6th International Food Innovation Conference
18 June 2026
Recoding Food
AI as an operating system for the food industry
Artificial intelligence is reorganising the food system from source to plate. Across research and development, manufacturing, and through autonomous systems, data-driven applications are pushing beyond the limits of traditional value creation. At the consumer interface, new ecosystems are emerging as retail, industry, and technology converge to deliver integrated solutions. In the future, those who control the data flows within this system will not only shape products and pricing, they will also influence the standards that define health, sustainability, and consumer trust. For the industry, AI is becoming a strategic lever for resilience, growth, and differentiation.
The 6th International Food Innovation Conference explores how a new generation of technologies is challenging the food system with a new set of rules. At its core are the strategic questions leaders must address now to safeguard innovative capacity and long-term competitiveness. Together with international thought leaders from academia, industry, retail, and technology, we will discuss the following key questions:
- Innovation in R&D: How are AI-enabled development processes accelerating innovation cycles and reshaping future product portfolios as well as health and sustainability promises?
- Intelligent Production: What does an autonomous production environment look like, where interconnected AI systems manage and monitor processes, energy use, quality, and food safety?
- Customer Journey: How are manufacturers and retailers using AI-powered customer journeys to create highly personalised experiences? And how can data partnerships enable companies to become trusted health and sustainability partners without compromising consumer privacy or autonomy?
- Resilience and Food Security: How can AI serve as a risk radar to safeguard raw material supply amid climate change, water scarcity, and geopolitical disruption?
- AI Limits and Responsibility: Which governance, data, and talent strategies are needed to ensure the responsible use of AI in sensitive areas such as food safety, health claims, transparency, and regulatory compliance?
The International Food Innovation Conference is curated for decision-makers from the food industry and retail sector – from global FMCG players and brand manufacturers to retailers. It offers strategic insights for those seeking to understand AI as a lever for resilience, growth, and new value creation models, while also taking into account the social and ecological consequences.
The conference will be held in German and English.
Hashtag: #foodinno26
Speakers
The list of speakers will be updated regularly.
Programme
The programme will be updated continuously.
08.30
Welcome coffee
09.00
Introduction
Jennifer Somm, CEO a.i., Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
Florian Inhauser, Moderator
09.10
Keynotes
10.30
Break
11.00
Keynotes
12.30
Lunch
14.00
Keynotes
15.30
Break
16.00
Keynotes
17.00
Drinks
Date
Thursday, 18 June 2025
Venue
GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
Langhaldenstrasse 21
8803 Rüschlikon, Schweiz
Directions

Language
German and English, with simultaneous interpretation
Programme changes
The programme is subject to change. Should an event not take place, the participation fee will be refunded. Further claims are ruled out.
Cancellation
If you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration in writing. The participation fee will be refunded up to thirty days before the event. After that and up to five full working days before the event, we will charge 75%, and for cancellations after that we will charge the full amount. A substitute participant is always welcome.
Hotel reservation
We have an allotment of rooms in the following hotels. Please mention the code IFIC2026 when booking your room.
Hotel Sedartis, Thalwil: info@sedartis.ch
Hotel Belvoir, Rüschlikon: info@hotel-belvoir.ch
Arrival
From Zurich Airport
A taxi will take you to the GDI and the partner hotels in around 45 minutes at around CHF 100, depending on traffic. The S-Bahn will take you quickly and conveniently to Zurich and Thalwil station.
From Thalwil train station
A free shuttle bus is available for transfers between Thalwil train station / Hotel Sedartis and the GDI. It waits on the lake side of the station. A member of staff will welcome you on the spot.
Thalwil train station – GDI: 08.00 – 08.45, every 15 minutes
GDI – Thalwil train station: 17.00 – 18.30, every 15 minutes
The Hotel Belvoir is within walking distance of the GDI.
Parking
The parking deck is located a five-minute walk from the GDI at Zürcherstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon. You can obtain a free exit ticket at the GDI.
Image and video recording
Please note that images and video recordings will be made during the event, and may be published permanently on the Internet after the event. You consent with this procedure by participating in the event.
Media partner

About the International Food Innovation Conference
The International Food Innovation Conference is an annual event on the future of food. It covers both technological and social changes in the food ecosystem. The aim is to place current trends in an overarching context and to develop long-term perspectives for all stakeholders involved. Under the overarching theme of "Building a sustainable food system", the all-day conference brings together thought leaders, experts and start-ups.
Participants
Participants
Speakers
Participants are decision-makers from the food industry and related sectors, entrepreneurs, academics and journalists from Swiss and European quality media.
Funktionsstufe: 41 % der Teilnehmenden sind CEOs oder VRs. 53.8% sind Senior Management oder höher.
99 % der Teilnehmer*innen bewerteten das Konferenzerlebnis mit sehr gut oder gut.
Functional level: 41% of participants are CEOs or board members. 53.8% are senior management or higher.
99 % of the participants rated the overall conference experience as excellent or good.
Impressions
Advisory Board
The conference benefits from the expertise of the GDI Advisory Board:
Lia Carlucci, Stephan Fetsch, Karin Frick, Simone Krah, Dominique Locher und Matthew Robin.
Location
GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
8803 Rüschlikon
Switzerland