CLOSE
Exchange, test and challenge ideas with the innovators, allies and business targets most essential to your success in themed breakout sessions.
Running parallel to the main stage discussions, the three-day breakout programme offers valuable touch-points and focused networking as you secure valuable face time with industry leaders and new players.
Day 1: Tuesday, November 19
11:30-12:10
AGRI-TECH
AI Optimised Food Production: Data, Pattern Recognition & Assisted Decision Making
Location: Breakout Room A
With AI identified as an enabling technology for climate change adaptation, this discussion sets out to explore the potential for AI to optimise agri-food production. Bringing insights and examples from a panel of industry leaders, this discussion will investigate how AI could be implemented into agri-food systems in a more meaningful way; the importance of data quality for the accuracy and efficiency of AI systems; and the level of sophistication can we expect from future tools.
Moderator:
Elyssa Kaur Ludher, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS-YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE, Singapore
Speakers:
Eri Hayashi, President, JAPAN PLANT FACTORY ASSOCIATION, Japan
Saurav Ghosh Roy, Chief of Strategy, AGRIBAZAAR, Singapore
Devdut Dalal, Co-Founder, MITTI LABS, India
11:30-12:10
FOOD-TECH
Investing in the Food-Tech Sector: The Missed Opportunity
Location: Breakout Room B
The food system transformation presents one of the greatest investment opportunities of the 21st Century. The agri-food sector, which represents 12% of global GDP, offers numerous high-impact opportunities for driving financial returns and sustainability outcomes. Despite its potential, it remains underinvested due to factors such as an unproven track record, the complexity of the industry, and regulatory challenges.
After partnering with category changing companies (such as Planted, Agreena, Oatly, Motatos, Nicks and NewLeaf etc) in the Agri-Food sector in Europe and the US for more than 10 years, Re:food plans to release their ”Food is Investable” report, this breakout discussion presents the current investment landscape in food and agriculture, highlighting the sector’s investability per specific segments and phases in the investment landscape.
Speaker:
Peter Odemark, Co-Founder CEO & Managing Partner, RE:FOOD INVEST, Sweden
12:20 – 13:00
AGRI-TECH
Agri-Tech Investing for Resilience in Extreme Weather
Location: Breakout Room A
In the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, agriculture must evolve. So, how can agri-tech build a more resilient future for agriculture as extreme weather events disrupt food systems globally? This panel dives into the investment landscape, exploring what technologies are emerging, where capital is flowing, and how investors and innovators are working together in new ways to develop resilience and adaptation solutions. Expect an engaging discussion on the intersection of technology, investment and climate resilience.
Speakers:
Marcus Agnew, Head of Venture Studio, BEANSTALK AGTECH, Australia (Moderator)
Nicole Griffin, Head of Agribusiness, SUNRICE, Australia
Patti Chu, Head of Impact Investment, SILVERSTRAND CAPITAL, Singapore
Dale Schilling, CEO & Founder, HILLRIDGE TECHNOLOGY, Australia
13:00 Lunch Break
14:00–14:40
BLUE FOOD
Revolutions in Aquafeed: Breaking Dependencies on Carbon Intensive Aquafeed Sources
Location: Breakout Room A
As the demand for high quality nutritional aquafeed escalates, what environmentally responsible novel ingredient innovations have driven a sustainable transition away from carbon exhaustive and expensive feeds?
Speakers:
Chen Zhu, Board Member Portfolio Companies, AQUASPARK, Netherlands
Carsten Krome, Co-founder and Managing Partner, HATCH BLUE, Germany
Leo Wein, Founder, PROTENGA, Singapore
14:00–15:30
FOOD-TECH
Innovation Challenge: Next Generation Pet Food
Location: Breakout Room B
Mars and Big Idea Ventures launched an innovation challenge that aims to drive new solutions in pet food. Targeting entrepreneurs working on sustainable proteins and fats for human consumption, the innovation challenge seeks next-gen solutions that are nutritious and can support pathways to reducing carbon emissions in pet food production. The sought-after solutions include novel ingredients and processing technologies such as upcycling food waste and innovative extraction methods.
The innovation challenge provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs eager to innovate in the sustainable pet food space to receive support from industry experts and to further scale their new solutions.
Attracting entrepreneurs from both within and beyond the pet care sector, don’t miss this opportunity to see five selected finalists present their innovations.
