Food Matters Live Rotterdam: AI, sensory, and personalization take center stage

Food Matters Live is bringing its first edition to the Netherlands, September 23 and 24, in Rotterdam at the Ahoy Convention Centre, following the success of its UK and Irish events over the past decade.

The interactive event addresses the future of sustainable food nutrition through the lens of hands-on product development. Closed sessions will shed light on food formulation, consumer trends, regulation, and nutrition to spark collaboration and inspiration. Highlights include sustainable palm oil, mastering mouthfeel, and AI technologies, among a swath of other topics. 

“The biggest challenges the industry faces can’t be solved individually,” Briony Mansell-Lewis, managing director of the event, tells Food Ingredients First. “They require a multi-stakeholder approach, and we help by providing the platform for people to find beneficial partnerships.”

Blending elements of a conference and innovative exhibits, the “confex” brings together more than 750 pre-qualified industry professionals. Its core elements include industry speakers, NPD discovery, and its signature “Tastes of Better” program.

On-stage talks will break out into roundtable discussions, where attendees can delve into particular topics, tailor the issues to their own challenges, and get real expert guidance from hosts. 

From abstract to concrete ideas

More than 100 international speakers across two stages are slated for the two-day event. Among them, Lu Ann Williams, global SVP of research at Innova Market Insights, will share the context and drivers behind sustainable innovation in times of scarcity.

“Coffee and cocoa are impacted by climate change, and prices have risen sharply. Will consumers accept this and pay higher prices to enjoy these products, or will they change their behavior?” Williams asks Food Ingredients First. “ There are opportunities to meet consumer demands in all these changes.” 

She adds that she will share real-life ways companies can respond with tools like regenerative agriculture, upcycling, and packaging. But ultimately, the focus on ingredients is set to drive upcoming innovation.

“‘Ingredients’ have been at the top of Innova’s top ten trends for the past two years, and consumer focus on ingredients continues. It’s never been a more interesting or important time for anyone involved in ingredient or product innovation to understand what consumers are looking for in their products.” 

Mariette Abrahams, founder of Qina, will speak on AI. She is one of over 100 international presenters. Health is top of mind

Positive nutrition will also be addressed as a mega trend inextricably linked to food development today. Mariette Abrahams, founder of personalized nutrition platform Qina, will present on a panel discussion on how the world of nutrition is evolving and how AI is being leveraged across the food industry.

She will host two roundtables, sharing market insights, trends, and innovations on how consumers use AI to inform their lifestyle and dietary decisions. She will also provide practical tips on “how to leverage AI without a huge budget and avoid being left behind.”

“I have been in the personalized nutrition industry for over a decade now, and this year feels like there is a fundamental shift. We are at an inflection point in the industry where food is health, and the shift toward data-driven prevention and personalization can no longer be ignored.”  

Abrahams predicts new health formulations will blur the boundaries between food and pharma in the years ahead. “We will see more launches of complementary foods to treatment, and we will also have more integration of food & beverage companies with digital tools.” 

Nard Clabbers, founder of NCNC Nutrition consultancy, who will also speak at the event, agrees that the interaction of nutrition, technology, data, and health will ultimately shape the future of nutrition. He suggests these factors are transforming value chains and business models.

“The change has been slow, much slower than we all anticipated, but it’s happening right under our noses, and companies need to prepare and be ready.” 

Selected showcases

The event’s signature program, “Tastes of Better,” presents in-depth ingredient innovation from five key partners: AAK, Agrana Fruit, Daabon, Ingredion, and Tate & Lyle.

Through these hour-long closed sessions, these key companies will demonstrate how they’re facing and solving particular challenges related to health, sustainability, sensory obstacles, and clean label formulation. 

Gabriela Bocchi, Europe marketing manager at AAK, says the company will showcase how sustainable choices begin with better ingredients.

“We’ll be unfolding what ‘better’ truly means: not just in terms of sensory appeal and performance, but also in how ingredients can drive sustainability forward.” 

“Through our engaging presentation and delicious product samples crafted with our carefully selected oils and fats, we’ll demonstrate how brands can go beyond compliance, meet ambitious targets, and deliver exceptional results.” 

Tastes of Better sessions are specialized one-hour-long showcases designed for product development, technical, and innovation professionals.Bocchi stresses that the food and beverage industry is at a pivotal moment, with consumers demanding more transparency, responsibility, and impact from brands they trust.

“At the same time, regulatory landscapes are evolving rapidly. That’s why elevating sustainability without compromising on taste or functionality is more critical than ever.”  

Finally, the carefully curated NPD discovery zone will provide a boon of inspiration, says Mansell-Lewis. “The term ‘new product development discovery’ is one that we take quite seriously. We have found truly innovative ingredient suppliers, including those using novel AI tools and companies doing new things with sensory research.”  

Cross-pollinating a growing industry

Beyond the discovery of ingredients and products, attendees themselves will provide a bounty of inspiration.

“Food Matters Live offers a dynamic space for meaningful conversations. The format encourages real dialogue, and we’re looking forward to exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge, and discovering new ways better ingredients can support the industry,” says Bocchi.

“It’s not just about showcasing what we do, it’s about listening, learning, and co-creating better solutions.”

Innova Market Insights’ Williams adds that she’s keen to reconnect with familiar faces at the event. “There are a lot of people I don’t see often listed in the program. I am looking forward to catching up and asking my cocktail question — tell me something that will surprise me. I am looking forward to some surprises.”