Digitalisation and sustainability, keys to the future of the food sector at ALIBETOPÍAS 2021
Once again this year, the Spanish Federation of Food and Drink Industries (FIAB) and the Food for Life-Spain Technology Platform, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), have brought together the food and drink sector at ALIBETOPÍAS 2021 to present the latest trends in R&D&I and upcoming challenges for the industry.
The event, held on Tuesday 26 October with the support of artica+i among its main sponsors, was developed around three main blocks: technological startups, new models and applications in digitalisation and total sustainability.
Fernando Miranda, Secretary General of MAPA, was in charge of opening the conference, highlighting the efforts made by the food and beverage industry in innovation and encouraged all companies, especially SMEs, to incorporate R&D&I in their structures.
Mauricio García de Quevedo, director general of FIAB, reinforced the message conveyed by Miranda by emphasising the importance and dimension that ALIBETOPÍAS has taken on, which, this year 2021, reaches its seventh edition. As the director of the FIAB stated in his speech, companies in the industry are increasingly “making use of tools such as R&D&I to adapt and anticipate the demands and needs of the consumer”.
Digitalisation and total sustainability were undoubtedly the main protagonists of the event, as both are a good tandem to face the challenges of the food and beverage industry. In addition, ALIBETOPÍAS 2021 focused on the importance that technological start-ups have been acquiring, with the participation of Patxi Larumbe, director of Cocuus, who gave a presentation on the food revolution through disruptive solutions such as 3D food printing.
The event was closed by Galo Gutiérrez, Director General of Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, who concluded with the importance and unique opportunity that PERTE funding represents to raise the technological level of all the agents in the sector.
