Givaudan, Bühler, Cargill, Ital and the Foodtech Hub Latam Open Tropical Food Innovation Lab in Brazil
October 19, 2023 - 7 min read
The ecosystem represents a fresh push towards the development of food and beverages with a focus on technology, sustainability and accessible and safe nutrition
São Paulo, October 18th, 2023 - Givaudan, Bühler, Cargill, Ital and The Foodtech Hub Latam today jointly announced the opening of Tropical Food Innovation Lab, an innovation ecosystem for the development of sustainable food and beverages focused on the Brazilian biodiversity. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the innovation center is located in a 1,300 square meter area within the Institute of Food Technology (Ital) and is the result of a consortium formed by the founding companies in collaboration with the Food Tech Hub LATAM and the Food Technology Institute (Ital).
This ecosystem will connect research institutes, universities, companies, investors and startups providing them access to cutting-edge resources for rapid prototyping and direct connection to the global food and beverage science and technology world.
The hub’s infrastructure includes small-scale processing lines in the pilot plant equipped with state-of-the-art wet and dry extrusion systems for plant-based proteins. Soon, a beverage processing unit will add complementary resources to Ital’s existing facilities. The space also features application and analysis laboratories. In the cutting-edge demonstration and experimental kitchen, companies, food engineers, nutritionists, chefs, mixologists and other professionals will be able to collaborate to create new products. In the interaction areas, there is a coworking space for creative workshops and pitching.
The Tropical Food Innovation Lab is the latest addition to Givaudan’s global innovation network, which provides the specialized expertise, technology and solutions to accelerate new product development and co-create exciting new food experiences with customers. Other facilities include the Protein Innovation Center in Singapore, the Zurich Innovation Center in Switzerland, and the MISTA Center in San Francisco.
With more than 20% of the planet’s plant biodiversity, spread across six major biomes, and a food industry that historically accounts for 10% of GDP, Brazil is among the largest global producers and exporters of grains and protein. “This innovation ecosystem, not by chance located in Campinas, a reference city for technology in Brazil, brings together the intellectual, technological, scientific and creative power to establish the best connections and solutions for the food chain. It also contributes to Brazil’s prominence, which is already a global exponent," emphasizes Paulo Silveira, the visionary and manager behind Tropical, as well as the founder and CEO of FoodTech Hub Latam.
Eduard Fontcuberta, Regional Head of Innovation for Latin America at Givaudan, says: “Givaudan has been intensifying its investments in innovation in a collaborative way, which is why we are thrilled to announce the opening of the Tropical Food Innovation Lab. Alongside our partners, we are committed to driving the development of the food industry and promoting solutions for global food safety and sustainability challenges. We will strengthen food innovation in Latin America, with proposals that will delight people’s palates while also delivering nutritious and delicious food experiences.”
“We are honored to be part of this innovation ecosystem that meets the growing demand for the development of new products for the food and beverage industry. We bring our expertise in processes, our cutting-edge technology, and our innovation DNA, always striving for efficient and sustainable solutions that bring value and results to our customers, partners and society,” says Damien Chapelier, Head of Bühler South America.
Carlos Prax, Innovation and Technology Leader LATAM at Cargill, states that the Tropical Food Innovation Lab is totally connected to Cargill’s purpose of nourishing the world. “Innovation is one of the keys to achieving this, especially with the growing population and challenges ranging from climate change to new consumption profiles. We are very honored to lead this project alongside such relevant partners for food production not only in Latin America but also in the world,” he emphasizes.
“The Tropical Food Innovation Lab is the materialization of Ital’s vision that the future is built by combining competencies and infrastructure and applying knowledge to generate innovation and promote entrepreneurship in the field of food science and technology,” says Eloísa Garcia, Ital’s General Director.
About Givaudan
Givaudan is a global leader in Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing. We celebrate the beauty of human experience by creating for happier, healthier lives with love for nature. Together with our customers we deliver food experiences, craft inspired fragrances and develop beauty and wellbeing solutions that make people look and feel good. In 2022, Givaudan employed almost 16,700 people worldwide and achieved CHF 7.1 billion in sales with a free cash flow of 6.7%. With a heritage that stretches back over 250 years, we are committed to driving long-term, purpose-led growth by improving people’s health and happiness and increasing our positive impact on nature. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Discover more at www.givaudan.com.
About Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing
Powered by innovation and creativity, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing aims to shape the future of food by becoming the co-creation partner of choice to its customers. Built on its global leadership position in flavours and taste, the Company goes beyond to create food experiences that do good and feel good, for body, mind and planet. With an expanded portfolio of products across flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions and a deep knowledge of the food ecosystem, Givaudan’s passion is to collaborate with customers and partners to develop game changing innovations in food and beverage. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Learn more about how we are shaping the future of food at www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing.
About Bühler
Bühler is driven by its purpose of creating innovations for a better world, balancing the needs of economy, humanity, and nature. As a relevant solution partner for the food and mobility industries, Bühler has developed a pathway to achieve a 60% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 2030, meaning Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scopes 1 & 2, against a 2019 baseline. It has committed to having solutions ready to multiply by 2025 that reduce energy, waste, and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers. Billions of people come into contact with Bühler technologies as they cover their basic needs for food and mobility every day. Two billion people each day enjoy foods produced on Bühler equipment; and one billion people travel in vehicles manufactured using parts produced with Bühler technology. Countless people wear eyeglasses, use smart phones, and read newspapers and magazines – all of which depend on Bühler process technologies and solutions. Having this global relevance, Bühler is in a unique position to turn today’s global challenges into sustainable business. Bühler contributes to safely feeding the world and is doing its part to protect the climate, producing solutions that make cars, buildings, and machinery more energy efficient.
Bühler spends up to 5% of turnover on research and development annually. In 2022, some 12,700 employees generated a turnover of CHF 3.0 billion. As a Swiss family-owned company, Bühler is active in 140 countries around the world and operates a global network of 105 service stations, 30 manufacturing sites, and Application & Training Centers in 23 countries.
About Cargill
Cargill helps the world’s food system work for you. We connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients and families with daily essentials—from the foods they eat to the floors they walk on. Our 160,000-plus team members around the world innovate with purpose, empowering our partners and communities as we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way.
From feed that reduces methane emissions to waste-based renewable fuels, the possibilities are boundless. But our values remain the same. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing. It’s how we’ve met the needs of the people we call neighbors and the planet we call home for 158 years—and how we’ll do so for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
About ITAL
The Institute of Food Technology (Ital), located in Brazil (Campinas/SP), is a leading applied research organi-zation in LATAM. Ital plays a central role in the innovation promoting research, development, and specialized technological support in food and beverage ingredients, processing, preservation, and packaging. Founded in 1963 as a public pioneer in food technology sector in Brazil, Ital is one of the Research Institutes of Agribusi-ness Technology Agency linked to the São Paulo State Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply. The Institute currently operates Technological Centers specialized in meat products, cereals and chocolate, dairy products, fruits & vegetables, plant-based products and packaging. Reference Labs on microbiology, chemistry, physical and sensorial analyses support R,D&I. Ital Technological Innovation Platform drives strategic alliances for in-novation and cooperation projects. Learn more at http://www.ital.agricultura.sp.gov.br.
About FoodTech Hub LATAM
Created in 2019, FoodTech HUB Latam helps companies identify relevant sources of knowledge, support, part-nerships and connect actors in the food system community. FoodTech HUB Latam has a panoramic view of developments in the food industry, thanks to the experience of its leaders in the food chain and in assembling innovation communities. Learn more at https://foodtechhub.com.br/
