39th EFFoST International Conference 2025
2025-11-17 - 2025-11-19
The Biotech4Food team will participate in the EFFoST International Conference 2025, a key event for discussing innovation and transitions in the agri-food sector. This is a great opportunity to present the project’s ambitions and strengthen ties with stakeholders involved in biotechnology applied to food.
The 39th EFFoST International Conference will be hosted by Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Escola Superior de Biotecnologia and will be held in the city of Porto, Portugal. The EFFoST2025 conference will explore the theme “Fostering the Transition to Sustainable Food Systems: Embracing Novelty and Overcoming Challenges”. We look forward to welcoming you in the city of Porto, from 17-19 November 2025.
The three main conference subthemes and topics will be:

1. Exploring Novel and Alternative Food Sources for the Future
• Identifying new sources for essential nutrients in foods
• Sustainable diets with high nutrition and consumer appeal
• Development of novel ingredients for emerging food trends
• Exploring consumer packaged goods (CPG) food innovations

2. Sustainable Food Processing and Packaging Innovations
• Making food processing technologies greener
• Industrial adoption of eco-friendly processing techniques
• Innovative, intelligent, and bio-based packaging solutions
• Recycling and reducing plastic in food packaging systems

3. Digital Transition/Big Data towards Food Systems Transformation
• AI and blockchain for traceable, resilient food supply chains
• Foodomics and digital solutions transforming food systems
• Climate impact on food safety and solutions for waste reduction
• Eco-friendly food production with water and energy re-use

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Fi Europe
2025-12-02 - 2025-12-04
The Biotech4Food team will participate in the FI Europe, a key event for discussing innovation and transitions in the agri-food sector. This is a great opportunity to present the project’s ambitions and strengthen ties with stakeholders involved in biotechnology applied to food.
Fi Europe unites the world’s leading food & beverage suppliers, buyers, R&D experts and production specialists all under one roof.
In 2025, Fi Europe returns to Paris for its 30th edition – a special milestone celebrating the incredible journey of an industry that has shaped the future of food. Whether you’re a long-time attendee or new to the community, don’t miss out!
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CFIA Rennes 2026
2026-03-10 - 2026-03-12
The CFIA returns for its 29ᵉ edition and is proving more than ever to be the must-attend event for the food industry. With over 2,000 exhibitors and 23,600 visitors, discover the latest trends, innovative solutions and technologies shaping the food industry of tomorrow.

Ingredients, Equipment & Processes, Packaging & Packing and Food Safety: the CFIA brings together the entire value chain in a single event. Explore, exchange ideas, innovate and be inspired by a show designed to accelerate your projects and boost your performance.
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Shaping the Future of Food: Biotechnology for Sustainable Nutrition and Sovereign Food Systems
2026-04-22 09:30 - 13:30 (Europe/Paris)
Shaping the Future of Food: Biotechnology for Sustainable Nutrition and Sovereign Food Systems

Companies from the agrifood and nutrition sectors play a vital role in our food systems: they must ensure high-quality, tasty, and competitive production whilst meeting consumer demands, all under constant pressure from costs and disruptions in global value chains.
Biotechnology, as a key enabling technology, can stimulate and accelerate innovation in the agrifood and nutrition sectors to address these challenges and help companies become more sustainable and resilient.
For the past two years, Innov’Alliance has been involved in the European project Biotech4Food, which aims to facilitate investment to promote, adopt, and implement biotechnologies in the agri-food and nutraceutical sectors. In this framework, Innov’Alliance will host a project delegation for a study visit, bringing together innovation clusters, agri-food technology & transfer centres, and companies from five European countries.
In this context, Innov’Alliance is launching the symposium :
“Shaping the Future of Food: Biotechnology for Sustainable Nutrition and Sovereign Food Systems”, on April 22nd, in the premises of the Conseil régional Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in Clermont-Ferrand
Come and discover regional stakeholders and expertise, exchange ideas with members of the European delegation, discover financing opportunities, find your future collaboration partner to develop innovations that contribute to more sustainable, local, and resilient food and nutrition.

The programme of the morning symposium:
9:30 –10:00 : Sign-in and Welcome
10:00 – 10:15 : Welcome and Presentation of the European project Biotech4Food

Sara Botti | European Projects Manager at Innov’Alliance (French innovation cluster for bio-based and natural products)
Betty Milano | Coordinator of the Biotech4Food project, European Affairs Officer at Wagralim (Walloon agrifood innovation cluster, Belgium)

10:15 – 10:30: Agrifood biotechnology ecosystems in Europe and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: comparison of expertise

Solen Webb | Biotech4Food Project Officer at Innov’Alliance

10:30 – 11:00: Roundtable N°1 – Rethinking Food with Biotechnology: innovation, consumer demand and paths to sustainable nutrition
This first roundtable explores innovations which are already transforming our current food systems and practices. This round table brings together innovators, scientists, and industry stakeholders to explore how biotechnology is already transforming our diets — from reducing food waste and improving nutritional quality to rethinking production processes. The discussion will also tackle a key question: can new biotech-based foods meet modern sustainability challenges while respecting traditional culinary cultures and consumer values?
Keynote speakers:

Céline Gryson, PhD | Managing Director at Nutrifizz
Francesco Fenga | CEO of Fenga Food Innovation, President of the Professional Order of Food Technologists of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Marche and Umbria (Italy)
Claire Mermet | Director of Operations & Head of Network Development at Innov’Alliance

