As the global population ages, the role of nutrition in elongating our healthy years has never been more vital.

And it’s not just about living for longer: increasingly, scientific advancements, sustainable food solutions, and personalised nutrition strategies are helping to extend human healthspan alongside lifespan.

At our Impact Forum: Nutrition & Longevity on 15 April 2025, we invited three expert speakers to discuss the field as it stands with Valley CEO Christina Senn-Jakobsen. Here’s what we learned…

Key Takeaways 

• A focus on evidence-based longevity: The discussion emphasized scientific and practical advancements in nutrition that support healthspan — the period of life spent in good health — not just lifespan. It’s not just about living longer, but about living better too. 
• Science-based innovation: Our speakers stressed the importance of developing supplements using validated mechanisms (e.g. targeting cellular aging pathways) that rely on the latest science. Plenty of companies out there are ‘health washing’ without going through the necessary clinical trials and testing. 
• Interdisciplinary insights: The session drew connections between nutrition science, food innovation, public health, and sustainable systems thinking. Looking at longevity holistically is the way forward. 
• The lines between healthcare and wellness are blurred: From telemedicine to supplements aimed at the health-conscious consumer, the field is expanding to encompass younger people with a focus on preventive measures, rather than just ‘patients’ and the elderly. Expect more personalized, tech-enabled care aimed at the public as a whole, rather than niche sub-demographics.
• Challenges remain: While the public is increasingly curious and proactive about their food choices, most ‘average’ consumers are put off by niche supplements and ‘cult-like’ brands. Another challenge is accessibility: even the best science doesn’t matter if people can’t afford or access the solutions.

Longevity as a cultural movement
Insights from Marco Borgato, Founder at Chōka, the first café concept that promotes longevity

As a result of his work, Marco deeply believes longevity is not just about living longer but performing optimally for longer, through deep self-understanding and a sustainable lifestyle. He began building a longevity protocol optimized for his unique genetics and environment, before turning this into his own business. Marco emphasized that the future of longevity lies not just in data and supplements, but in making health social, enjoyable, and integrated into everyday life. His vision moves the field from biohacking to a lifestyle revolution—longevity as culture.

Marcus shared the current industry gaps, explaining that the current longevity and biohacking community is often viewed as too niche, alienating the general public. Most people are unfamiliar with or skeptical about testing, supplements, or longevity concepts. 

To bridge the gap between early adopters and mainstream culture, Marco is working to transform longevity from a solo, supplement-focused routine into a social, accessible, and cultural movement. His longevity cafe chain will offer supplement-packed drinks made from carob, on-site non-invasive testing and personalised nutrition – all in a welcoming space.

Supplements supported by science
Insights from Sophie Chabloz, Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer, Avea

Sophie offered her insights into longevity supplements thanks to her work at Swiss supplement startup Avea: chiefly, some effective compounds (nicotinamide adenine, spermidine) do naturally decline with age and can’t be replenished through diet alone. Sophie emphasised that when it comes to nutrition and longevity, there’s growing evidence for very specific longevity molecules that can slow down ageing. 

She emphasized the importance of evidence-backed supplements – some studies show strong effects for certain molecules, while others make almost no difference. Evidence-based formulations with proper dosages are crucial. Avea, which formulated its supplements in Switzerland with science-based high quality ingredients, has conducted clinical trials and partnered with ETH Zurich on patented compounds.

Sophie shared that contamination of supplements is one challenge facing the sector. She urged consumers to look for brands that test for contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, bacteria) – Avea, for example, recently rejected a batch of berberine supplements due to mercury contamination – this delayed production but ensured their safety. Sophie concluded by reminding the audience that supplements should support, not replace, a healthy lifestyle – there’s little point in investing in more specific, tailored supplements if you’re deficient in core vitamins or following an unhealthy diet.

Bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical application
Insights from Philipp Gut, Adult Health Lead at Nestlé Research & Development 

Nestlé focuses on evidence-based innovation, using validated mechanisms (e.g., targeting cellular aging pathways) to develop supplements and fortified products. Philipp cited breakthroughs in cellular aging (e.g. senescence, mitochondrial health) as driving new supplement innovation, particularly on bioactives. Scientific backing is key, and Nestlé invests heavily in clinical trials and regulatory compliance.

Personalisation is also a major focus – and it’s going nowhere soon. Thanks to wearable tech, at-home diagnostics and AI, it is becoming ever easier to tailor interventions to individual needs. Nestlé is exploring how to integrate personal data into product recommendations and services to maximise longevity impact for its customers. However, when implementing this science into global markets, one major challenge is accessibility: even the best science doesn’t matter if people can’t afford or access the solutions. Nestlé aims to democratize health through scalable products tailored to diverse markets. 

Lastly, Philipp explained that the lines between healthcare and wellness are increasingly blurred. Consumer health and clinical care are merging: GLP-1 drugs being used for both obesity treatment and lifestyle weight management, for example, while telemedicine platforms are providing healthy people with medical-grade services. Similarly, digital tools now embed interventions (e.g. supplements, diet plans) into daily routines. Philipp sees the future of longevity as a blended, lifestyle-driven journey combining nutrition, digital health and medical insights.

Hungry for more?
Join us for our next Impact Forum on Sustainable Packaging on 8 May.

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