The aim of the roundtable was to link companies and science from both regions and to initiate partnerships. Experts from both regions reported on the latest innovations in research and business. Numerous Israeli and Bavarian startups were also given the opportunity to present their pitches to the corporate participants.
The event was organized by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs in cooperation with Nutrition Cluster, aHEU - Regional Marketing Strategies and the Bavarian Office in Israel.
The presentations of the experts showed that the new generation of alternative protein sources has already arrived in society. A health-conscious diet and a modern lifestyle are the drivers for the consumption of alternative products. There is also especially great potential in the area of vegetable protein products, in addition to the products in the cultured meat sector to be expected in the future.
Startups and venture capital companies are accelerating transformation in the food sector. The new segment also offers many new opportunities for established companies and retailers. The growth here is already enormous. The Good Food Institute Israel, an independent research institute in the field of alternative proteins, reports an annual growth rate of 154% in the industry in Israel.
The Israeli research and innovation ecosystem has made itself a name as a hub for alternative protein activities. The sector is growing in Israel, and Israeli actors are looking for cooperation partners.
There are still many challenges in the industry: Taste and price are the key determinants for plant-based foods and feeds to continue to make a break-through. There is still a great need for research, which is being conducted at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Bavaria and at Tel Hai College in Israel, for example. Likewise, food laws need to be revised to account for novel foods.
Cooperation is the key to successful participation in megatrends. Israel and Bavaria are excellent partners in many fields. Our office in Tel Aviv is happy to assist Bavarian and Israeli companies in finding and establishing contacts.