Tech Futures Lab partners with The FoodBowl to bring future of food innovations to NZ
Advancements in food technology are being brought to a wider audience through a recent partnership between Tech Futures
Lab and The FoodBowl.
Tech Futures Lab and The FoodBowl have partnered up to provide access to practical knowledge and expertise on food
technology and innovation through the Master of Applied Practice - Technological Futures. This new partnership
complements the recent partnership between Tech Futures Lab and Lincoln Hub to provide an optional agritech focus to
candidates enrolled in the November 2017 intake of the programme. Candidates will gain access to a diverse network of
industry leaders and first-hand experience in the future of the food and beverage industry.
The agritech focus spans the entire supply chain from farming to exportation. Advancements in technology are
fundamentally changing how we produce, package, commercialise and export food and drink. Agriculture has long been a
primary industry in New Zealand, and with the likes of Sunfed Meats, which produces a range of meat-free products made
from pea protein, New Zealand has huge opportunity to become a global leader.
As part of the New Zealand Food Innovation Network, The FoodBowl has been dubbed a global innovator in food and
beverage. The Auckland-based, commercial scale pilot plant enables food and beverage companies of any size to develop,
test and prove their initiatives. Providing hands-on access to revolutionary technologies and processing capabilities as
well as industry connections, with The FoodBowl companies can complete in-market testing, commercialise their product
and begin to export overseas. Jointly owned by Callaghan Innovation and ATEED, the facility is focused on advancing the
operations of start-ups and already established organisations to develop sustainability and innovation throughout New
Zealand.
Through the Master’s programme, candidates will have the opportunity to work with The FoodBowl and its industry partners
for four weeks during the immersion phase of the programme. This will include spending time at the Auckland-based
facility and gaining valuable and transferable knowledge and skills in their area of choice.
Sarah Hindle, Tech Futures Lab General Manager, says, “Partnering with The FoodBowl, which has been recognised on the
world stage for its work in the food and beverage sector, allows us to bring rich and hugely relevant expertise to our
Master’s candidates. With the agritech option of the programme, candidates will be exposed to a variety of topics around
the future of food and farming and gain access to industry leaders, which will enable them to develop their own ideas
and project. Our programme has been designed from the ground up to ensure it is flexible, applied and is driven by the
individual, whether they are looking to enter a new sector or innovate within their organisation.”
Alexandra Allan, Chief Executive of The FoodBowl, says, “The partnership with Tech Futures Lab is an excellent avenue to
help introduce the opportunities in agritech and technology to our clients in the New Zealand food and beverage
industry, whilst also building agritech skills in both the Master’s candidates and the companies they work with on their
projects.”
The agritech option of the Tech Futures Lab Master’s programme is available for the November intake. Places are limited
and applications close October 30. Designed for business professionals, the programme highly-applied, industry-backed
and covers key topics including emerging and disruptive technology, new business strategies and how to embed innovation
in an organisation.
A special free seminar is being held at Tech Futures Lab on Saturday 16th September, focusing on food, beverage and
agritech.
Tech Futures Lab is a technology, innovation and business learning hub for professionals. Backed by industry experts and
driven by applied, relevant knowledge, it is geared toward enabling businesses and individuals to innovate, future-proof
and move fast to ensure they are not only aware of how our world is changing, but know how to maximise opportunities in
today's digitally-enabled business landscape.
Part of the New Zealand Food Innovation Network, The FoodBowl is an Auckland-based commercial scale pilot plant that
enables food and beverage companies of all sizes to develop, test and validate their novel products. Providing hands-on
access to revolutionary processing technologies and the connections and expertise to use them, with The FoodBowl
companies can accelerate the in-market testing, commercialisation and export of their products.
ENDS