Foreword

Food and technologies

Dear reader,

How do we safeguard the health of 10 million people in Switzerland, and 10 billion people worldwide, and ensure they have sufficient food? Many of the activities undertaken in connection with our topic for 2024 – security of supply – revolved around this issue, illustrating the urgent need for a global solution.

Moreover, the Annual Congress at the Nestlé Research Center made clear that courageous technological innovations such as alternative proteins and sustainable agriculture are the only way of reducing our ecological footprint. The presentations and discussions at the “Spotlight on processed food” event also showed that the future of food processing will be crucial. Processed foods are a key part of everyday life, but we need to rethink them and make them healthier, less resource-intensive and more sustainable. As part of our Food 4.0 funding programme, we supported highly promising projects that demonstrate how technology is driving this transition. 

The enthusiasm among the scientific community and industry for these developments is palpable – after all, we all have a responsibility to ensure future generations can enjoy a healthy, appropriate and environmentally compatible diet.

Accordingly, 2025 will be a year of cooperation, resolve and hope. Together we will pave the way for a food system that protects people and our planet in equal measure. That we can do so is due to the commitment of specialists such as innovators and the use of technology.

We hope you will enjoy reading this 2024/25 edition of Panorama.

Benoît Dubuis | President SATW

Esther Koller | Managing Director