Speakers:
Audrey Yoo, VP Business Model Innovation, MARS PETCARE, USA
Gustavo de Cerqueira, Co-Founder, BIOME MEGA, Australia
Constantin Marakhov, CEO & Co-Founder, KIDEMIS, Switzerland
Christopher Haacke, Commercial Director, MIALGAE, United Kingdom
Samyak Baid, Co-Founder, PAWSIBLE FOODS, Singapore
Prasad Nair, Head Strategic Alliances & Partnerships, STRING BIO, India
14:50–15:30
FOOD-TECH
Foodtech’s Next Phase: Building ‘First of a Kind’ (FOAK) Facilities & Securing Offtake Agreements
Location: Breakout Room A
Join Brevel for an interactive session as they explore the critical next step for maturing foodtech companies: Scaling to large scale manufacturing. Building first of a kind (FOAK) facilities is key to moving beyond lab and pilot stages, setting the foundation for mass production. Discover how FOAK financing is driven by off-take agreements with future buyers. Learn and explore how foodtech companies, investors, governments, and key industry stakeholders can collaborate to navigate this complex path and align incentives to fuel sustainable growth in the industry. During this session you will also experience a tasting of Brevel’s ingredients produced in their own FOAK facility.
Speakers:
Yonatan Golan, CEO & Co-Founder, BREVEL, Israel
Jennifer Morton, Corporate Engagement Manager, GFI APAC, Singapore
Neha Poddar, Partner, GOOD STARTUP, Singapore
Maarten Geraets, Founder, BAMBOO SHOOT, Thailand
Michele Stansfield, Co-Founder and CEO, CAULDRON, Australia
14:00–15:30
FOOD-TECH
Innovation Challenge: Next Generation Pet Food
Location: Breakout Room B
Mars and Big Idea Ventures launched an innovation challenge that aims to drive new solutions in pet food. Targeting entrepreneurs working on sustainable proteins and fats for human consumption, the innovation challenge seeks next-gen solutions that are nutritious and can support pathways to reducing carbon emissions in pet food production. The sought-after solutions include novel ingredients and processing technologies such as upcycling food waste and innovative extraction methods.
The innovation challenge provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs eager to innovate in the sustainable pet food space to receive support from industry experts and to further scale their new solutions.
Attracting entrepreneurs from both within and beyond the pet care sector, don’t miss this opportunity to see five selected finalists present their innovations.
Speakers:
Audrey Yoo, VP Business Model Innovation, MARS PETCARE, USA
Gustavo de Cerqueira, Co-Founder, BIOME MEGA, Australia
Constantin Marakhov, CEO & Co-Founder, KIDEMIS, Switzerland
Christopher Haacke, Commercial Director, MIALGAE, United Kingdom
Samyak Baid, Co-Founder, PAWSIBLE FOODS, Singapore
Prasad Nair, Head Strategic Alliances & Partnerships, STRING BIO, India
15:30 Coffee Break
Day 2: Wednesday, November 20
11:30–12:10
FOOD-TECH
Accelerating Global Food Security – Leveraging the Biomanufacturing Ecosystem
Location: Breakout Room A
Australia is on track to be one of the world leaders in deploying precision fermentation and biomanufacturing to meet the global food security challenge. Join leading industry, government and academic representatives us as we unlock the secret to leveraging outstanding research expertise, abundant feedstocks, a supportive regulatory framework, and a connected biomanufacturing slipstream focused on industrialising bio-based technologies. This session will highlight the strategic partnerships that streamline the journey from molecules to market, driving sustainable, nutrient-rich food production through a world-class research, infrastructure and commercialisation ecosystem designed to support you to build your biofuture. From the earliest stages of innovation, process engineering and scale-up, through to the first and largest end-to-end contract manufacturer for precision fermented bioproducts in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia’s slipstream can help you drive down cost, reduce environmental impact and ensure quality, safety and nutrition to deliver global food security and create a resilient food future for us all.
Speakers:
Samson Lee, Strategic Partnerships Manager, NURASA, Singapore
Crispin Howitt, Future Protein Lead, CSIRO, Australia
Michele Stansfield, Co-Founder and CEO, CAULDRON, Australia
Jolieke van der Pols, Professor, QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, Australia
Erin Rayment, Deputy-Vice Chancellor and Vice-President (Business Development), QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, Australia
11:30–12:10
BLUE FOOD
Driving Change for Asian Shrimp Aquaculture
Location: Breakout Room B
As shrimp prices across the Asia Pacific continue to stay low and the shrimp industry specifically struggles, how can the sector move from old fashioned approaches to incorporate the latest technological advancements to improve output. Join a series of leaders in the field as they explore both short term and long-term plans to support farmers in ensuring maximum yields and most effective pricing across the shrimp industry.
