Future FoodTech Festival 2021: Uncover Breakthrough Food Innovations in Southeast Asia

Journey to the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and in support of UN FAO World Food Forum and TFF Global Summit 2021

7 September 2021 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Thought For Food Southeast Asia Regional Hub announces the 2021 Future FoodTech Festival, taking place this November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This highly-anticipated event will introduce the exciting, delicious and innovative foods that are helping to build a more inclusive and sustainable food system across Southeast Asia and the world. The Future FoodTech Festival will combine important conversations about the changing food industry, while showcasing the latest and greatest alternative proteins and plant-based foods.

The 6-day Future FoodTech Festival starting from 4 November to 9 November 2021 is scheduled to take center stage in the famous foodie city of Kuala Lumpur on 6-7 November 2021 at the Publika Kuala Lumpur, and in partnership with UEM Sunrise. It is free and open to the public.

Rising concern about food security has triggered the search for alternative, sustainable sources of food and nutrition. This hybrid premier event showcases that the development of a technologically-advanced and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture industry will be the key to resolving the many issues that we currently face in the Southeast Asia region, such as unemployment, food scarcity, rising cost of living, poverty, malnutrition, climate change, and environmental degradation. These issues have opened up alternative pathways to nutrition sensitive and sustainable food production, including the development of alternative proteins.

The Festival seeks to spark discussion on 3 broad focuses:

• Food and innovation that will deliver safer and tastier products;
• Concerns over climate change and the environment caused by current world food production systems;
• Greater access to a lifestyle that includes nutritious, safe and ethically-produced foods.

 “The Future FoodTech Festival will be the ultimate gateway to showing us that food does not just play an important role in nourishing our bodies – it can change the wellbeing of Earth forever. It will show how existing and future food innovations can lead to food sustainability and better health for everyone. Through this event, collectively, we will create a critical disruption in food innovations and power up the supply chain by discovering the changing consumer trends and waves to reshape the agri-food sector, while being the catalyst of the change, too” Tun Dr Abdul Daim Zainuddin, Patron of FFF2021, Distinguished Senior Advisor of TFF Southeast Asia Regional Hub and former Finance Minister of Malaysia.

The festival will bring together FMCG & CPG leaders, young agropreneurs, researchers, investors, food ingredient developers, retailers and food service providers to power up the unlimited possibilities of innovation and breakthrough technologies, and co-create the enabling eco system and supply chain to scale up innovative solutions of next-gen alternative proteins, as well as to heighten the public awareness of alternative proteins and promote the education of future foodtech.

“With the growing urgency of the impact of food systems on climate, health and nutrition, and the environment, there is never a better time than now to come together to focus on the right path forward.  We are delighted that the Festival has received support from passionate and responsible stakeholders united by a common goal” Tan Sri Professor Dr. Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim, Organising Chair of FFF2021 and Distinguished Senior Advisor of TFF Southeast Asia Regional Hub.

The Future FoodTech Festival is a key part of the journey to the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) that is focused on #TogetherForOurPlanet and #OneStepGreener. The event also supports the outcomes of the World Food Forum and TFF Global Summit 2021, which will take place the month before in Rome, Italy on 2 October 2021.

“Food is inextricably linked to climate, and connecting the 2021 Future FoodTech Festival the global momentum happening this year in the lead up to COP-26 will amplify the importance of Southeast Asia’s food system and innovation potential for meeting the needs of the world’s rapidly-growing population, projected to reach 10 billion by 2050,” stated Christine Gould, TFF Founder & CEO and Advisor of FFF2021.

This festival is supported by illustrious Advisors of prominent Malaysian leaders – Mr. James Beltran, Deputy Chairman of Melewar Holdings; Mrs. Angelia Chin Sharpe, CEO & Country Head Malaysia with BNP Paribas Asset Management; Professor Datuk Dr Paul T. H. Chan, Vice Chancellor, President & Co-Founder, Help University.

We anticipate a high degree of participation from governments, investors, NGOs, academic institutions, and private companies, in which they can use their influence, financing, and expertise to accelerate the success of the alternative protein industry. If you would like to get involved as a sponsor or partner, please contact Mrs. Melissa Ong at melissa@thoughtforfood.org.