The future of food is personalised, functional, and built for better health. As science uncovers the deep links between nutrition and well-being, innovative startups are taking a leading role in redefining how we nourish people worldwide. Valley partners Givaudan, Nestlé R+D Accelerator Lausanne and FoodHack have joined forces to host the 2025 FoodTech World Cup – showcasing the world’s best startups in food for health. Startups are invited to apply by 12 March, 2025.

This year, the Food for Health World Cup will spotlight the world’s most promising startups at the intersection of food and health, connecting them with the investors, partners, and visibility they need to scale their breakthroughs globally.

To uncover the next rising stars and superstars of FoodTech, Givaudan and FoodHack invite Stealth to Seed startups to pitch their solutions in:

• Longevity: Supporting healthier ageing and well-being through nutrition.
• Glucose Management: Supporting stable and balanced blood sugar levels.
• Immunity: Strengthening and supporting the body’s natural defenses.
• Weight Management: Helping consumers achieve and maintain healthy weight goals.
• Gut Health: Targeting the connection between gut health and well-being.
• Energy: Enhancing and sustaining physical and mental energy throughout the day.

40 shortlisted founders will present their vision and demonstrate their startup’s impact potential to a line up of top tier judges from Nestle, Givaudan and selected FoodTech VCs around the world.

After an in-depth shortlisting process, the 10 most promising solutions (2 per region) will be invited to pitch in the final at a Side Event of the HackSummit in Lausanne, Switzerland on 15 May, where the winners will be crowned.

Click here to find out more and enter your startup.

About Givaudan

Powered by innovation and creativity, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing aims to shape the future of food by becoming the co-creation partner of choice to its customers. Built on its global leadership position in flavours and taste, the Company goes beyond to create food experiences that do good and feel good, for body, mind and planet. With an expanded portfolio of products across flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions and a deep knowledge of the food ecosystem, Givaudan’s passion is to collaborate with customers and partners to develop game changing innovations in food and beverage. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. 

Learn more at www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing

About the Nestlé R+D Accelerator

Nestlé is committed to developing innovative products and services that unlock the power of food and enhance quality of life, aiming to support people and pets, at every life stage – now and in the future. Nestlé has the most advanced science and innovation network in the food industry, with 4,100 employees working in R&D and investing over CHF 1.7 billion every year in R&D as an engine for growth. Whether the focus is on developing plant-based foods to support healthier lifestyles, tackling packaging waste or driving affordable nutrition, Nestlé is continually developing its products and services, while innovating to create new ones.

Learn more at https://www.nestle.com/about/research-development 

About FoodHack

FoodHack is one of the world’s largest FoodTech communities. Where FoodTech professionals come to get the inside scoop on industry news and meet partners, friends, mentors, investors – and everything in between.

Never miss a Swiss food innovation morsel.

Latest News

Valley partner Givaudan has announced an agreement to distribute upcycled Green Banana Powder produced by Dole Specialty Ingredients. This collaboration provides product developers with a natural, high-performing, clean-label texurising solution, while helping to tackle global food waste.

A natural texturiser with added nutritional appeal

Givaudan has announced an agreement to distribute a unique upcycled Green Banana Powder ingredient produced by Dole Specialty Ingredients (DSI), a business unit under Dole Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd.

Texture is one of the keys to creating a complete and enjoyable multisensorial food experience. Green Banana Powder can serve as an effective replacement for gum, pectin and modified starches in applications like soups and sauces. It can also increase the softness of baked goods and enhance the mouthfeel of extruded snacks. Packed with fruit content, Green Banana Powder adds fibre and nutritional appeal to products along with the desired texture and mouthfeel.

“Texture isn’t just a sensation, it’s an essential element that shapes how we experience food – from the creaminess of a sauce to the crispness of a snack. With our Sense Texture solutions, we’re not only delivering clean-label alternatives but also elevating the eating experience with natural, upcycled ingredients like Green Banana Powder. This collaboration with Dole allows us to offer high performing products that also contribute to a more sustainable food system.”

