To navigate the noise, you need high-level FoodTech intelligence

Published on March 26, 2025

Today, I’d like to showcase some tools that we have recently refined to help you discover what’s relevant inside the world of FoodTech. Indeed, this newsletter aims to sort out what’s relevant and connect the dots of what could impact the future of agriculture and food. Even in this context of stagnation of investments, the amount of information is still increasing.

This increase in quantity doesn’t always translate into quality (now, startups are not only telling the world that they have raised money, but they are also shouting out their willingness to raise funds or talking about their inability to do so). That’s why we believe that now the greatest danger is no longer ignorance but information overload. We see its consequences again and again inside established companies, which are paralysed by the number of sources (internal and external) and the amount of information to process.

1 – DigitalFoodLab’s website just got a new look (and some new tools)

Our website was getting quite old (and slow), so we are glad to share with you the launch of a refreshed version of the DigitalFoodLab website! We wanted to have different areas where you would be able to access the diversity of the content we have created over the past 7 years:

  • 📈 Insights & Research: dive into our extensive collection of insights, trend analyses, and in-depth research tailored for food industry leaders.
  • ⭐️ Top Insights: here is a curated view of what we deem to be the best insights we have written over the years. If you are curious about any topic in AgriFoodTech, you should find it there.
  • 📚 Reports to easily access all the reports we published, notably the recent list of AgriFoodTech unicorns and DigitalFoodLab’s FoodTech trends report.

 

2 – Bespoke FoodTech intelligence at your service

In times of rapid innovation and constant shifts, having a trusted source of tailored insights is crucial. DigitalFoodLab’s FoodTech Intelligence offer helps industry leaders cut through the noise with monthly, 100% bespoke newsletters. We combine four tools:

1 – Bespoke newsletters: based on your interests, we select only the information you need to know, summarise it, and analyse it to match your expectations.

2 – Database: out of the watch documents, we create a database that will quickly become indispensable for seeking information about potential partners.

3 – Presentations to spread the knowledge towards a wider internal audience, notably to discuss the new opportunities spotted over the months.

4 – Executive briefs: while top management needs to be informed about innovation, it also needs a concise and impactful format. That’s what we deliver with these briefs (pre-reads and in-person check-ups to decide when it is time to move forward).

FoodTech intelligence by DigitalFoodLab

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Use case: project for a global F&B company looking to map its AgTech innovation ecosystem and the best startups to partner with

What we did:

  • Mapping of the AgTech ecosystem: startups, research regulators, and other leading companies.
  • Discussion to select areas to focus on.
  • Analysis of the information to reveal the trends and a model to analyse eventual partners.
  • A workshop to validate the opportunities based on our recommendations.
  • Scouting of relevant partners followed by introductions.

Results:

  • Mapping the different categories of innovations in AgTech that should be considered now to create long-term benefits for the business.
  • Identification of key partners (an incubator and a couple of startups).

Use case: project for a CPG company on the healthy ageing ecosystem

What we did:

  • Education of the board through a couple of workshops to define the perimeter
  • Identification of key opportunities and threats created by long-term evolutions (technologies, business models, behavioural changes).
  • Deep dives on each of the priority categories.
  • Co-construction of a vision on how the company should address these challenges.
  • Identification of partners (startups, incubators, funds) to move forward.

Results:

  • Creating a consensus on which categories to prioritise and how to address them.
  • Implementation of an open innovation strategy through the development of partnerships.

Use case: project for a global CPG company to develop a strategy on the healthy ageing ecosystem

What we do (ongoing mission on a subscription model):

  • Kick-off where we present an overview of the AgriFoodTech ecosystem to select with the client the categories to cover and for each, the level of information required.
  • Monthly newsletter: each month we send a newsletter with the articles that we have gathered ranked by relevance, their summaries, and a layer of analysis.
  • Database: we set up a personalised database that will be filled month after month with the information gathered on the companies identified for the watch.
  • Workshops: twice a year with the client’s innovation team and other “innovation curious” team members, we present an overview of the evolutions, key trends and a dashboard of the topics followed by the watch.

Results:

  • A clear, regular and evolutive tool to follow what is happening in terms of innovation on key topics.
  • A forum (through the workshops) to discuss innovation trends and new opportunities.

Use case: opportunity screening for an ingredient company

What we did:

  • Kick-off to define the perimeter of the ecosystem studied.
  • Mapping of the different trends shaping the innovation ecosystem of the client.
  • Analysis of the trends on DigitalFoodLab’s trend curve and other relevant frameworks.
  • Workshop to discuss DigitalFoodLab’s recommendations on key trends to prioritise

Results:

  • Shared view of the innovation ecosystem for the client with a view of the trends to prioritize.
  • Clear document (personalised trend curve) that can be easily shared internaly to explain the company’s innovation choices and which can be then updated each year.

Use case: scouting for an agriculture coop

What we did:

  • Kick-off to define the perimeter of the client, the goals of the scouting (partnerships) and the criteria on which startups should be evaluated.
  • Set-up scouting: we selected the first batch of 20+ key startups following the criteria of the client.
  • On-going scouting: then we set up a quarterly scouting of about ten startups.
  • For each scouted startup, we created an ID card with key information such as the business and technological maturity, funding, and corporate partnerships. We also added an explanation of why we selected this startup.

Results:

  • An ongoing and evolutive scouting are matching the client's criteria and its capabilities in terms of deal flow.

Use case: working on an acquisition process for a CPG company

What we did:

  • Kick-off to define what the client is seeking, notably in terms of maturity.
  • Workshop with the client based on a mapping of the different innovation ecosystems adjacent to its activities to select some priorities and discuss inspiring examples of startup acquisition stories.
  • Identification of 20+ targets.
  • Workshop to select the most relevant to engage with.
  • DigitalFoodLab worked as a sparing partner during the acquisition process, notably to help design how the acquired startup could be integrated into the overall company’s strategy.

Results:

  • Different results from traditional M&A processes with a focus on the client’s innovation strategy.
  • Identification of a good match for an acquisition.

Use case: market due diligence on sugar alternatives

What we did:

  • Kick-off with the client to discuss its interest on this category, its expectations and existing level of information (notably on the target company).
  • Mapping of the ecosystem to analyse the different existing alternatives and technologies to compare them.
  • Interview (calls) with relevant startups made by our internal biotechnology expert.
  • Recommendation on whether to invest or not.

Results:

  • Clear view of the ecosystem and of the reasons to believe (or not) in each sub-category.
  • Enforceable recommendations based on facts and expertise.