June: Agri-Food Innovation Across the US & Latin America

This June, 1,400+ agri-food leaders, spanning the full value chain, attended the Future Food-Tech: Alternative Proteins (June 17-18), and Indoor AgTech Innovation (June 24-25) summits, both of which took root in Chicago, and the World Agri-Tech South America Summit in São Paulo (June 18-19). The three events brought together both upstream and downstream industry stakeholders, alongside a number of innovators and investors, for two days of dynamic panel discussions, interactive roundtables and breakouts, and plenty of networking to tackle the most pressing issues facing the value chain from farmgate to plate.

As the United States’ food-tech epicentre, Chicago came alive with alt-protein innovation as 400 industry leaders and innovators came together for Future Food-Tech Alternative Proteins. Throughout an electric two days, speakers debated the most critical topics facing the alt-protein industry including navigating regulatory pathways, elevating the sensory experience, consumer-centric strategies and accelerating R&D in fermentation. This was complemented by the opportunity to sample the most exciting products coming to market from Danone, Tindle, IFF, Kraft Heinz, NotCo, Impossible Foods, roquette, Mars, and 50/50 Foods, during the coffee & lunch breaks. The event was hosted in partnership with FoodNavigatorUSA, read their post-event coverage.

View the photo gallery, and read the highlights page for key takeaways:

In São Paulo, The World Agri-Tech South America Summit brought together 700 local and international stakeholders from 32 countries, all laser-focussed on building agri-food resilience across Latin America. With strong representation from regions across Latin America including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Panama, and Puerto Rico, the event was nothing short of inspirational. The agenda targeted key areas including fintech adoption to mitigate risk and provide financial inclusion for smallholder farmers and rural communities, South America’s fast-growing biologicals market, and widespread adoption of regenerative practices. This was coupled with plenty of networking breaks, pre-summit drinks at Cubo Itau’s rooftop HQ, and a ‘Women in Ag’ themed networking breakfast hosted in partnership with SP Ventures. Press coverage included AgFeed, Agrofy News, La Nacion, Rural Ventures, PwC, and AgTech Navigator.

Relive it all, and read the highlights for key takeaways:

The Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit gathered 349 CEA and vertical farming industry leaders to tackle resiliency in the fresh produce sector. High-profile names in attendance included BrightFarms, Deputy Mayor of Chicago, Equilibrium Capital, Gotham Greens, Grosvenor Food & AgTech, Little Leaf Farms, and Sobeys, with discussions focussing on building new partnerships and expansion plans. For an interactive experience, delegates were treated to fresh produce from Windy City Mushrooms, NatureSweet, By The Hand, Fresight to Plate, and Four Start Mushrooms during coffee & lunch breaks, as well as a tour of IGE-Hydrofarm’s Commercial Division after the summit. The tour explored LettUs Grow’s groundbreaking aeroponic rolling bench technology, and the Growtainer for insights on container farming. Leading publication VerticalFarmDaily provided coverage of the tour, summit discussions, and a post-summit photo report.

Watch the video, and read the highlights for key takeaways:

Future Food-Tech: Alternative Proteins, The Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit, and World Agri-Tech South America will return to Chicago and São Paulo next year. Until then, get in touch to find out how you can be involved in our global portfolio at info@rethinkevents.com or call +44 (0)1273 789989.