Sylvain Jouet, Global Product Manager Sense Texture, Taste & Wellbeing

Tackling food waste

Each year, an estimated 30-40% of bananas worldwide are wasted because they don’t meet quality standards.¹ Consumer research has shown that 81% of global consumers say it’s important to avoid food waste², and 51% of consumers who find upcycled ingredients appealing would like to see an upcycled certificate on food products.³ Made exclusively from upcycled green bananas, Green Banana Powder offers an innovative way to address food waste concerns. The new agreement positions Givaudan as the partner of choice for food developers seeking upcycled, clean-label alternatives to synthetic texturisers.

“By transforming unripe bananas into Green Banana Powder, we not only help reduce food waste but also create an ingredient that can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of food applications. This allows us to drive more sustainable supply chains while offering consumers the healthier choices they’re looking for.”

Wei Tze Ooi, Managing Director, Dole Specialty Ingredients (DSI)

Given that Green Banana Powder is a recognisable and functional ingredient with a secure supply chain, this collaboration is poised to make an impact at scale. Givaudan will be the exclusive commercial collaborator for DOLE® Green Banana Powder in key market countries in Europe and the Americas while the ingredient can be used in Givaudan solutions around the world.

About Givaudan

Givaudan is a global leader in Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing. We celebrate the beauty of human experience by creating for happier, healthier lives with love for nature. Together with our customers we deliver food experiences, craft inspired fragrances and develop beauty and wellbeing solutions that make people look and feel good. In 2023, Givaudan employed 16,260 people worldwide and achieved CHF 6.9 billion in sales with a free cash flow of 13.3%. With a heritage that stretches back over 250 years, we are committed to driving long-term, purpose-led growth by improving people’s health and happiness and increasing our positive impact on nature. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Discover more at www.givaudan.com

About Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing

Powered by innovation and creativity, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing aims to shape the future of food by becoming the co-creation partner of choice to its customers. Built on its global leadership position in flavours and taste, the Company goes beyond to create food experiences that do good and feel good, for body, mind and planet. With an expanded portfolio of products across flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions and a deep knowledge of the food ecosystem, Givaudan’s passion is to collaborate with customers and partners to develop game changing innovations in food and beverage. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Learn more about how we are shaping the future of food at www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing

Never miss a Swiss food innovation morsel.

Latest News

Valley partner and Swiss startup, Voltiris, a leader in solar energy solutions for greenhouses, has successfully closed a CHF 4.8 million seed financing round to accelerate the electrification of high-tech greenhouses – a fast-growing $60 billion market. The round was co-led by the Swiss venture capital firm EquityPitcher Ventures and 3M Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of 3M Company, joined by the Climate Tech VC fund Satgana and several prominent family offices, reflecting strong support from key opinion leaders.

The new funds will accelerate large-scale commercialization and further performance optimization of the proprietary spectral filtering technology – driving ROI for growers in times where energy independence and decarbonization are more valuable than ever.

Nicolas Weber, Co-Founder & CEO of Voltiris, expressed his enthusiasm for the next stages of the company’s growth, stating, “This funding marks a pivotal moment for Voltiris as we expand our commercial footprint across key European markets including Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. We are also excited to continue enhancing our technological edge, making solar-powered greenhouses a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture.”

The funding will catalyze Voltiris’ capacity to execute confirmed projects in key markets, reinforcing its position at the forefront of the agrivoltaic industry. The company is also set to expand its team in Switzerand and the Netherlands, enriching expertise in agronomy, solar project development, and sales.

“With this new round of funding, Voltiris is poised to scale operations significantly,” added Sascha Horrig, Founding Partner at EquityPitcher. “We are excited to support their journey together with the global leader 3M to elevate and broaden the integration of agronomy and solar energy.”

Over the past two years, Voltiris has reached significant milestones, including 12 commercial projects with renowned growers in Europe, partnerships with leading energy utilities like Elektra Baselland and Romande Energie, and multiple industry awards.

These achievements attest to the practical and economic benefits of the spectral filtering technology, which not only allows for efficient solar energy production on top of the most light-sensitive crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, but also improves the greenhouse climate, contributing to healthier crop growth and resilience.

