't miss your chance to experience these incredible films! Be sure to register for the WFF flagship event and tune into the World Food Forum Film Festival—available both online and in person! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dKCyQepp

🤝 Our colleagues Mario Biemans and Rhody Plein are gearing up for the E-Waste World Conference & Expo in Frankfurt on June 27-28! They can't wait to connect with you and explore the cutting-edge innovations and solutions driving us towards a circular economy ♻️ Who else is joining us? See you there! #EWaste #EWWC2024 #CircularEconomy #Circularity

Didn't make it to the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit this year, but it sounds like a great event. Interesting highlights for me were around the growing need for climate adaptation and improved resilience across the whole supply chain. Lupins are a ready-made piece of the puzzle, able to grow in marginal agricultural areas with minimal inputs. A perfect addition to a sustainable crop rotation. Also an interesting quote - "We have a healthcare system that understand so little about nutrition and food, and a massive food industry that understands so little about health". I have been enjoying researching the potential health benefits of lupin protein around a reduction in risk factors of metabolic syndrome, improved glycaemic control and appetite suppression (satiety). Again all very on-point for the challenges ahead. https://lnkd.in/gN4dKH4Q

Who decides what we will eat in the future? Well, it’s not you. We are happy to welcome Sweden's own Mr. Foodtech, Johan Jörgensen, to Earth Oddity Festival on August 30 - 31 at Peetgården, Boden! Johan Jörgensen is a leading authority in the ongoing disruption of the food sector. In short, food is the new climate, and when we are sitting in our homes in a few decades, we will nod and say that the transformation of the food system was what defined our time. If we don't see it, it's because we're dead. Time is of the essence. But it's not just doom and gloom ahead. We can produce food from carbon dioxide, grow meat in tanks, and have a personally crafted dinner produced by 3D printers. Everything is driven by data, tech, and innovation. In the future, food is not a product but defined by its data, just like us. That data will end up with entirely new players. Therefore, it’s time to stop asking what's for dinner and start thinking about who decides what we eat. ☀️ Earth Oddity is a two-day festival focused on local food production, music and technology - to help shape the future of the North of Sweden. Tickets at: www.earthoddity.se #Earthoddity #foodtech #boden #norrbotten #näramat

"What if we really took a systems approach to everything we do?" – Thomas Bjelkeman-Pettersson. Discover how integrated thinking can lead to massive global impact across multiple domains 💫 In the latest episode of Impact Stories, Thomas shares his journey from co-founding the Akvo Foundation, which developed open-source tools to map drinking water sources for over 100 million people in Africa and Asia, to his current venture, Johannas Stadsodlingar AB 🌎 At Johannas, they're pioneering circular, sustainable food production systems in urban settings. By integrating fish farming and plant cultivation in closed water loops and utilizing advanced data analytics, they embody a true systems thinking approach. This holistic method aims to revolutionize food production with minimal environmental impact. With global attention increasingly focused on sustainable food systems as a pathway to address climate change and food security, Thomas's work is more relevant than ever. There is an urgent need for innovative, scalable solutions that transform how we produce and consume food 🌱 At Katapult Future Fest, and Katapult in general, we believe in the power of holistic approaches to create meaningful change. This episode highlights how embracing systems thinking can advance sustainability. We invite you to tune in and reflect on how you can adopt this mindset 💭 🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/dKjSRCMz Produced by New Nordic Way and Majakka Creative Social. Ronny Eriksson Ida Faldbakken Danielle DeRose Kasper Björk Borg Anine Willums Karp #ImpactStories #TechnologyForGood #Sustainability #DataScience #SystemsThinking #GlobalImpact #SustainableFoodSystems