Dragonfly together with Albert Heijn
Milk made from bacteria and tomatoes that you can design yourself: according to Food Futurist Chloé Rutzerveld, it could just become the new normal. Chloé studies new ways of food production and consumption. In this way she wants to make people aware of scientific developments, make them think and help them to live a more sustainable life. Because that is very necessary.
Chloe: “The climate is changing, our C02 emissions have to be reduced, we are faced with water shortages… In short: the current situation is no longer tenable† And so we need to look at more sustainable ways of producing food.”
Better Food Festival
On April 28 and 29, Albert Heijn organized the Better Food Festival, which focused on healthier food and better living. Something that is not only important for ourselves, but also for our planet. At the event there were all kinds of food stands with tasty snacks, but also many inspiring speakers and workshops. Chloé was also present at this event. She shared with us scenarios that might just become normal in the future.
1. The customer world is king
We export a little at a time, in order to be able to eat the most exotic products all year round. And that means a lot of CO2 emissions. It is therefore increasingly recommended to eat vegetables and fruit that are in season. Chloé: “I sometimes wonder whether the customer should remain king. We are now doing everything we can to have everything available all year round, but maybe we just have to make do with what we have. Thanks to new technologies, we can then simply produce the raw materials that we miss in the Netherlands.”
2. 100% vegetable
There are many more plant-based products in the shops than in the past, and this will only increase in the coming years. Chloé even thinks that in 50 years we will live completely plant-based. “I think we’re going to remove animals completely from the food chain and instead have plant-based alternatives, or products that are technologically made.” For example, it could just be that by then we will be eating cultured meat or drinking milk made from bacteria.
“A lot of people like it a scary idea all that technological being made, but we forget that a lot of technology is already being used. No crop would exist without technology. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, maize: it is all refined and produced in such a way that it meets human requirements.”
3. Design your own food
It might be better if the customer is no longer king, but new technologies also make it possible to meet the customer’s wishes more. For example, we are used to a tomato being red and round and a banana yellow and crooked, but did you know that it can be done differently? During the Beter Eten Festival, Chloé gave a workshop where visitors could try out her own designed Future Food Formula installation. With this installation you can make your (digital) crops completely to your liking, by making your own growing recipe.
Chloé: “You can influence crops with environmental conditions. For example, think of UV light, humidity and pH values. These factors affect the taste, density, texture, shape and color.” For example, adjust the light or the CO2 content, and your tomato will suddenly take on a different shape or taste. Handy if you find a crop too bitter, for example, or if you want to make it bigger. Unfortunately, this is only possible in the lab at the moment, but who knows, in the future this may just be possible in the supermarket on the corner.
Making better food accessible together
Albert Heijn is committed to making better food accessible to everyone. Because better food contributes to a healthy lifestyle, connects people and is better for the climate. Albert Heijn has been declared the most sustainable supermarket, is committed to food waste and sells almost 700 products that are better for nature & farmers. You can read more about the AH Better Food Festival here.