Speakers:
Farshad Shishehchian, Group CEO & Co-Founder, BLUE AQUA, Singapore
Antonio Garza de Yta, Chief Operating Officer, BLUE AQUA GULF, Past President, WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Mexico
Issa Mohamed Abdullah Al Farsi, Director of Aquaculture Development, MINSTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND WATER RESOURCES, Oman
Andreas von Scholten, Chief Commercial Officer, GROBEST GROUP, Singapore
12:20–13:00
FOOD-TECH
Engaging the Untapped Potential of China’s Alternative Protein Sector and Entrepreneurship
Location: Breakout Room A
Join Dao Foods for a session on leveraging China’s alternative protein market potential through external investment and innovation. The session discussion will focus on strategies minimising the risk and costs for organisations in the novel food space, while addressing marketing barriers and geopolitics. Join this session to explore building strong bilateral benefits between China, Singapore, and the broader Asia-Pacific alternative protein sector.
Moderator:
Tao Zhang, Co-founder, DAO FOODS, China
Speakers:
Ryan Xue, Chairman, CHINA PLANT-BASED FOODS ALLIANCE, China
Sharon Tay, Director Food Manufacturing & Agritech, ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE, Singapore
Tai Lin, Managing Partner, PROTERRA INVESTMENT PARTNERS ASIA, Singapore
Ted Jin, CEO & Founder, AUX LABS, Canada
Kim Odhner, Managing Partner, UNOVIS ASSET MANAGEMENT, Netherlands
12:20–13:00
FOOD-TECH
Closed-Loop Soy Innovation: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Food and Agriculture
Location: Breakout Room B
Approximately 30 tonnes of okara (soya pulp) are produced in Singapore every day. Generated from the production of soya milk and tofu, it is intolerable by humans due to its high fibre content and is often destined for landfill. However, a collaboration between key value chain players has managed to close-the-loop, transforming this food processing by-product into a range of high-value-added products for food and agricultural applications.
For this panel discussion, hear directly from the innovators who collaborated – combining sustainable resources, research, technology, and commercialization – to reveal numerous facets of the soy industry, including waste valorisation and innovative product development as well as sustainable farming and processing. Presenting a huge opportunity to create a sustainable food and agriculture system, we invite you to explore how this innovative process could be applied to your business.
Moderator:
Heng Kiang Soon, Lecturer, REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC, Singapore
Speakers:
Mauro Catellani, CEO, SOILABS, Singapore
Timothy Loh, Regional Director, S.E. Asia & Oceania, U.S. SOYBEAN EXPORT COUNCIL (USSEC), Singapore
Venus Ang, Assistant Brand Director, SUPER BEAN INTERNATIONAL, Singapore
Shafaye Ong, Community Farmer, NEE SOON SOUTH ZONE F RESIDENTS NETWORK GARDEN, Singapore
13:00 Lunch Break
14:00–14:40
AGRI-TECH
Exploring the Future Viability of Cocoa and Coffee in the Face of Climate Change
Location: Breakout Room A
Tackling industries marred by supply chain inconsistencies, how are alternative premium commodities offering a solution for the food and beverage industry to mitigate reliance on volatile commodity markets and utilise more sustainable ingredient sources.
Moderator:
Simon Newstead, Founding Partner, BETTER BITE VENTURES, Australia
Speakers:
Tal Govrin, CEO & Co-founder, KOKOMODO, Israel
Stephane Chen, Co-founder, ANOTHER FOOD, Singapore
Fay Choo, Asia Cocoa Director, MARS, Singapore
Ramrada Ninnad, Head of Sustainability, MAE FAH LUANG FOUNDATION, Thailand
14:00–14:40
AGRI-TECH
Inclusive Finance for Smallholders in Blue & Green Food Systems
Location: Breakout Room B
A major barrier faced by smallholder farmers when adopting new technologies and sustainable practices is limited access to finance. Food systems have long been hindered by fragmented, manual financial processes, with farmers, agribusinesses, and food corporates often working in isolation. Our session will explore how impact credit and agri-fintech innovations are revolutionizing access to finance across blue (aquaculture, seaweed) and green (agriculture, rice) value chains in Asia, addressing systemic challenges such as gender inequity, land ownership barriers, and the need for data-driven credit and insurance solutions.
