Gama spoke to Yannick Verry, Brand Director, ahead of the latest edition of Fi Europe.
What are your expectations for this year’s FI Europe? What features are there for consumers to look forward to?
Fi Europe is gearing up for its biggest and best year ever. From 19th-21st November 2024, Messe Frankfurt will host the leading global event for food and beverage ingredients. More than 1,500 exhibitors and a programme of expert presentations will showcase innovation, share insights and foster business relationships. Over 25,000 visitors from 135 countries are expected to attend and exhibitors will include Cargill, ABF Ingredients Group, Prinova, Brenntag Holding GmbH, Azelis and Fonterra.
The main show arena will feature exhibitors from across the full F&B ingredients spectrum including, for the first time ever, a Petfood Suppliers Hub where visitors can explore the latest ingredients and technologies for pet nutrition. The health ingredients area is dedicated to functional F&B ingredients with proven health benefits. And the expanded Food Technology Zone is a one-stop destination for those seeking practical and innovative ways to optimise their supply chain and future-proof their operations, from R&D to delivery.

Read this Tradeshow Look Ahead in the latest issue of Gama News.
Technology (for instance cultured and fermented protein) is playing an ever more prominent role in food and drink manufacture. What future do you see for these and other ‘high-technology’ production methods in the ingredients space?
Technological advancement and digital innovation are having a transformative effect on the food and beverage ingredients industry, with everything from lab-grown meat to vertical farming, to artificial intelligence (AI)-led ingredient discovery poised for rapid growth in the years to come. Tech-led innovations like these are critical in addressing global challenges like food security and sustainability, especially as the world aims to feed 10 billion people by 2050.
AI is transforming ingredient discovery, development and reformulation, making processes more efficient, affordable and targeted. Cultured and fermented proteins, which decouple food production from traditional resources like land and water, will play a vital role in creating sustainable food systems of the future.
As the ‘food as medicine’ concept gains momentum, these technologies will also support the development of health-oriented products, potentially dramatically reducing healthcare costs and boosting the wellbeing and longevity of billions of consumers worldwide. Undoubtedly, the intersection of data, AI and food technology will continue to drive innovation in the years ahead, enabling the industry to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly health-conscious global population.
Attendees who wish to understand the impact of these developments should attend the Future of Nutrition Summit which will take place a day before Fi Europe on 18th November.
What other trends have been impacting the consumer goods landscape in 2024, and how should ingredients companies respond?
In 2024, several key trends are shaping the food ingredients landscape, most notably the demand for products that support health and wellbeing, as well as plant-based alternatives to conventional animal-derived ingredients and products.
The growing consumer focus on health and wellbeing has amplified the demand for products that not only limit exposure to so-called ‘dietary evils’ like sugar, salt and fat but also offer functional benefits, such as supporting cognitive, emotional, and metabolic health. ‘Food as medicine’ is rapidly gaining traction worldwide, with consumers seeking foods that contribute to long-term health and promote the prevention of illness and disease, rather than merely treating health conditions retrospectively. Ingredient and finished product manufacturers should respond by innovating with active ingredients that cater to these health-conscious consumers and integrating evidence-based nutritional science into their product offerings.
Additionally, the rise of plant-based and alternative proteins continues to reshape the F&B market, driven by rising environmental, health, and ethical concerns. Consumers are increasingly adopting plant-based diets, pushing the demand for tastier, healthier, cheaper, and more sustainable alternatives to conventional animal-based products. Brands should focus on developing and scaling up methods of plant-based food production such as precision fermentation and cell-cultivation to meet this demand.
It is also essential that companies stay informed about regulatory changes, particularly in the EU, which are likely to dramatically impact various stages of the supply chain such as labelling, sourcing, marketing and product development. Embracing these trends will allow companies to align with consumer expectations and maintain competitiveness in the ever-evolving market.
About Fi Europe
Food ingredients Europe has been uniting the world’s leading food & beverage suppliers, buyers, R&D experts and production specialists for over 35 years. Originally taking place biennially in a major European city, it now operates annually in conjunction with Health ingredients Europe. Each year, it showcases a diverse range of innovative, new ingredients & services and over its lifespan, has welcomed more than 500,000 people through its doors.
Fi Europe 2024 | The Leading Global Event For Food Ingredients (figlobal.com)