Foodeast Haumako presents the inaugural Fermentation for Future Food Summit
Date: Thursday 11 September
Time: 8.30am – 3.30pm
Address: 4 Hanui Road, Tomoana, Hastings 4172
The future of food starts here.
How will we feed the world in the decades ahead? As pressure mounts on traditional agriculture and global food systems, novel fermentation is gaining serious momentum as a sustainable, scalable option for food production, and New Zealand can be at the forefront.
This one-day summit will reimagine fermentation as we know it and shine the light on its potential to help solve modern global food challenges. Novel fermentation technology is using micro-organisms to turn biomass into nutrition – efficiently, sustainably, and at scale. Replacing environmentally intensive ingredients and transforming food waste into high-value fibre protein, vitamins, and more, fermentation is rapidly becoming a game-changer in the global food tech revolution.
Join Foodeast Haumako for the inaugural Fermentation for Future Food Summit, a dynamic, one-day event bringing together the brightest minds and boldest innovators from across Aotearoa’s novel fermentation ecosystem. Together we will explore what it would take for New Zealand to play a serious role in fermentation for global markets and what’s holding us back.
The summit
Join us as we tackle the big questions and start to shape a national fermentation strategy.
We're tackling the big questions:
- How do we prove the global market for novel fermented foods?
- How can New Zealand realistically be a player in this market and what is holding us back?
- What role will gene technology legislation play in fermentation for future food?
- Can food waste power fermentation as a circular biomass input?
- What sustainable energy sources will fuel scalable fermentation?
- How can we collaborate on downstream processing and logistics across regions?
- How can we stem the loss of IP offshore by bridging the scale up chasm?
What to expect:
- Expert panels & open discussions – Hear from leading New Zealand and international researchers and food innovators
- Key research revealed – Be the first to see findings from the Hawke’s Bay F&B Fermentation Centre strategic case, conducted by Martin Jenkins.
- Collaboration in action – Explore the gaps in our fermentation supply chain and how we can work together to close the gaps and compete globally
- Commercial insights – Discuss what’s needed to unlock scale, investment, and export success for national food and beverage fermentation focussed businesses.
Who should attend?
Food innovators, fermentation start-ups, biotech entrepreneurs, food and beverage producers with by-product waste, research and development leaders, investors, sustainability champions, government agencies and policy stakeholders.
This is your chance to start to shape a national fermentation strategy that drives innovation, investment and sustainable food production — and to be part of something that puts New Zealand on the map in this space
Let’s create the future for fermented food. Secure your place at the Fermentation for Future Food Summit.
The format:
- 8.30am Registration
- 8.50am Mihi Whakatau – Ngahiwi Tomoana
- 9.00am Foodeast Haumako – Welcome and Housekeeping MC Richard Shirtcliffe & Michael Bassett Foss
- 9.10am Opening Address – Hon. Mark Patterson
- 9.30am R&D panel – what’s in the science and innovation pipeline and how can industry work with research providers to commercialise the innovation
- Moderator: Katy Bluett (Future Foods Aotearoa)
- Panel:
- Alec Foster /Scion
- David Hooks/ AgResearch
- Paul Rose/ Callaghan Innovation
- Munish Puri / Riddet Institute
- 10.30am Morning Tea
- 11.00am Investment – Richard Shirtcliffe
- 11.20am Industry Panel – what’s holding our country’s innovators back and what do they need to see commercial success
- Moderator: Jenny Brown (Callaghan Innovation)
- Panel:
- Mark Balchin / Mara Bio
- Irina Miller / Daisy Lab
- Alex Devereux / ANDFOODS
- 12.20pm Lunch
- 1.30pm Fermentation Research findings and national strategy workshop – Facilitated by Martin Jenkins
- 3.15pm Wrap up and afternoon tea
Speaker Profiles
Join the innovators shaping Aotearoa’s food fermentation ecosystem.
Our Sponsors & Partners
Please contact us if you would like to be a sponsor or exhibitor innovate@foodeast.co.nz