MUMBAI, NEW DELHI, 2nd DECEMBER, 2021 (GPN): The annual ‘World Week of Italian Cuisine’ recently came to a close on Sunday, November 28 and as part of the weeklong event, the Embassy of Italy in India in collaboration with the Good Food Institute India (GFI India) and the Future Food Institute Italy came together to host a ‘startup showcase’ with Indian and Italian startups working on sustainable food solutions.

We’re in the midst of the annual ‘World Week of Italian Cuisine’ which runs between November 22-28, and in its honor, the Embassy of Italy in India in collaboration with the Good Food Institute India and the Future Food Institute Italy came today, November 26, together to host a ‘startup showcase’ with Indian and Italian startups working on sustainable food solutions.

The World Week of Italian Cuisine is an initiative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the support of Italian Embassies and Consulates around the world. This year’s theme is focused on sustainability, and the ‘The future of food sustainability through the eyes of Italian and Indian startups’ event invited Indian smart protein startups to showcase what our homegrown companies have to offer the sector globally. Supplant Foods’ Chirag Sabunani, Soft Spot Foods’ Anushi Patel, and MilkinOats’ Ashna Goel showcased their plant-based companies to the audience, underscoring the need for smart protein in an increasingly unsustainable world.The event hosted by the Embassy of Italy in India, the Good Food Institute India (GFI India), and the Future Food Institute featured 6 Indian and Italian sustainability-focused and plant-based companies that are working on smart protein and food waste management solutions.

At a time when global awareness around the links between climate and food systems is high and the future of protein is an increasingly important topic, startups like the ones featured at the event are paving the way to build a food system that won’t break the planet. The focus of the 3 Indian startups is on smart protein – meat, egg, and dairy alternatives produced without industrial animal agriculture but rather through food science and biotechnology. Smart protein is a major piece of the global fight against climate change, food insecurity, and public health crises such as future pandemics. These transformative foods received over $3.1 billion in funding in 2020, but continued success requires bold, visionary action from governments and industry supporting entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and talent development for the sunrise sector. And events like these are instrumental in advancing awareness around these foods.

The event opened with remarks from the Ambassador of Italy to India, H.E. Vincenzo de Luca, Managing Director for Good Food Institute India, Varun Deshpande, and the President of Future Food Institute, Sara Roversi.

In his opening address, H.E. Vincenzo De Luca, Ambassador of Italy to India said, “During the 6th Edition of the World Week of Italian Cuisine, we  look forward to showcasing the Future of Food Sustainability through the eyes of Italian and Indian startups, in collaboration with two of the most important institutions with regard to agrifood: GFI India and the Future Food Institute, Italy. The focus of our cooperation between Italy and India is on energy transition, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and food processing – with food as one of the core pillars of our cooperation. The basis of this cooperation is on mutual trust, sharing experiences and technology for a more sustainable future.”

Sara Roversi, President, Future Food Institute added, “The focus of the Future Food Institute is on cooperation to achieve our shared goals. Building bridges to connect the global startup ecosystem is one way we do this. This event represents some of the best solutions to achieve sustainability for the future of our food system. Food connects us to the health of the planet and to the health of our communities. Every time you gather around the table you are honoring your past – food is culture – you are experiencing the present – with the people around the table – and you are making a decision about the future – when you choose what you are eating.”

To bring an Indian perspective to the table, Varun Deshpande, Managing Director, Good Food Institute India explained, “Food is one of the things that binds all of us together. India and Italy are both food-centric countries. Food is at the center of the future of our planet. We at GFI India work specifically on alternative proteins because of their potential to offer solutions to climate change, food safety, and food security. This question of how we will feed 10 billion people by 2050 is dependent on diversifying protein supply systems. We believe through our work in India, we are setting a context for what alternative protein looks like in the developing world who bear the maximum impact from food-related illnesses including food-borne illnesses, undernutrition, overnutrition.”

To close, Varun added, “Through our Smart Protein Corridors initiative, in promoting bilateral partnerships between India and countries like Italy, with its deep-rooted cuisine and heritage, we see the opportunity in providing mutual gain to startups, investors, chefs, corporations, and governments alike.”

Through our Smart Protein Corridors initiative with Italy, GFI India seeks to deepen and leverage bilateral relationships with key Italian stakeholders, including:

1. Knowledge institutes and universities: encouraging scientific partnership among experts to further scientific development in the area;
2. Businesses and investors: promoting international collaboration in the smart protein sector;
3. Government and policymakers: promoting cross-country engagement, and access to international collaborations.

GFI India has been working with the Future Food Institute over the last several years towards the joint goal of building resilient food systems of the future and has previously supported them on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Future Food Institute digital Climate Boot Camp to transfer knowledge, and to empower youth, changemakers, and food industry, leaders, on the potential for smart protein to feed 10 billion by 2050 without adverse effects to our climate or natural systems.

Both India and Italy have strong Agri industries and plant-forward lifestyles. Both countries hold traditions, rituals, and families in high stead. The focus of the event and the showcase was to bring together Italian and Indian startups for an exchange of views on how the future of sustainability can be achieved through innovations within the food industry, the management of food waste, and the growing awareness and investment in smart protein.

The Indian startups present at the event were Supplant Foods, Soft Spot Foods, and MilkinOats and the Italian startups present were Apulia Kundi, SpirEat, and Newtra Food. To quote from  MilkinOats’ address, “We are all experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis, people are becoming more aware of the link between food and climate, and are looking towards taking a step towards a healthier, more sustainable diet.”

You can find an overview of the 6 startups’ work here.

About GFI India: The Good Food Institute India (GFI India) is the central expert organization, thought leader, and convening body in the Indian ‘alternative protein’ or ‘smart protein’ sector. As part of an international network of nonprofits with partners in Brazil, Israel, the U.S., Europe, and the Asia Pacific, GFI India is on a mission to build a healthy, sustainable, and just global food system. Since our establishment in 2017, GFI India serves as the central thought leader and convening body in the space of plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-based meat, eggs, and dairy that are collectively known as the ‘alternative protein’ or the ‘smart protein’ sector. With unique insight across the scientific, policy, industry, and investment landscapes, we are using the power of food innovation and markets to accelerate the transition of the world’s food system toward alternative proteins. In building the sector from the ground up in India, we’re aiming to establish a model for its growth all across the developing world.

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