Voltiris

Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Voltiris develops the first solar modules compatible with greenhouse agriculture and their crops. Leveraging spectral filtering technology, Voltiris transmits to crops the essential light components for photosynthesis, while the ‘unused’ spectral elements are filtered and directed towards solar panels. Voltiris allows growers to leverage their greenhouse surfaces to generate the clean, competitive, and independent energy they need to transition to a carbon-free electrification.

www.voltiris.com

Never miss a Swiss food innovation morsel.

Latest News

Valley partner, Givaudan, a global leader in flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions, has announced a new collaboration with Moonshot Pirates, a dynamic movement of young leaders and changemakers. The “Shape the Future” Challenge will inspire Gen Z consumers to imagine the alternative protein experience of the future and come up with new solutions that do not mimic meat, fish or dairy but reflect their key priorities – affordability, nutrition and convenience.

To date, The Moonshot Pirates have received applications from around 1,000 young innovators, aged 15 to 24, from across the globe. Participants are encouraged to develop ground-breaking alternative protein concepts that are sustainable, nutritious, affordable and delicious.

Flavio Garofalo, Growth Platform Director Culinary & Plant Attitude, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing commented: “We are thrilled to collaborate with young leaders globally to drive alternative protein innovations that challenge conventional norms and deliver unforgettable, multi-sensory food experiences. We eagerly anticipate igniting fresh and creative ideas, ultimately inspiring and co-creating the next generation of delicious consumer products centered around alternative proteins with our customers.”

Finalists in the “Shape the Future” Challenge will present their ideas in a virtual, live-streamed pitch to a jury of experts on the 9th January 2025. The winners will enjoy an exclusive visit to MISTA, an innovation platform for the food industry based in San Francisco, which Givaudan has established along with other industry partners. More encompassing than an incubator or accelerator, MISTA is an optimiser, enabling start-ups and established corporations to optimise ideas, products, people and investments. There, the Challenge winners will gain valuable insights into alternative protein development, and how to optimise ideas, products, people and investments.

“Over the years, we’ve witnessed how collaborating with the next generation of innovators brings in fresh ideas and unique perspectives that can truly drive change. These young, digital natives are passionate about sustainability and the future, so it’s exciting to see companies like Givaudan appreciate the value of these partnerships,” said Aneta Londa, Co-Founder of Moonshot Pirates. “We’re thrilled to partner with Givaudan to explore the future of alternative proteins and develop solutions that contribute to a healthier, more sustainable food system.”

Givaudan will support this project by providing nine expert mentors and exploring opportunities to scale up promising product innovations that emerge from the Challenge. The collaboration will also harness Givaudan’s global innovation ecosystem, bringing in the company’s experts, technologies and integrated portfolio of solutions to address the taste, sense, and nutritional challenges of alternative protein applications.

About Givaudan

Givaudan is a global leader in Fragrance & Beauty and Taste & Wellbeing. We celebrate the beauty of human experience by creating for happier, healthier lives with love for nature. Together with our customers we deliver food experiences, craft inspired fragrances and develop beauty and wellbeing solutions that make people look and feel good. In 2023, Givaudan employed 16,260 people worldwide and achieved CHF 6.9 billion in sales with a free cash flow of 13.3%. With a heritage that stretches back over 250 years, we are committed to driving long-term, purpose-led growth by improving people’s health and happiness and increasing our positive impact on nature. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Discover more at www.givaudan.com

About Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing

Powered by innovation and creativity, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing aims to shape the future of food by becoming the co-creation partner of choice to its customers. Built on its global leadership position in flavours and taste, the Company goes beyond to create food experiences that do good and feel good, for body, mind and planet. With an expanded portfolio of products across flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions and a deep knowledge of the food ecosystem, Givaudan’s passion is to collaborate with customers and partners to develop game changing innovations in food and beverage. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Learn more about how we are shaping the future of food at www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing

Never miss a Swiss food innovation morsel.

Latest News

On 4th December 2024, Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, together with Valley partner The Cultured Hub brought together Swiss and international experts to explore the state of the industry and discuss how to collaborate to capitalise on opportunities for growth.

