Food Matters Live Podcast

What decisions will people be making in the year 2030? What factors will influence their purchasing decisions? And how does the food industry adapt to meet those new demands? When it comes to the future of food, everyone in the industry would like to know the types of food and drink products people will be buying in the years to come. It is, of course, impossible to know for sure, but we can look...

How prepared is the agricultural sector for the next big technological revolution? We live in a digital age, everywhere you look new technologies are helping to make things faster, more efficient, and more precise. But there is a feeling, not just in the food sector but more broadly, that we are on the cusp of another digital revolution. AI, robotics, and access to data are advancing at great spee...

Confectionary is big business. The global market is worth over a trillion US dollars and all the forecasts suggest that figure is set to continue rising. But with so much competition, and a population increasingly concerned with topics such as sustainability and animal welfare, it is more important than ever for new products to stand out. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, made in p...

There are many challenges facing the food industry at the moment, and those challenges are being faced by all of us, farmers, producers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers. Consumers in particular, are increasingly concerned with a rising cost of living, their overall health, as well as sustainability and climate change. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, made in partnership wit...

Looking after crops and maintaining a resilient food supply is as important now as it has ever been. But the challenges farmers are facing are growing, from inflation to a growing population and climate change - and all with sustainable agriculture front of mind. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, made in partnership with CropLife Europe , we explore the role biopesticides could pla...

What are the innovations that will shape our culinary experiences over the next decade or so? It is exciting to think about some of the things we may be seeing on our plates in the years ahead, but the really interesting aspect is what influences those trends. In this episode, recorded live at the Food Matters Live Tastes of Better event in Ascot in April 2024, we ask the experts where we might be...

How can the food sector go about achieving its sustainability goals? It's a big question, but one that is increasingly pressing. Sustainability has been a hot topic in the food sector for many years, and whilst consumers might try to make more sustainable choices, often it's the parts of the food production system they do not see that are the most energy intensive. In this episode of the Food Matt...

There seems to be little doubt that AI and other new technologies are going to play a big role in many aspects of our lives, but what will their role be in food? New product development, production processes and food formulation could all be impacted by technological advances. The potential, is that some of the big questions the food industry is facing could be solved using AI. The concern, if the...

We are living longer now than before, but increased age in itself is not the ultimate goal. What most people really want is to live in good health for a long time. The problem is, although medical advances have helped to extend our lives, we have not necessarily seen health increase in that time. In fact, the expectation is that we will spend more of our lives in poor health. Attend our Tastes of...

For many decades starch has been a backbone of the modern food industry, used in food production for a variety of purposes. It is versatile, easy to mix, and can enhance the overall experience of a product. In this episode, made in partnership with Royal Avebe , we delve into the role this incredible ingredient has traditionally played in the food industry, as well as discovering some of the innov...

There are many things that affect our mental and cognitive health, and increasingly what we eat and drink is gaining prominence in this area. The good news, is that we have some control over what we consumer, and for the food and drink industry, that creates an opportunity. Making products that can boost our mental and cognitive health, or slow any decline, are becoming more and more attractive. T...

Palm oil is on everybody’s lips, not just metaphorically, but physically too. It is a hugely versatile ingredient and it is widely used in the food industry. It has so many properties that make it useful, including being an extremely efficient crop, which is why it is present in a huge array of products. The farming of palm oil has made the headlines because of links to deforestation and unsustain...

Butchers shops, once a common sight in most towns and villages across Europe, are declining in number. The impact of that decline can be felt in communities throughout the continent, and it could also be impacting our diets too. On Allergen Awareness Week, and in partnership with Dutch Spices, we look at why butchers shops are disappearing, but also how that trend can be reversed. We delve into so...

Has there been a more challenging time for the global food system in modern times? It is difficult to argue against considering the amount of geopolitical turmoil and the growing climate crisis. Add into that, a growing population, and the scale of the challenge of keeping everyone fed is clear. But that is where innovation will be key. The global food system needs to keep innovating in order to m...

Few industries embrace new technology as readily as the food industry, so what does the future hold? In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded live at the Sustainable Food Forum held in London in September 2023, we ask a panel of experts to answer that question. They explore the latest ground-breaking technological developments in food processing, and delve into the potential impa...

From the first apple orchards, to its resurgence in modern craft cideries, cider’s history is a story of innovation, tradition, and deep connection to the land. But it is not just a tale of apples and fermentation. It is a journey that has shaped communities, cultures, and the way we raise a glass to celebrate life's moments. It is also a tale of adaptation, with cider evolving alongside the chang...

When we think about sustainable nutrition, many of us will think about plant-based eating. There is no doubt that switching to a plant-based diet helps the sustainability cause in multiple ways, but the bigger picture is far more nuanced than that. Every consumer, ingredient, product and brand has their own context, which makes generalising about environmental impact very difficult.  In this episo...

Packaging has a huge role to play in making the global food system more sustainable. The materials we use to transport, store and market our food are a key part of the conversation when it comes to increasing sustainability in the sector. There is a demand for more responsible food packaging solutions across the value chain as pressure mounts from both regulators and consumers.  But, the move towa...

Producing a new food product, bringing it to market, and then successfully selling it, is no easy task. It is difficult to get an exact figure, but most research indicates that at least half of new products fail within a year of launching. It is no surprise when you consider just how competitive the food industry is - in the UK, it is the largest manufacturing sector. Taking all of that into accou...

Nutraceuticals are big business, but what is in store for this dynamic and competitive market in 2024 and beyond? There is no doubt that demand for these products is growing, and consumers are more knowledgeable than ever. But with greater awareness and increased understanding, comes greater skepticism, meaning the science has to be water-tight. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, re...

What role can new developments in ingredients play in moving us towards a more sustainable global food system? As food companies move towards a more circular, less wasteful model, how important will ingredient innovation be? In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded live at our Sustainable Food Forum in London, we try to answer those questions. Attend our Sustainability events in...

The gut microbiome is one of the hot topics on the lips of nutritionists, dietitians, and the food industry as a whole. But are consumers keeping up with an area of understanding that is moving at such speed? From probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, to the impact of artificial sweeteners on the mind-gut connection, there is a lot to get your head around. In this episode of the Food Matters Live p...

There are multiple challenges facing the global food system, so how can we go about changing it to overcome them? It is projected that the system will need to feed nearly 10 billion people by 2050, a big enough challenge in itself. But when you combine that with protecting the planet and building more resilience, it becomes and even more daunting task. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podc...

Traditionally used to make products like vitamins, precision fermentation has been gaining popularity as an alternative way to produce dairy. It harnesses the power of microorganisms and can be used to make all sorts of products like milk, cheese, yoghurt and more. It is a technology that could transform the way we understand animal-free dairy. And with the dairy industry expected to grow by aroun...

Personalised nutrition is big business, and it is forecast to get even bigger in the coming years. Some estimate that the sector will be worth between $15-$25bn before the end of the decade. So what are the opportunities? What is getting people exciting? And how can the food industry capitalise on this growing market? This episode of the Food Matters Live podcast was recorded live at our Inspiring...