Facilitator: Natanael Viñegra de la Torre, PhD | EU R&D Project Manager at the National Center for Food Technology and Safety in Spain
11:00 – 11:30: Roundtable N°2 – Building Food Sovereignty with Biotechnology
This second roundtable aims to highlight the role that biotechnology plays in reinforcing the sovereignty of food systems, in improving their resilience and in the consolidation of their local roots. Keynote speakers will share insights into the role of public actors in supporting multi-actor projects in the sector, and how these projects serve as levers for territorial development.
Keynote speakers:

Virginie Huguet | Head of R&D at COCONT
TBC | Incubator Programme at Clermont Auvergne Innovation
Khadidja Romari | CEO of the Biotech Open Platform (BIOP)

Facilitator: Sara Botti | Innov’Alliance
11:30 – 11:45: Funding & collaboration opportunities for agri-food innovators: GRAPPA open call for innovation projects and the European network “Ingredients for the Bioeconomy”

Sara Botti | Innov’Alliance
Célia Gavaud | Head of International Department at The Agrifood Clust-ER (Italian agri-food innovator cluster)

11:45 – 12:00: Conclusion and closing remarks
12:00 – 13:30: Networking buffet
This event aimed at stakeholders in the regional agrifood, nutrition and biotechnology innovation ecosystem:

Industrial players and start-ups in agrifood, nutrition, biotechnology, and service providers
Universities, institutes, research centres and laboratories
Public and institutional stakeholders, and representatives from the non-profit sector engaged in the circular economy and sustainable agriculture

This event will be held in English, and is hosted in the context of the Clermont Innovation Week 2026 :
Register

Vitafoods Europe 2026
2026-05-05 - 2026-05-07
The Biotech4Food team will participate in the Food Vitafoods Europe, a key event for discussing innovation and transitions in the agri-food sector. This is a great opportunity to present the project’s ambitions and strengthen ties with stakeholders involved in biotechnology applied to food.
VITAFOODS EUROPE is the annual event that brings together all the key players in the nutraceuticals sector, from ingredients and raw materials to finished products, equipment/machinery, packaging and services.
It enjoys a growing reputation and attracts a highly qualified international professional clientele. It is the must-attend trade show for the industry and innovative companies.
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Biotech4Food Final event in Thessaloniki (Greece)
2026-09-16
You are invited to the Biotech4Food final event!
The Biotech4Food project is reaching a key milestone with its final event. Launched in 2023, this European project aims to accelerate innovation and investment in new value chains at the crossroads of biotechnology and the agri-food industry, with a view to more sustainable, circular and competitive production.
To register, you need to join the I4BE community on the b2match platform
Agenda

09:00 – 09:30: Registration of participants & welcome coffee
09:30 – 10:00: Opening Session
10:10 – 10:50: Round table 1 “Sustainable Protein Innovation: Unlocking New Biotech Pathways”
10:55 – 11:35: Round table 2 “From Science to Health: Advancing Functional Nutraceuticals”
11:40 – 11:55: Coffee Break
12:00 – 12:40: Round table 3 “Innovative Ingredients and Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems”
13:00 – 14:00: Networking Lunch
14:00 – 15:15: Conference “Remaining Challenges for Sustainable Biotech in Food & Nutrition” Panel discussion, ATE cluster
15:15 – 15:45: Coffee break
15:30 – 16:30: B2B meetings + networking + poster sessions
16:30 – 16:45: Closing Session
16:45 – 18:30: Networking cocktail

See you on 16 September 2026 in the Regional Council conference room in Thessaloniki!
This event will be an opportunity to review the project’s progress, highlight the solutions developed by the European players involved and explore the prospects opened up by biotechnology applied to the agri-food industry: new ingredients, process optimisation, valorisation of co-products and secondary flows, and the transition to more responsible industrial models.
Designed as a highlight for sharing, networking and projection, the final Biotech4Food event will bring together companies, innovation stakeholders, researchers, clusters and public decision-makers around a common goal: to transform the project’s results into concrete opportunities for the European agri-food sectors.

SIAL 2026
2026-10-17 - 2026-10-21
The Biotech4Food team will participate in the SIAL 2026, a key event for discussing innovation and transitions in the agri-food sector. This is a great opportunity to present the project’s ambitions and strengthen ties with stakeholders involved in biotechnology applied to food.
Whether you work in retail, catering, manufacturing or the import trade, you’ll find a world inspiration, both in the aisles and at all the special events taking place during the five-day show.
Being at this show means gaining access to the heart of a business generator offering more than 60 years of expertise.
SIAL Paris is the world’s largest international meeting point for buyers and suppliers, your n°1 stop to do trade. Discover 7,500 exhibitors from 125 countries with more than 400,000 food products on display.
Meet and chat with the best international suppliers, stand out from your competitors with your chosen products, and negotiate your prices in person.
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Food Tech Congress
2026-11-04 - 2026-11-05
The Biotech4Food team will participate in the Food Tech Congress, a key event for discussing innovation and transitions in the agri-food sector. This is a great opportunity to present the project’s ambitions and strengthen ties with stakeholders involved in biotechnology applied to food.
Food Tech Congress is the leading food industry event in Europe, taking place in June, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. For two days, more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and agrifood companies come together to showcase technologies, explore trends, and spark partnerships shaping the future of food.
This global summit and exhibition is where startups pitch on stage, corporates unveil innovations, and investors discover the next big thing. From climate-smart agriculture and alternative proteins to AI-driven food systems, discussions go beyond theory—fueling real deals, real innovation, and a more sustainable future.
Food Tech Congress takes place in June, 2026 in one of Europe’s most dynamic food capitals: Barcelona, Spain. Get ready for a unique experience at the iconic Palau de Congressos de Barcelona — a hub of innovation that sets the stage for breakthrough ideas, partnerships, and the future of food tech.
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