The cultured meat market is estimated to grow at a rate of almost 52% a year from 2023 to 2030.^[1] Cultured food could offer consumers products that taste and feel like the animal-based original, with a reduced environmental and animal welfare impact^[2] and improved food security. Despite this potential, barriers to scaling remain.

Yesterday, The Cultured Hub – a newly launched state-of-the-art biotech facility and scale-up platform created by Migros, Givaudan, and Bühler Group – teamed up with Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, to co-host an event to explore the state of the industry. State of Play: Cultured Foods 2.0 brought together Swiss and international experts to discuss how to collaborate to capitalise on opportunities for growth.

Creating the conditions: from policy to product

The event’s morning sessions set the stage with insights into Switzerland’s vision in this space, legal developments, and the global trends shaping the industry. Speakers included Yannick Gächter from The Cultured Hub, Ralph Langholz from the Swiss Protein Association, Carlotte Lucas from The Good Food Institute Europe and Illtud Dunsford, CEO and CoFounder of Cellular Agriculture Ltd, who collectively painted a comprehensive picture of the opportunities and challenges in the cultured food landscape.

“As one of the world’s most innovative nations, Switzerland is well positioned to play a key role in scaling cultured foods,” said Yannick Gächter, CEO of The Cultured Hub. “Our jointly developed facility embodies the collaborative spirit of the Swiss food ecosystem. By bringing together the right partners, our technology platform also enables startups to tap into centuries of experience in food processing, product development, production, marketing and market launches, allowing them to scale up faster and minimise capital investment.”

Innovative solutions to produce cultured foods at scale

In the afternoon, participants heard from Simona Fehlmann, CEO and Co-Founder of Swiss start-up sallea. Founded in November 2023 as a spin-off from leading Swiss university ETH Zurich, her team recently secured $2.6 million in a pre-seed round to support the development of its plant-based “scaffolds” for better texture and nutritional profiles in cultured meat products.

Commenting on their journey so far, Simona said, “Setting up in Switzerland has helped us to position as a leading scaffold provider for cellular agriculture. Switzerland is not only home to global companies like Nestlé, Bühler and Givaudan with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the food sector, it also has a strong pool of talent, which is essential to any startup’s growth.”

Collaboration is at the heart of progress

The day ended with fascinating inputs from Christine Schäfer from the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute about the role of consumer acceptance, and an inspiring keynote speech by Ira van Eelen, the daughter of Willem van Eelen, the “Godfather of cultured meat”.

Today, as Cofounder of RESPECTfarms and and Board Member of Cellulaire Agricultuur Nederland, Ira shared her experience of tasting cultured products all over the globe and how, through RESPECTfarms, she’s working in partnership with the Swiss Farmers’ Union to explore new business models that ensure benefits for stakeholders across the value chain.

Reflecting on the event, Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley CEO, Christina Senn-Jakobsen concluded: “Collaboration is at the heart of progress. By bringing the Swiss ecosystem together with leading international experts, we can better spot potential hurdles and find new ways to propel the cultured food industry forwards.”

About Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley

Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley (SFNV) is a not-for-profit association founded in 2020 that strengthens and promotes food system innovation, both within Switzerland and across the globe. Our diverse network of Valley partners – from global companies, universities, innovation accelerators to government bodies, SMEs and startups – collaborate to address the most pressing challenges in food, agriculture and nutrition, and co-create innovative solutions that drive better planetary and human health.

Follow the Valley on Linkedin

About The Cultured Hub

The Cultured Hub collaborates with a global network of start-ups to find answers to the food industry’s most pressing questions and develop foods of the future. The Cultured Hub enables start-ups in the cultivated foods sector to reach industrial manufacturing more quickly and cost-effectively. The organization’s aim is to accelerate the development of sustainable proteins – specifically cultivated meat, fish, seafood, and precision fermentation products – by providing state-of-the-art scale-up facilities, cutting-edge technologies, expert guidance, and an extensive network.

www.theculturedhub.com

Never miss a Swiss food innovation morsel.

Latest News