On January 27th 2022 we participated at the Branchentreffpunkt für Getränke und Lebensmittelwirtschaft, which was organized by the Wirtschaftsförderung Mönchengladbach (WFMG). Simplified, the WFMG is a limited liability company whose primary goal is to secure or create new jobs in the region of Mönchengladbach and the surrounding area by supporting new products or Start-Up´s ideas in their early stages, e.g., by networking with suitable partners or by helping to find investors.
The event was of interest to GENAWIF because natural substances from plants are key ingredients in beverages and food. A good opportunity for those who want to innovate in this kind of industry is certainly the SMART Food Factory, which was presented by Ms. Martina Sokolowski and Ms. Imke Weishaupt. This is a kind of research factory conceived around digitalization in food production. It is worth a look for innovators in the food sector, as there will be experimental areas to test or design prototypes or processes for new food products.
We also learned some current novelties on the topic of alternative ingredients in food. For example, in a presentation by Professor Sabine Kühn of the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences from the Department of Ecotrophology, several new foods with alternative protein sources were presented, based for example on chickpeas or insects. However, ecotrophology also deals with the sensory impressions that new foods must have to be attractive and tasty for consumers, i.e. an organoleptic assessment. Organoleptic is the technical term for the aspects of food that perceived via the senses, that is: taste, sight, smell, and touch.
In short, and although it had to take place online due to Corona, it was a good networking event, where cooperation opportunities were explored through lively discussions between the participants after the presentations.
By the way, we became aware of this event, for which one could simply register without a participation fee, from a news article on the homepage of FOODHUB NRW.
Jan Borlinghaus, 10.02.2022
