Plant-Based Foods & Proteins Summit Americas
Save the Date: Summit Americas 2024 | April 9-10 | Minneapolis, USA
Join us at Summit Americas to position yourself amongst the top plant-based foods and proteins industry thought leaders and disruptors in North America and the world. This Summit will provide invaluable networking opportunities while experts from CPG, ingredient development, processing, industry organizations, and universities all share their latest findings and insights.
Summit Americas will focus on current trends, the growth of the market, investments, and collaboration opportunities. Themes of affordability, accessibility, healthy diets & nutrition, and sustainability will be central as they are focal points of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our Partners
Strengthening Plant-based Growth by Building Relationships
We bridge all perspectives of food professionals by providing forums to build purposeful partnerships. We are generating new business opportunities and ultimately unlocking the potential that can achieve real impact for the future of food and our globe. Join us for two days to learn the latest innovations and research, find solutions and strategies, grow your network, and discover where the plant-based sector is growing next.
Why Attend
Enhance Knowledge with our Focused Two-day Industry Summit
The demand for plant-based foods is increasing fast. There are many opportunities for retailers, formulators, and brands to develop better and more inspiring foods for consumers. This Summit is a key opportunity to hear the unique perspectives of thought leaders and start discussions to make long-lasting partnerships.
- Setting that encourages introductions, meetings, and conversation
- More than 50 top industry speakers
- Focused group of top executives across the value chain
- Highly engaged panel discussions: both consumer and technical oriented
- Pre-set 1-to-1 networking meetings throughout the event
- More than 20 companies and start-ups on display
A fantastic opportunity to work with fellow leaders on future global strategies!
Program
Welcome Day
The 1-to-1 Business Meetings will allow delegates to have short meetings of 10 minutes with potential business, technology, and research partners during pre-scheduled meetings.
An informal meet & greet with your fellow delegates, friends, and colleagues. A great way to catch up and have fun.
Plus, try TiNDLE's ridiculously good chicken - made from plants!
Day 1
The 1-to-1 Business Meetings will allow delegates to have short meetings of 10 minutes with potential business, technology, and research partners during pre-scheduled meetings.
The Plenary part of the program will focus on Accelerating Value Chain Connectivity:
- Welcome & Opening Summit Chair - Vincent Brain & Dr. Lutz Grossmann
- Plant Based Foods Industry: The Business of Driving Food Systems Change - Rachel Dreskin, Chief Executive Officer, Plant-Based Foods Association
- Panel discussion on Transforming Agriculture: From Farm to Fork - featuring Andre Menezes, Co-Founder & CEO, TiNDLE; Rachel Dreskin, Chief Executive Officer, Plant-Based Foods Association; Christy Wright, Director Global Food Systems, Corteva; Phil Kerr, CTO, Houdek
- For the love of Meat! - featuring Andre Menezes, Co-Founder & CEO, TiNDLE
- Panel discussion on The Elephant in the Room: Is the Plant-Based Industry Really Dead? - John Baumgartner, Managing Director, Mizuho Securities USA Inc.; David Sabbagh, Global Business Development Lead - Protein Solutions, IFF; William McCormack, New Business Development, DSM; Miri Eliyahu, Senior Research Analyst, Euromonitor; Bill Aimutis, Executive Director, NC Foods Innovation Lab; Tyler Mayoras, Operating Partner, Beyond Impact Fund; Julia Stamberger, CEO, Planting Hope Company
- Retail Opportunities to Drive Sales of Plant-based Food Products - Sherry Frey, VP Total Wellness, NielsenIQ
- Consumer & Industry Challenges Track I Introduction - Ema Tanovic, Project Leader, Boston Consulting Group
- Sustainable Processing & Delicious Food Innovations Track II Introduction - Jeff Sanders, Product Manager, Schrödinger
Lunch time! There will be a range of plant-based food tastings waiting for you to tickle your taste buds and you'll have the chance to network with other delegates whilst connecting over food! If you please, you may also be matched 1-on-1 for some speed meetings. Enough options to choose from – enjoy and see you in the next round!
- Consumer & Industry Track Welcome - Ema Tanovic, Project Leader, Boston Consulting Group
- Panel discussion on The Market, Category & New Innovations - Brandon Ng, Vice President, Houlihan Lokey; Jen Wu, Managing Director, L.E.K. Consulting; Anne Palermo, CEO & Co-Funder of Aqua Cultured Foods
- Plant-based Eating and Regenerative Agriculture: Consumer Interest in a Tastier, Healthier, and More Sustainable Future - Melissa Abbott, Vice President, Syndicated Studies, Hartman Group
- Panel discussion on Consumer Choices & Drivers - Giovanna Hernandez, Research & Development, Kelloggs - Lucia Caamano, Director of Marketing & Innovation, Quorn - Peter Lee, Vice President, Marketing, Believer Meats
- The Impact of Rising Prices on the Plant-Based Market - Will Cowling, Senior Strategic Marketing Manager, FMCG GURUS
- Understanding the Needs of Plant-Based Consumers - Nicole Sopko, Vice President, Upton's Naturals
Networking time! Time to network with other delegates whilst connecting over a coffee and a snack!
