This technology watch report on the Agro-food Industry has been produced by The Collider, the Mobile World Capital Barcelona innovation program, in collaboration with the Vall Companys - Zyrcular Foods Group, under the supervision of IRTA, and with the contributions of thirty experts.
It is essential to weave interconnection networks between the different agents of the value chain of the agri-food industry itself and the broad support ecosystem, both locally and internationally. In fact, Catalonia and the continental region of southern Europe are producers and manufacturers of reference foods.
The axes that guide innovation in the sector are the sustainability of the planet, understood as the reduction of the carbon footprint throughout the value chain; circularity or maximum reuse and zero waste; advanced and personalized nutrition to reduce the incidence of a bad diet on diseases; the "Clean Label" and kilometer zero, non-processed and local foods, and AgriTech to incorporate digitization and automation. All these drivers are directly promoted by consumers and their needs.
The creation of technology-based companies by universities and centers with a vocation to reach the market is necessary, but perhaps it is no longer enough. To consolidate a reference agri-food hub, today it is essential to grasp and understand the importance that open innovation paradigms are progressively taking on.
It is essential to weave interconnection networks between the different agents of the value chain of the agri-food industry itself and the broad support ecosystem, both locally and internationally. In fact, Catalonia and the continental region of southern Europe are producers and manufacturers of reference foods.
The axes that guide innovation in the sector are the sustainability of the planet, understood as the reduction of the carbon footprint throughout the value chain; circularity or maximum reuse and zero waste; advanced and personalized nutrition to reduce the incidence of a bad diet on diseases; the "Clean Label" and kilometer zero, non-processed and local foods, and AgriTech to incorporate digitization and automation. All these drivers are directly promoted by consumers and their needs.
The creation of technology-based companies by universities and centers with a vocation to reach the market is necessary, but perhaps it is no longer enough. To consolidate a reference agri-food hub, today it is essential to grasp and understand the importance that open innovation paradigms are progressively taking on.
The digitization of the sector will strengthen the international competitiveness of our agri-food industry. We have a mature innovation ecosystem, a benchmark in Europe, and excellent scientific production. If we combine both factors, we have the conditions to become the next European Food Valley.
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