Recoding food: AI as an operating system for the food industry

Artificial intelligence is reorganizing the food system: from the raw material source to the plate. In research and development, in production and through autonomous systems, data-based applications are pushing the boundaries of established value creation logic. Innovative ecosystems are emerging at the customer interface, in which retail, industry and technology are merging into integrated offerings. Whoever controls the data flows in this system in the future will not only shape products and prices, but will also decide on the standards for health, sustainability and consumer confidence. For the industry, AI is becoming a strategic lever for resilience, growth and differentiation.

The 6th International Food Innovation Conference will look at how a new generation of technologies is confronting the food system with new rules of the game. The focus is on strategic questions that managers need to answer now in order to ensure innovative strength and competitiveness. Together with international thought leaders from science, industry, trade and technology, we will discuss the following key questions:

• Innovation in R&D: How are AI-supported development processes changing the speed of the innovation cycle, future product portfolios and health and sustainability promises?
• Smart production: How do autonomous production environments work in which networked AI systems control and monitor processes, energy use, quality and food safety?
• Customer Journey: How do manufacturers and retailers develop highly personalized customer experiences through AI-supported customer journeys? And how can companies become genuine health and sustainability partners through data cooperation without violating their customers’ data protection and autonomy?
• Resilience and food security: How does AI as a risk radar help to secure the supply of raw materials in times of climate change, water scarcity and geopolitical shocks?
• AI boundaries and responsibility: What governance, data and talent strategies enable the responsible use of AI in sensitive areas such as food safety, health promises, transparency and regulatory compliance?

The International Food Innovation Conference is aimed at decision-makers from the food industry and trade – from global FMCG groups to brand manufacturers and retailers. It provides strategic impetus for all those who want to understand AI as a lever for resilience, growth and new value creation logics, without losing sight of the social and ecological consequences.

The conference will be held in German and English.