PPIC presents a first-of-its-kind, action-focused gathering on Solution-Driven Innovation taking place on May 18–19, 2026. Designed for professionals who want to move beyond concepts and toward implementation, the event blends short, high-impact presentations with practical demonstrations and networking. The format is intentionally compact to maximize learning and connection: participants encounter concentrated content, meet the teams behind applied breakthroughs, and see how innovations are prepared for scale.
The program structure balances inspiration with application. Day 1 features a lineup of twelve companies delivering 15-minute lightning talks that focus on concrete problem solving across food and ingredient development. After each session, attendees join interactive breakouts to dig into technical details, ask questions, and explore collaboration possibilities. The evening of May 18 concludes with a networking dinner where conversations can continue in a relaxed setting—an opportunity to translate talk-room ideas into potential partnerships.
From ideas to scalable solutions
The agenda highlights a broad spectrum of practical advancements: from enzyme platforms transforming plant-based beverages to integrated protein systems and innovations in sustainable processing. Participants will hear about progress in biomanufacturing at scale, improvements in product preservation, and emerging crops such as perennial grains. Topics also span circular strategies, including upcycling of side streams, novel aquatic crops like Lemna, and texture engineering for baked goods. Each presentation is selected to show not only what was invented but how it was validated, scaled, and positioned for market impact.
Day 1 highlights: lightning talks and breakout sessions
Companies presenting include industry leaders and emerging pioneers such as Amano Enzyme, Cargill, Ingredion, Puratos, Roquette, Plantible Foods, Thar, SCO2, Ferrero, Buhler, GEA, and The Land Institute. Sessions will cover subjects like enzyme-aided formulation for plant milks, the role of high shear mixing and high-pressure homogenization in end-to-end biomanufacturing, CO2-assisted defatting as a sustainable processing route, and product preservation techniques that extend shelf life without compromising quality. After each talk, small-group breakouts invite technical dialogue and co-creation around pathways to commercialization.
Hands-on sessions and pilot tours
On Day 2 the focus shifts to experiential learning: attendees can choose two of three deep-dive sessions that place process innovation under the microscope. These hands-on options are meant to bridge the gap between labbench proof-of-concept and factory-ready practice, giving participants direct exposure to pilot equipment, process controls, and scaling considerations. The sessions are tailored for formulators, process engineers, R&D leaders, and business developers who need to evaluate feasibility, throughput, and sustainability metrics before committing to scale-up investments.
Facility demonstrations: Buhler, NETZSCH and CPM Crown
The three demonstration hosts illustrate complementary parts of the scaling journey. Buhler’s Food Application Center offers tours focused on unit operations such as de-hulling, milling, extrusion, dehydration, and heat treatment, explored in relation to raw material choice and target product attributes. NETZSCH will present its LabCompactPlus system, where participants can observe fine grinding, air classification, and targeted fractionation—showing how controlled particle and fraction modification supports protein shifting to enhance functionality and sensory outcomes. CPM|Crown’s Global Innovation Center demonstrates a full-scale pilot workflow that shortens development timelines and lowers commercialization risk through robust, sustainable process design.
Why attend and next steps
This workshop is built to accelerate adoption: it pairs concise case studies with practical demonstrations and facilitated networking so participants leave with actionable ideas, technical insights, and potential partners. Whether you are advancing next-generation plant proteins, rethinking processing for sustainability, or exploring new ingredient sources, the program is structured to turn conversation into implementation. Registration details and session selection are provided by PPIC—attendees are encouraged to plan which Day 2 demonstrations best align with their development priorities to maximize the return on two intensive days of collaboration.
