In many cases the discourse about innovation emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions before or during the design of the business model that delivers innovative ideas to the market. Asking the right questions requires knowledge and outreach to a wider audience. In the context of Food Innovation these “right questions” would ideally address needs surrounding food and nutrition security, environmental stewardship, and human rights.
We do not innovate just because innovation is cool and lucrative!
In order to keep track of how technology and social media create opportunities and creative solutions for food, water and energy related issues, Danielle Gould took the initiative of founding Food+Tech Connect together with Elizabeth McVay Greene and Holley Atkinson in 2010 to be the largest world community of Food+Tech innovators. They also established an event series using the MeetUp platform to connect food innovators and get them to showcase their use of technology and new business models to an audience of early adopters. Danielle Gould is a friend of the Future Food Institute and provided valuable support to the Food Innovation program ever since its establishment in 2015.
On the 28th of January, the Food Innovation Global Mission team headed to Primary, a very special coworking space that focuses on wellness. The theme of this MeetUp was “The Future of Food Labour” . Presenters from across the food chain presented their business models, the challenges they face and the lessons they learned in relation to this theme.
The meetup included a viewing of Food Chains, a documentary that shows the real cost of food in terms of the impact on agricultural labour. The presenter was Smriti Keshari, one of the producers.
Other presentations included the concept of Open Hiring at Greyston Bakery and how Cocoburg vegan jerky made from coconuts contributes to a sustainable and fair farm to package production chain in Southeast Asia. Other inspiring presentations showcased the future of young farmers as viewed by The National Young Farmers Coalition — and another one participatory approach to ensuring fair wages and working conditions in the restaurant industry by at The Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United. The ROC also presented a videogame and the Diners Guide App that support the cause of ensuring fair wages for restaurant workers.
A number of exciting food startups provided the buffet that allowed our team to talk to those wonderful people who are working hard, and together to forge a sustainable food future.
During the meetup there was also a presentation by Sara Roversi the founder of the Future Food Institute and the executive director of the Food Innovation Program who presented the scope of the Global mission as “Scouting food heroes, food makers, food icons and food rituals.“. She recounted the research topics of the students on the “future of proteins, future of sustainable packaging, gastro-diplomacy” and gave an open invitation to the members of the food innovator community who are intending to come visit the Future Food Institute in Bologna.
Afterwards the crew packed in a hurry to catch a flight to San Francisco. Will tell you soon how they spent their week there, again, stay tuned.
