This November, we’re going back to the future, with the third annual installment of Food Loves Tech.
Taking place on November 2 and 3 at Industry City, the first-of-its-kind education-by-entertainment expo will focus on how technology’s changing the way we cultivate and consume food.
The weekend will feature tastings, thought leadership panels, dining experiences and immersive, thematic installations, allowing exhibitors and attendees alike to dig in and get granular, on issues affecting the food and agriculture space.
So here’s what to expect at 2018’s Food Loves Tech:
In the Field: Food Loves Tech doesn’t merely focus on cool gadgets and gizmos. The overriding theme is innovation, and how it affects societal, environmental and economic change. In the food world, that pertains to advancements in sustainability, composting and organics, which is why you’ll find industry trailblazers like AeroFarms and Smallhold presenting in this arena, deep diving into topics like hydroponics and vertical farming.
In the Sea: Addressing many of the same concerns as “In the Field” but unique to the sea solutions, this section will examine issues such as overfishing and water pollution. Leading the charge to create a healthier marine ecosystem is Manna Fish Farms, which, using submersible cage technologies, is on track to becoming the first open ocean wild finfish farm in federal waters. They’ll be joined by pioneers like the Billion Oyster Project, which is working to restore New York’s vital (and once abundant) oyster population.
In Good Health: Showcasing products and services that harness the power of food for health, look for Fresh Med, which combines conventional and functional medicine, complemented by clinical nutrition and coaching, and Food Print, which helps hospitality operations integrate zero-waste practices into their buildings and processes.
In the Home: Sporting a full kitchen built out by GE Appliances, notable brands (HelloFresh, Innit) and chefs (Tyler Florence, Sam Kass) will occupy this space, offering ticket holders a glimpse of the kitchen of the future and how technology is shaping the way we cook and eat at home.
In the City: Concurrently, “In the City” examines the influence of innovation in restaurants, via companies like Chowbotics, which automates repetitive tasks, and Farmshelf, which structures indoor farms for eateries and hotels. Additionally, Gramercy Tavern will stage a pop-up, offering experiential insight through forward-thinking food and drink.
Incubator Alley: Consider this expo of up-and-comers a peek into the future of the future of food, with participants including PieShell (a community and crowdfunding platform for culinary entrepreneurs) and Chobani Incubator, which aims to take on the big guys by aiding small companies to improve broken systems and make a difference through food.
Bazaar: Getting hungry yet? Thankfully, “Bazaar” offers a veritable smorgasbord of cutting-edge food producers, such as Seek, which crafts protein snacks from crickets, and Wünder Creamery, which celebrates that probiotic-packed superdairy, quark. Media partner Feedfeed will also occupy a demo kitchen, bringing in chefs and influencers to highlight the social side of tech.
On the Horizon: Together with brands like Tyson, Toast Ale, Loacker and Bread Alone, as well as charity partner, Rethink—which will recover and repurpose food from the event to give to those in need and help ensure Food Loves Tech remains zero waste—this district will use AR and VR to explore how tech can be used in the effort to combat food excess.
Attendees can also stop by the Innovator Circle Lounge—a networking space for industry and entrepreneurs—with an Innovator or Innovator Plus Pass, or purchase tickets to the Future of the Cocktail, which will kick the whole weekend off on Friday, November 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. But in addition to entry to the eight interactive exhibits, all visitors are promised access to acclaimed chefs like Bill Telepan (Oceana) and Sohui Kim (The Good Fork), and dozens of expert speakers, including Jack Algiere (Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture), Viraj Puri (Gotham Greens) and Danielle Nierenberg (Food Tank), and informative panels such as “What’s the Future of Urban Agriculture?” and “Will Grocery Stores Go Extinct?”—all helping to bring the conversation about innovation to edible, illuminating life.
So be sure to grab your tickets now, because the future has never looked brighter in food.
