Conference: Plant protein food developments accelerating

Conference: Plant protein food developments accelerating

For immediate release 4 July 2018

A new food technology conference in Auckland is focused on potential threats and opportunities from rapidly developing alternative proteins. The speed of change for other protein sources for food products is vital intelligence for local producers. Science leaders say changing consumer trends offer a huge commercial opportunity for our farmers.

“New Zealand farmers have faced challenges from the removal of SMPs to biosecurity threats on their livelihoods – technology disruption is just another force for change. With much more direct marketing from groups like Beef + Lamb NZ and many other direct sales channels there are plenty of opportunities for niche food product sales growth from our land base,” says John Stulen, conference director at the upcoming Innovatek ProteinTECH conference coming to Auckland on 24 July.

Clear indicators that technology is disrupting food production include:
• Venture capital pouring into food product R&D from plant proteins here and overseas;
• James Cameron and Peter Jackson funding some new protein developments and long-time arable research leader Nick Pyke is tight-lipped about what his new team are doing for them;
• Air New Zealand announcing they will serve the Impossible Burger on flights to Los Angeles;
• Beef + Lamb NZ proposing to lift levies to grow international brand marketing;
• Plant & Food Research signalling some local plant crops are ideal for high quality proteins;
• Outgoing chief science adviser Peter Gluckman suggesting a review on GE for New Zealand.

The move by Air New Zealand to offer ‘Impossible’ burgers is a smart marketing ploy – but the speed of other plant-based food developments for mainstream food shoppers is taking off like the planes on which the burgers will be served.

ProteinTECH conference director John Stulen says, “Looking at the leap of faith by someone like Nick Pyke from the Foundation for Arable Research after 23 years there shows that there is some serious effort and money being directed to developing commercial processes.”

Early movers in the food products that meet new consumers needs are set to capitalise on marketing these sustainable plant-based foods and food ingredients. It’s as much about developing patentable IP in the first instance, then selling the rights to grow the proteins.

Coming to Auckland in July, Innovatek’s ProteinTECH Conference brings together leaders in primary industries from the development and research fields. These key people have their finger on the pulse of changing food production trends, alongside industry analysts, financiers and key accounting/consulting firms. If food production, niche or commodity is your business, ProteinTECH is a must-see event.

To register go to: https://proteintech.events/. The one-day conference is on 24 July at the Novotel Auckland Airport Hotel. It includes an evening welcome reception on 23 July.

Ends

© Scoop Media