Alimentaria FoodTech unveils the latest technology and sustainability in the industry

The export potential and capacity for innovation in Spain’s technology, equipment and ingredients sector will find its best display at Alimentaria FoodTech. This leading professional exhibition in Europe will take place from 26 to 29 September 2023 at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía venue, with the participation of more than 350 companies and about a thousand brands that will showcase the automation, digitalization and artificial intelligence that the market has to offer. Requirements for competitiveness and energy efficiency.

The celebration of Alimentaria FoodTech will provide companies involved in any sector of the agri-food production chain, From food and beverage processing, Industry 4.0, packaging, handling and storage to ingredients and food safety The opportunity to present your solutions and services to industry professionals.

Likewise, through the Hosted Buyers Program and in coordination with the international industrial enterprise community AMEC Alimentec, Alimentaria FoodTech has invited more than a hundred high-level buyers, including more than 80 international buyers, from more than 20 countries.. It is expected that this action will lead to the holding of about 800 business meetings between the specialists participating in this event.

In this edition, Mexico will be the guest countryTherefore a specific program has been organized for the 20 professional Mexican buyers who will visit the event. Mexico is the seventh foreign market for Spanish food technology and ingredients companies, with exports increasing by 23% in 2022.

to Lucia Casellas, President of Alimentaria FoodTech“The exhibition is the platform where both producers and industrialists will find the latest solutions, with the most comprehensive and most complete display in recent years. Attending this event is very attractive for buyers from Europe, North Africa and Latin America, who will have all kinds of facilities to meet exhibitors. “

At Alimentaira FoodTech 2023, With the participation of 350 exhibiting companies – One hundred attended for the first time – and nearly a thousand companies were represented, including Handtmann, Weissen Shoemaker, Weber, Embag Iberia, Jarvis, Dordal, Roser, Bujolas, Frontmatic Intical, Mimassa and Haratec.

Robotics, artificial intelligence and digitization

Exhibiting companies and technology centers attending will demonstrate their tremendous innovative capabilities through the equipment exhibition It includes Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, greater automation and digitalization to improve traceability and efficiency of production processes. Sustainable solutions and equipment will also be protagonists, from the current packaging offer to various machines designed to achieve greater energy and water savings, as well as to reduce food waste.

Joan Tristani, General Manager of AMEChighlights that “Spanish companies in the food technology and ingredients sector have shown a high degree of competitiveness in recent years, maintaining all their activities in a complex environment, anticipating and adapting to changes, and supplying different markets, which clearly demonstrated their great reliability.”

As a novelty, The show debuts FoodTech Innovarena, an area of ​​activities dedicated to technological innovation, where approximately 60 information and promotional sessions (brief presentations of investment attraction projects) will be held, organized in collaboration with the Institute of Food Research and Technology (IRTA) and the Spanish Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB). This new space includes an exhibition stand in the Speakers’ Corner, as well as a startup area, which aims to facilitate meetings between industrialists, entrepreneurs and researchers.

At FoodTech Innovarena Innova and Emprende awards will also be awarded., which in its third edition will once again encourage and recognize the research of exhibiting companies and the dynamism of startups, respectively. In addition, during the four days of the exhibition, four FoodTech Emprende Award winners will have permanent display units, along with six other startups.

And one day, More than 20 startups will present their solutions for sustainable water and energy savings in the agri-food industry. Some companies such as Cooling Photonics, Cofling, ColorSensing, Alquimia, Aeris, Planet Biotech, Bioazul or Lobelia Earth are already operating on the market, while others will have the opportunity to showcase their innovations and sustainable business models for the first time.

Alternative proteins and new ingredients

Meat alternative protein will be the main topic of three topics FoodTech Innovarena Sessions: The Center for Innovation in Alternative Protein (CIPA) presentation, an exhibition presented by IRTA researchers Massimo Castellari, Perry Jo and Sarah Bover – who will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of different protein sources on the rise – and present a real case presentation of insect protein innovation.

Recognized food companies committed to innovation e.g Amitlier Oregane, Danone, Nestlé or Conserv FerrierAmong other things, it will also present real cases of technical solution to specific industrial challenges of interest to manufacturers and distributors.

For its part, intermediate food ingredients and products will have their own display area Ingrinovawhere those that identify trends in current food and beverage production will be presented.

Finally, in the specialized conference Barcelona Biofilm Summit, Which will be held on September 27 in room CC1.1 of the Gran Via venue in Fira de Barcelona, ​​and will provide an updated view of the problem that biofilms – microorganisms that adhere to food processing surfaces – pose to the food industry. As well as strategies to control it and reduce the risks associated with it.

Sector expansion

The technology, equipment and ingredients sector for the food industry in Spain had a turnover of 3,173.373 million euros in 2022, according to AMEC data.. The value of these companies’ exports amounted to 1,137 million euros.