SMART FOOD FACTORY: Enhancing digital and green growth in food industry - Collaborating for a sustainable food system
Join us on 1 October 2025 at Thon Hotel, Brussel city centre, for an inspiring event hosted by the European HIGHFIVE project. Connect, collaborate and shape the future of a digital and green food industry. Gain valuable insights from technology providers, food industry, clusters and policymakers.
Program
09:00
Welcome reception & registration
09:30
Welcome & reflection on the previous event day
Mila Valcárcel Pato, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Eatable Adventures and Veerle De Graef, Internationalisation Manager, Flanders’ FOOD
09:45
Keynote: digitally driven, globally connected: transforming food processing for a sustainable future
Stephanie Gallatova, Agribusiness Economist in the Agrifood Economics team of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Explore how small-scale food processing innovation can strengthen regional economies, highlighting the value of collaboration, both regionally and between global north–south.
10:15
Smart Solutions 4 Agri-food
Simon Maas, Program Manager Industry and (Inter)national Collaborations, AgriFood Capital
Discover how smart solutions and digital innovation are transforming the agrifood sector. Simon Maas shares insights from leading European collaborations and the collaboration with FAO in the SS4AF innovation hub. This will showcase new pathways to greater sustainability and resilience in food production, now and in the future.
10:25
I3 policy introduction
Tomislav Pinter, DG Regio
Get insights on the I3 instrument and developments on policy level.
10:35
HIGHFIVE
Veerle De Graef, Internationalisation Manager, Flanders’ FOOD
Get an inside look at the HIGHFIVE project. Discover how this collaborative initiative is accelerating digital and green innovation across Europe’s food sector.
10:50
Coffee break
11:10
Transforming Food Processing: Advancing Digital Technology Uptake and Implementation (1)
Nancy Tarjenian Astour, Technology Business Development Manager, Navarra Industrial Association;
Akos Szépvölgyi, Managing director, Central Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency;
Mick Breemans, Bakkerij Mariën
From regional ambitions to real-life impact: we show how innovation in food processing takes shape through tangible pilots and business cases. These practical examples demonstrate how our work directly contributes to the I3 programme’s objectives.
11:40
Panel discussion
Panelists: Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė (CEO, AgriFood Lithuania DIH; Vice-President, European Clusters Alliance; Lithuanian Cluster Network), Inge Arents (Managing Director, Flanders’ FOOD), Tim Van Meer (Technical Director, Pomuni), Aistė Miliūtė (CEO , Birstono Mineral Waters)
Join leading experts from across Europe as they discuss how collaborative projects and regional clusters are powering the digital and green transition in the food sector. Hear practical insights and inspiring examples from innovation leaders committed to building more resilient and sustainable food systems.
12:20
Lunch and networking
13:50
Transforming Food Processing: Advancing Digital Technology Uptake and Implementation (2)
More on impact on regional and company level!
Mark Versteyhe, Senior Engineer, Orise ( formerly Yazzoom) - Next level process and quality control: state-of-the art digital technologies in 2 different food processing cases
Norbert Reichl, General Manager, Food-Processing Initiative e. V. - Supporting Regional Innovation: Lessons from the HighFive Frontline
14:20
Shaping the future of twin transition support: Interactive workshops
Ana Felgueiras, Clusaga
Norbert Reichl, FPI
Our interactive workshops will dive into four key areas shaping the twin transition:
1. Digitalisation & Technology
2. Funding & Scaling
3. Intersectoral Collaboration
4. Ecosystem Strengthening & Clusters
Together, we will validate, challenge, and prioritise recommendations to ensure they are relevant, actionable, and complete. Through guided discussion, participants will identify the most important priorities and conclude with three key messages to be shared in plenary.
15:45
Afternoon coffee break
16:10
Workshop conclusions and discussion
16:40
What's next
How do we continue our ambition?
Simon Maas, Program Manager Industry and (Inter)national Collaborations, AgriFood Capital
New collaborations, projects, and lasting impact for the food sector.
16:50
Reflection of day 1 and 2 and closing
Stepanka Gallatova; FAO and Veerle De Graef, FF
17:00