- Hydrocolloids: Clean label solutions for binders and emulsifiers in plant-based applications - David Meyer, Technical Service Representative, CP Kelco
- Weigh and Measure Inline without Process Interrupt - Ryan Kromhout, Global Industry Division Manager Food, Krohne
- Influence of Heat Treatment and Spray Drying on Properties of Plant-Based Proteins - Sarah Veelaert, Plant-Based Protein Application Manager, GEA, and Michael McGoldrick, Market Manager Industrial BioTech / Starch, GEA
- Prospects for Sidestream Utilization in Alternative Protein Production - Priera Panescu, Senior Scientist – Plant-Based Specialist, Good Food Institute
- Innovating Plant-Based Food Using a Digital Chemistry Strategy - Jeff Sanders, Product Manager, Schrödinger
Exclusive Roundtable Discussions led by Gold & Silver Partners. Register your interest to be considered for an invitation!
A highlight event of the Summit! Each year partners and delegates have the opportunity to attend the Summit Dinner. This presents an opportunity to mingle and network, enjoy a meal, and relax!
Day 2
The 1-on-1 Business Meetings will allow delegates to have short meetings of 10 minutes with potential business, technology, and research partners during pre-scheduled meetings.
- How does labeling drive consumer choices? Rodolfo Garza, Senior Business Development Manager - Food Protection, Corbion
- Clean Label Solutions for Plant-Based Foods - Laurice Pouvreau, Senior Scientist Protein Technology, Wageningen University & Research
- Sustainably Sourced: How to Capture and Prove the Environmental Benefits of Plant-Based Meats - Wiggs Civitillo, Product Management, IBM
- Panel discussion on Plant-Based Foods on a Pedestal – How can Retail Drive the Sales of New Plant-Based Food Products - Sherry Frey, VP Total Wellness, NielsenIQ
- Is the Future of Meat Whole Foods? - Paul Shapiro, CEO of The Better Meat Co.
- The Changing Face of Plant-Based in the Eyes of AI - Christene Salinas, Market Research & Consumer Insights, Tastewise
- Producing Mycoprotein as an Ingredient at Scale - Javier Berterreche and Vincent Brain, Bridge2Food
- Meat Alternatives: Where do we go from here? - Harshal Kshirsagar, Vice President, Alt Protein, R&D Tyson
Networking time! Time to network with other delegates whilst connecting over a coffee and a snack!
- Next Generation of Uncompromising Food Brands - How Precision Fermentation is Shaping the Future Food System - Laura Toppinen, Head of Brand & Communications, Onego Bio
- Joint Integrated Solutions to Solve Processing Challenges for Plant Protein Ingredients and Foods - Panel Discussion - Gregory See Hoye, Market Manager, Dedert - Antoine Perrault, Business Development Manager, Poittemill; Davide Di Nunno, Head of Process Technologies, GEA
- Valorization of Starch from Pea Fractionation - Janelle Carlin, Director, Quality & Processing, Pulse Canada
- Mycoprotein, from the Fungi Kingdom to its Production Through Fermentation - Karla Acevedo, Research Chef- Culinologist, Quorn
- The Future of Pulses in the American Diet - Tim McGreevy, CEO USA, Pulses USA; Kathy Greaves, Expert in Plant Protein Nutrition, Nutrition Outside the Box, LLC
- Assessing ESG Risks and Opportunities in Animal Protein Production Through Benchmarking - Sofia De La Parra, Senior ESG Analyst, FAIRR
- Toward the Next Generation of Alternative Protein Ingredients - Dr. Frédéric Baudouin, R&D Lab Manager, IMPROVE
- Startup Pitch: The Science and Scalability of Cultivated Meat " - Kaitlin Grady, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Public Affairs, Clever Carnivore; Phillip Freeman Manager of Process Development Clever Carnivore
- Value Chain Support Pitches of StartUps -
- Track I Consumer & Industry Challenges Outlook - Ema Tanovic, Project Leader, Boston Consulting Group
- Track II Sustainable Process Innovations & Delicious Foods Outlook - Jeff Sanders, Product Manager, Schrödinger
- Summary & Outlook - Dr. Lutz Grossmann, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts
Lunch time! There will be a range of (plant-based food) tastings waiting for you to tickle your taste buds and you'll have the chance to network with other delegates whilst connecting over food!
The 1-on-1 Business Meetings will allow delegates to have short meetings of 10 minutes with potential business, technology, and research partners during pre-scheduled meetings.
Exclusive Roundtable Discussions led by Gold & Silver Partners. Register your interest to be considered for an invitation!
Meet Our Speakers
Pricing
Secure your spot today
Official Registration Rate** | |
Standard Ticket | $1,995 |
Start-up*, NGO, & University Ticket | $795 |
** Excluding VAT and credit card payment surcharge
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
Bronze Partners
Media & Supporting Partners
Venue
Hilton | Chicago, USA
Overlooking Grant Park, Lake Michigan, and Museum Campus, the Hilton situated on Michigan Avenue, is in the heart of downtown Chicago. The Summit will take place in the beautiful International Ballroom.
Booking your stay: We have a block of hotel rooms booked at the Hilton Chicago at a special discounted rate of $270 per room, per night. The discount is available until Tuesday, April 18. You will receive booking instructions in your confirmation email after you purchase your ticket.
