Food 4 Future and Pick&Pack for Food Industry have been the scene for the delivery of the Foodtech Innovation Awards 2024, the annual awards that recognize the leadership of those companies that are increasing their reputation with the most innovative initiatives in terms of technology, sustainability, circular packaging and smart logistics in the food industry.
The awards ceremony brought together leading companies in the sector, associations and employers' associations, while also being attended by Bittor Oroz, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Policy of the Basque Government; Xabier Ochandiano, Councilor for Economic Development, Commerce, Tourism and Employment of the Bilbao City Council; and Joseba Mariezkurrena, General Director of Entrepreneurship and Business Competitiveness of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.
The leaders in foodtech innovation
The first winner of the Foodtech Innovation Awards 2024, which has had more than 150 nominations, has been Agricolus, which has received the Tecnalia Award for the most innovative solution in digitalization for the food and beverage industry, for its digital platform that uses precision agriculture, with real-time data, in order to obtain the highest crop yield. The finalists in this category have been Hyperplan, for its solution that provides reliable and instantly available information on agricultural production; and Brainr, for its AI-based cloud platform for the food industry, which allows it to optimize its processes and manage factory operations in real time.
El Maser Grup Award for the best healthy eating project has relapsed into Genbiome, which has developed its first product that focuses on glucose control as a complementary approach to medication by balancing the intestinal microbiota. Ninja Foods has been on the verge of recognition, for the edible and healthy 'glue paste', which they have made based on the Japanese food konnyaku, in order to join ingredients with which to create healthy snacks; and Nucaps, for the microencapsulated probiotic bacteria they have promoted which improve digestive well-being and human health.
El AER Automation Award for the best automation and robotics solution for the food value chain has been delivered to Urtech Water, which has designed a unique technology based on photoelectrochemistry, which saves up to 90% of water in the food industry. Beckhoff, with the decentralized MX-System that automates machines and facilities, and Kisuitech, with the autonomous work robot Adam for orchard environments, were the finalists in this category.
As to Basque Food Cluster Award for innovation project for the packaging industry has distinguished Pack2Earth and its first bio-based materials that compost at room temperature with which to manufacture packaging for long-lasting dry to liquid products, for example, trays, bags, lids and glasses. Vidrala, with its glass bottle that incorporates an ergonomic and aerodynamic design that allows for better handling and more efficiency throughout the supply chain; and Bio2Coat, with its edible packaging with probiotics added to the formula, have become the runners-up for this award.
El CNTA Award for the most innovative startup It has been for Alcheme Bio, pioneering 'cellular flavoring', which influences foods to express their own flavors through a patented process, using artificial intelligence and machine learning, which mimics the environments in which organisms grow in nature. The finalists were AOTECH, for applying the science of light (photonics) as a bridge towards the digitalization of the food industry, leading to a more efficient and sustainable sector; and Urtech Water, for its technology that regenerates water in situ in industrial processes without the use of chemicals.
In turn, the ICEX Award for the Spanish startup with the greatest international projection has been awarded to Keepcool, which has innovated with technological solutions with the aim of prolonging the shelf life of perishable products, avoiding more than 3,5 million kg of waste per month and potentially feeding 250.000 people a year. The finalists were Innomy, for its fungal tissue cultures that have worked to create structures that replicate the fibrous and tender consistency of meat; and Pack2Earth, for its food-grade compostable packaging designed for long-life dry and semi-liquid products.
Finally, the Agrobank Award for the best sustainability project has highlighted the work of the Cooperativa Ganadera del Valle de los Pedroches, for the Environmental Policy it has promoted, based on decarbonization, energy efficiency and the circularity of resources. The finalists for this award were Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, for the strategic plan to reduce the use of water in production processes and protect water sources; and CuonCrop, for the My-Eco-Ruler service that allows measuring, analyzing and communicating ecological indicators of food products or initiatives led by companies and communities.
