Nestlé Joins Forces with Swiss Researchers to Develop Food Ecosystem

The Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley initiative will be launched in 2020, with the aim to attract talent, start-ups and investment to the region. The global innovation ecosystem is developed by Nestlé in collaboration with the Swiss Canton of Vaud, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), the Swiss Hospitality Management School in Lausanne (EHL Group).

Switzerland is home to a unique ecosystem in the area of food and nutrition, Nestlé explains the decision – this is due to its deeply rooted agricultural tradition, an unmatched density of world leading companies and scientific institutions as well as a large number of start-ups in areas such as food, nutrition, life sciences or robotics.

As a result of the intensive collaboration among local players, leading innovation platforms have emerged in Switzerland, including in the areas of nutrition, nutrigenomics, alternative proteins, packaging sciences and sustainable agriculture.

With the creation of the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, the founding partners aim to strengthen the existing innovation ecosystem further and attract talent, start-ups and investment to the region. The Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley addresses major challenges of the future of food and nutrition using cutting-edge science and technology – from agriculture to waste, from innovative products to healthy, sustainable diets.

The Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley is endorsed by the Swiss Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. The initiative was presented during a visit of the Federal Councilor to Nestlé Research on October 11 and will be officially launched in January 2020.