Investment in R&D in the food industry does not reach 1%, an abyss compared to the technology sector. In the Orbital Vision 2026 yearbook, Beatriz Romanos warns that Artificial Intelligence is not just another tool, but the new standard of survival.
While software invests up to 15% of its turnover in innovation, the industry that feeds us barely reaches 1%. This is the starting data with which Beatriz Romanosfounder of TechFood Magazine and Venture Partner at PeakBridge VC, warns about the urgency of a change of mentality in the sector.
In his interview for the section Future of Orbital VisionRomanos defines Artificial Intelligence not as a simple technical improvement, but as «electricity of the 21st century». It is a transversal force capable of reconfiguring the entire value chain, from soil health to the consumer’s plate, driving resilience in an increasingly volatile market.
From the laboratory to the table in record time
One of the most tangible impacts that the expert highlights is the radical acceleration of time. Thanks to the AI Generativethe development cycle of new food products, which could traditionally last a year and a half, is now reduced to just a few months.
This technology has democratized innovation: it is no longer exclusive to engineers. Marketing or laboratory teams can now interact in natural language with advanced systems to formulate new recipes or anticipate consumer trends, relying on pioneering startups such as Delectatech o Tastewise.
Sustainability: The “Core” of the business
Romanos is forceful: “Sustainability is at the core of the foodtech industry”. But not only as a green label, but in its three dimensions: environmental, social and economic. AI plays a critical role here, allowing from the pest anticipation to reduce the use of pesticides up to millimetric adjustment of supply to avoid food waste.
The future: 3D Printers and Genomic Nutrition
Looking to the horizon, the interview explores frontiers such as 3D food printing —with references such as Spain Acuus the Austrian one Revo Foods— and the challenge of personalized nutrition based on genomics. A promising future that, according to Romanos, will depend on the brands’ ability to build the trust necessary for consumers to share their most intimate health data..
For managers in the sector, their final advice in the yearbook is clear: “business as usual” has expired. The question is no longer how to earn more today, but what to do to remain relevant in 15 years.
If you want to read the full interview and much more, download Orbital Vision 2026 for free https://orbital-vision-2026.getresponsewebsite.com/