We will spotlight innovative “aggregator” business models—trusted entities that have the social license to empower smallholders while simultaneously driving environmental and social impact. By improving practices and fostering collaboration, these aggregators are achieving measurable outcomes that benefit both people and ecosystems, from reducing pollution in coastal areas to promoting soil regeneration in farming regions. The session will also discuss opportunities for scaling these solutions through partnerships with banks, investors, and development finance institutions.
Moderator:
Fred Puckle Hobbs, Co-Founder, TATHVA, Singapore
Speakers:
Patrick Davenport, Co-Founder & Deputy CEO, BRM AGRO, Cambodia
Nick Hill, Co-Founder & CEO, COAST4C, Philippines
Paolin Pascot, Co-founder & CEO, AGRYCO, France
Bambang Cahyo Susilo, Chief Financial Officer, ERATANI, Indonesia
Su-E Yap, Director of Corporate engagement, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, Singapore
14:50–15:30
AGRI-TECH
Agricultural Bio-Inputs: Sustainable Yield Enhancement for Traditional and Urban Farming
Location: Breakout Room A
As climate change disrupts food production, crop yield and food security are critical challenges we face. A recent report on the Global Commission on the Economics of water released on the 17th Oct 2024 also highlighted that disruptions of the water cycle due to climate change are already affecting more than 50% of global food production.
While chemical-based inputs have dominated agriculture for the past century, innovation in biological-inputs (bio-inputs) has the potential to replace agrochemicals partially or completely, and more importantly to enhance crop yield while reducing water take.
This roundtable session invites farmers, industry leaders, academia to discuss how to accelerate the development and adoption of bio-inputs, identify key challenges of implementation and explore collaborative partnerships among stakeholders in areas related to water, nutrients, seedling/crops, circular bio-farming practices, and feed.
Speakers:
William Chen, Professor, NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, and Director, SINGAPORE AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION LAB (SAIL), Singapore
Lam Yeng Ming, Professor and Chair of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, Singapore
Loc Phan, Founder and Managing Director, VIETNAM FOOD, Vietnam
Laura Van de Kreeke, Farmer, GROWY, Netherlands
Bala Tam, Sustainability Consultant, ALIYAH RIZQ FARM, Malaysia
14:50–15:30
BLUE FOOD
Scaling Blue Carbon: Innovations Strengthening Sustainable Agri-Food and Climate Strategies
Location: Breakout Room B
As the race towards net-zero intensifies, blue carbon technologies offer promising pathways to regenerate marine ecosystems and enhance global food security. This session will focus on innovative solutions that not only sequester carbon but also revitalize agrifood systems. Explore the intersection of technology, investment, and policy as experts discuss how these marine-based strategies can scale in the Asia-Pacific region.
Moderator:
Peter Green, Seaweed Projects Manager and Advisor, HATCH BLUE, UK
Speakers:
Yamato Adachi, Senior Manager, IDEMITSU HOLDINGS, Japan
Oori Weisshaus, VP Innovation, BLUEGREEN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, Israel
Jessica Novia, Co-Founder and CIO, CARBONETHICS, Indonesia
Mar Fernández Méndez, CEO, MACRO CARBON, Germany
15:30 Coffee Break
Day 3: Thursday, November 21
14:00–14:40
AGRI-FOOD TECH
Start-Up Clinic
Location: Breakout Room A
In this interactive workshop, take the opportunity to connect with industry leaders as they share insights, advise and learnings on how to strengthen and future-proof your business for success.
Join a range of hosts who will run roundtable discussions focused on perfecting your pitch, finessing your brand and messaging all the way through to how to build out your team and board. Followed by a short re-cap to share all the learnings from each discussion.
- Getting the Pitch Right
Yaniv Corem, Founder, BUILT FOR IMPACT, Singapore - Engaging with Media
Pearly Neo, Editor, FOOD NAVIGATOR, Singapore
- Engaging with CVCs
Hiroyuki Saito, Innovation Strategy & Corporate Venture Capital Group Asian Region Lead, AJINOMOTO CO, Japan - Exit Strategies: Making Long Term Plans
Sandhya Sriram, CEO, SPROUT AGRITECH, New Zealand - When to Scale: Learning How to Grow Sustainably
Ritu Verma, Co-founder and Managing Director, ANKUR CAPITAL, India