Compass boss Dominic Blakemore has predicted that the food industry could be transformed by various forms of food tech in the near future. These systems include augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Food Manufacture UK, Blakemore was the keynote speaker at the City Food Lecture in London on Thursday. He shared his insights on how technological advancements in the food market could transform the industry for the better.
"If we try to look ahead, arguably the next big technological advancement for society and food will be augmented reality. Consumers will get projected 360-degree visualizations of food right in front of their eyes," Blakemore said.
Aside from augmented reality, artificial intelligence (AI) is also expected to spur growth and advancement in the food industry. The CEO of Compass Group explained that AI could be used by developers to help understand consumer preferences on general terms. This particular form of technology can be used to predict dietary choices of individuals, he said.
In his speech, Blakemore cited Amazon's Alexa as one of the AI products that have already started capturing preference data through listening and obtaining information passed down by its owner.
Another food tech form, 3D printing, is expected to have a positive impact on the food industry as it could allow for the use of robots that download recipes for meal printing, Blakemore said. He further explained that technology experts may come up with cartridges for ingredients that cater to the 3D printing food market.
3D printing is already used in various industries across the globe but the technology's infiltration of the food market could open multiple opportunities for sellers who want to provide consumers with a more convenient experience.
For Blakemore, technological developments and machinery can help improve the food industry's production and sales processes. He said drones will increasingly be used in the future for food deliveries. According to the Compass chief, IBM already has a patent of a coffee-delivery drone.
Compass Group has already started introducing advanced technology that other companies could get insight from. The company's sports and leisure brand, Levy, was spotted showcasing a robotic burger flipper in sports stadiums in the United States. The technological serving system has helped save on labor costs.
Meanwhile, biotech is also infiltrating the food business with companies searching for ways to help food producers and sellers come up with new products that cater to the healthy-living community.
On Tuesday, Ginkgo Bioworks' startup Motif Ingredients announced that it was able to raise $90 million for the purpose of providing new plant-based proteins for vegetarian firms.
According to Fast Company News, the startup will work with its parent company closely to identify ingredients that can be produced with engineered yeasts and bacteria in a bid to help vegan and vegetarian food providers develop new products with ease.
