On August 26–27, 2025, the city of Örnsköldsvik in northern Sweden became a vibrant hub for future food innovation. Hosted by @RISE Research Institutes of Sweden , the two-day national conference gathered leading voices from academia, industry, policy and innovation to explore the transformative potential of precision fermentation and biotechnology for the food sector.
The event brought together participants from across Sweden, including representatives from the food industry, researchers from leading universities, and national agencies such as VINNOVA and Formas. With a shared goal of strengthening national collaboration, the programme featured inspiring talks, expert panels and plenty of opportunities for networking.
One of the most exciting initiatives showcased during the conference was DELICIOUS . The project was presented by our coordinator, Charilaos Xiros from RISE Research Institutes of Sweden , who highlighted its mission and ambition.
With DELICIOUS, we want to create plant-based products that are not only sustainable, but also delicious, nutritious and accessible. By using microbial fermentation and ingredients like oats, almonds, peas, faba and rice, we aim to develop affordable alternatives that can truly compete with traditional dairy
Some other innovative projects also joined the conversation, including Plantomyc, FINEST, Växtverk, and FEAST, all working towards more sustainable, healthy and resilient food systems. Their presence highlighted the strength of cross-project collaboration and the shared ambition to transform Europe’s food landscape.
A highlight of the event was the study visit to the newly inaugurated pilot hall at RISE, part of the Bioeconomy Arena. This cutting-edge facility enables industrial-scale testing of innovative food technologies, making it a vital part of Sweden’s bioeconomic transition.
This collaborative meeting underscored the strategic importance of biotechnology in shaping a more sustainable food system
