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Japan Tetra Pak's Event at Osaka Expo 2025

Japan's Tetra Pak, renowned for its food processing machinery and packaging systems, organized a significant event on May 7, 2025, at the Nordic Pavilion during the Osaka Kansai Expo. The theme of the event was "Initiatives Toward Future Food Systems," aimed at addressing challenges and exploring solutions for the food and beverage industry.

Esteemed speakers included Matt Koback, CEO of Food Industry Asia, Kia Halaj, Head of Futures at Synthesis, Oliver Trousdale-Jutras, founder and chef at Re:Growth, and Yumi Yoshida, director at Amazon Japan's food and beverage division. This diverse group brought together renowned leaders from the global food industry to discuss the future of food systems.

The event welcomed approximately 100 guests from the food and beverage manufacturing industry, featuring two sessions that delved into the challenges faced by food systems globally, as well as in Asia and Japan. It provided attendees with a unique opportunity to identify solutions for a more resilient and sustainable future by the years 2035 to 2040. A special tasting session enabled participants to experience what the dining table might look like in 2035.

Opening Message: Co-Creation and Innovation for a Sustainable Future

Tatiana Resetti, Executive Vice President of Market Operations at Tetra Pak, kicked off the event with a compelling message about the urgency of global challenges, such as environmental regulations, rising energy costs, and supply chain difficulties that the food sector faces. She emphasized the crucial role of "co-creation and innovation" in transforming food systems and reaffirmed Tetra Pak's position as a leader in sustainable solutions.

Experiencing the 2035 Dining Table: Embracing Future Innovations

Speakers Kia Halaj and Oliver Trousdale-Jutras brought forth two distinct scenarios to address future food and nutrition concerns, considering demographic changes such as aging societies and the rising demand for food-driven health management. They illustrated the necessity for sustainable practices to preserve nature's gifts while also leveraging scientific innovations to bolster food supply from non-natural sources. They argued that overcoming challenges requires viewing "crisis" and "opportunity" as two sides of the same coin to foster creativity and innovative approaches.

Participants had the opportunity to taste and explore new ingredients, cooking methods, and values of sustainability reflected in a dish inspired by the 2035 dining table, showcasing items like upcycled miso made from discarded bread. This session aimed to immerse attendees in the future of food systems.

Diverse Perspectives on Future Food Systems

The event featured presentations from experts in food policy, retail, and technology, offering insights into the challenges and possibilities facing future food systems. Matt Koback highlighted the complexities of regulations, resource limitations, and resilience as crucial topics leading up to 2040. He stressed that these challenges cannot be solved by a single industry alone, making collaboration across the value chain essential.

Yumi Yoshida discussed the retail sector's role in sustainable food systems from an e-commerce perspective. She detailed initiatives like expanding the frozen food business "Cool Marche," optimizing packaging for deliveries, and collaborating with Tetra Pak on long-life paper packages to respond to customer needs and societal issues, underscoring the importance of balancing sustainability with convenience.

Closing: Collective Action Towards Sustainability

Nils Hogo, President of Japan Tetra Pak, emphasized the necessity of automation and digital technology in addressing societal challenges such as aging populations and workforce declines. He underscored the need for innovation, collaboration, and transformative approaches within the entire system to realize a resilient food system. He closed by stating that sustainability must be embedded across the value chain to meet various regulations and social expectations, reaffirming Tetra Pak's commitment to supporting safe and sustainable food systems.

Amidst increasing digital advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and the need for industry-wide collaboration, Tetra Pak is dedicated to leading innovation and contributing to the construction of future sustainable food systems.

About Tetra Pak

Founded in Sweden in 1951, Tetra Pak is a global leader in food processing and paper packaging systems, meeting customer needs in over 160 countries while providing safe and nutritious food. With over 24,000 employees worldwide, Tetra Pak is committed to ensuring food is safely accessible anywhere and protects food, people, and the planet under its motto "PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD". More about Tetra Pak can be found on their website: https://www.tetrapak.com/en-jp. As a platinum sponsor at the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025, Tetra Pak will also showcase its efforts in reducing food waste and improving food safety through sustainable packaging initiatives. Further information can be accessed at: https://www.tetrapak.com/en-jp/campaigns/expo2025.