Talent Garden Brings ReInvent Food to Italy Just in Time for Expo

Guest post by Sara Roversi, Founder & Chief of Social Mission – You Can Group

From May 1 to October 31, 2015, Italy will host EXPO2015: feeding the planet, energy for life, the largest food festival in the world. More than 140 countries and organizations will host discussions and showcase their solutions for how we can guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food for all without destroying the planet.

With over 7.2 million tickets sold the “Expo energy” has been building in Italy through satellite events organized throughout the region. One such event is ReInvent Food, a conference that will create a hotbed of dynamic discussion around the most significant topics about the future of the global food  which kicks off this week. The conference aims to bring public awareness to and help define how new technologies such as drones, e-commerce, 3D printing are “disrupting” the world of food. and  The event will also explore how these technologies will evolve and affect production, distribution consumption and communication in the food system and, more importantly, how this will be translated in our everyday lives.

Organized by co-working leader Talent Garden, food tech startup Cortilia, in partnership with the Consulate General of the United States in Milan and the US Embassy in Rome, ReInvent Food will take place on February 5 at Espressamente Illy in Milan and February 9at Centro Studi Americano in Rome), and is expected to draw over 150 participants, 40 journalists and host the best food experts.

ReInvent Food will follow in the path of knowledge cross pollination with mentorship sessions dedicated to young start-ups and the chance for individuals to meet and network with an extraordinary mix of people. Notable presenters include Guido Romeo from WIRED and Michiel Bakker, Director of Google Global Foodservices, who will be the keynote speaker and will discuss Google’s world-renowned food program and Google’s support in worthy initiatives that center on foodservice-related activities around the world.

This is just the beginning of a series of exciting events surrounding the pertinent issues of food and innovation. In fact, there will be an entire year of workshops, hackathons, conferences and big events that will be showcased in Italy, gathering minds and amazing people from all over the world all involved in the global challenge of feeding the planet the best way possible.

The next big global project to take flight will be the official opening of the Food Innovation Program on March 9th, offered at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and created in partnership with the Future Food Institute and Institute for the Future. In light of the theme of food and its future, the Food Innovation Program will focus on the future interplay of food, innovation and technology with the aim to shape responsible leaders that will lead the way in bettering our world through the power of food. Also joining the ranks of the Food Innovation Program supporters is the Google Food Team and Michiel Bakker as well as Caleb Harper from MIT CityFarm, Jeffrey Lipton from Cornell University Creative Machines Lab just to name a few.

Another worthwhile event coming up next month is Seeds&Chips, the first international exhibition dedicated to digital innovation in the agriculture, food & wine industry, which will also be held in Milan from March 26-29.

Indeed 2015 is shaping up to be an interesting year for the world of food. A cornucopia of activities guaranteed to excite, enlighten and empower. From events like ReInvent Food and Seeds&Chips, to more comprehensive projects like the Food Innovation Program in shaping the future of food, Expo Milan will be a global stage where all will come together in the joint effort to exchange ideas and share one vision: bettering the future for people and the planet through the power of food.

SARA ROVERSI is what you would call a serial entrepreneur who is passionate about food and tech, social innovation and creative learning. Her travels between San Francisco and Bologna inspired her to established the Future Food Institute (combining entrepreneurship empowerment and disruptive innovation) bringing with it the dream of leaving her children a better world.