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Welcome back to Foodtech EYES, where UnlocX brings you the latest global food innovation news and community updates.


We recently held Foodtech Venture Day NEO vol.4 on August 26, 2025. The theme for this event was "Machines & Devices x The Future of Food and Agriculture," and seven device manufacturers gave pitch presentations. These included Alphatec (temperature-controlled grinding technology), M-Plus (liquid flash freezers), Thinker (robotic hands that move like human fingertips), Byte Bites and F-EAT (3D printing technology), Plantex (enclosed plant factories), and Morirobo (crepe robots). Morirobo won the FVD Award and has been selected to exhibit at SKS JAPAN 2025 (October 23-25). Don’t miss the chance to see their next-generation crepe robot in action!

Also, the FVD NEO website is now live! It features recaps of past events, articles on participating startups, and will provide updates on upcoming activities—stay tuned!

Well, this time I'm bringing you the latest food tech news, and one thing that caught my attention was the developments surrounding cultured meat. The Food Tech Public-Private Council’s Cellular Agriculture Working Team has decided to use “cellular food” as the standard term when referring to “foods made from cultured cells,” a category previously labeled “cultured meat”. The press release reveals the dilemma that led to the decision on this name, as it sought to communicate the value of this technology to consumers. Meanwhile, a surprising statistic has been released in China, showing that 45% of consumers are willing to eat so-called cell-cultured protein. And in India, a cooking competition using cultured chicken was held —perhaps one day we’ll see butter chicken curry made with cultured chicken?

This issue brings you carefully selected articles of noteworthy articles from Japan and abroad.


This edition is an English  translation of the original Foodtech Eyes published in Japanese on September 17, 2025.

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Table of contents of this issue

・INSIGHTS from RECENT MUST READ ARTICLES

・MUST READ ARTICLES

・COMMUNITY NEWS

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INSIGHTS from RECENT MUST READ ARTICLES

✍This issue’s MUST READ is on vending machines. A shortage of replenishment staff is emerging, making supply chain maintenance increasingly difficult. Combined with higher prices, consumers are also cutting back on vending machine purchases. While there are near-term issues such as accelerating cashless adoption (currently only around 40%), the larger social shift highlights the need for greater use of technology to realize unmanned retail beyond beverages.

At IFA in Germany, Hisense introduced its ConnectLife AI Agent, presenting a vision of seamlessly connected appliances that enhance everyday life. Its PureFlat Smart refrigerator series goes beyond convenience: not only personalizing recipes with AI, but also serving as an entertainment hub with video and music, signaling the evolution of kitchen appliances.


Turning back to Japan: Pokka Sapporo announced the launch of a new lemon production company together with food wholesaler Nishimoto Wismettac Holdings and vegetable producer/seller Suzunama. Their goal is to supply 30% of Japan’s domestic lemons by 2035. While companies like Kagome and Calbee have also pursued stable raw material procurement, this initiative stands out as 60% of the lemons will be sold as fresh fruit, not just for processing.


Another story highlights a Swiss startup studio tackling the “commercialization gap” in foodtech. While universities generate fascinating innovations, many fail to reach the market—particularly in food. Japan can learn much from these bold attempts.


Finally, the EU announced a €2.2 million investment to accelerate plant-based food adoption, with partners from Portugal, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. Efforts will range from working with farming organizations to supporting new product development over three years. The speed and scale of EU initiatives once a decision is made are striking.

MUST READ ARTICLES

The article mentioned above is here👇


📌 FUTURE RETAIL & RESAURANT

Are You Still Using Vending Machines? Beverage Sales Halved in 50 Years

Nikkei, Sept 1, 2025


📌 FUTURE KITCHEN

Hisense showcases smarter everyday living with AI at IFA 2025

Hisense, Sept 2025


📌 AGRICULTURE

Pokka Sapporo Establishes Lemon Production Company, Aiming for Japan’s Largest Scale

Nikkei, Sept 8, 2025


📌 PARTNERSHIPS & ECOSYSTEMS

FOOD FOUNDERS Studio: ‘Europe generates incredible food research, and most of it stays trapped in university labs’

AgFunder News, Sept 2, 2025


📌 PARTNERSHIPS & ECOSYSTEMS

EU invests €2.2m into project to accelerate plant-based food adoption

FoodBev Media, Sept 4, 2025



▶The EYES editorial team has curated and published a database of 30 handpicked MUST READ articles to help you stay on top of the latest in food innovation.

(Covered Areas:Market Overview, Future Food, Food AI, Personalization, Food Manufacturing, Future Retail & Restaurant, Future Kitchen, Agriculture, Sustainability & Regeneration, Local Food System, Partnership & Ecosystem, Food for Well-being, Eater’s Trend, etc)


Information from SKS JAPAN Community


[EVENT]SKS JAPAN 2025 (10/23-25)

Around the world, the urgency of addressing food-related social challenges continues to grow. How can we enrich both the planet and individual lives, keep creating new value, and design the food systems and ecosystems needed to support this? Now in its seventh year, SKS JAPAN will reflect on these global trends while also identifying Japan’s unique responsibilities. We believe the key is to bring together wisdom across countries, regions, and industries to create an environment where sustainable co-creation can thrive. Our goal is for this community to unite, take action, and drive real-world change.

Learn more


【EVENT】Kyoto Foodtech Expo (Oct 2–3)NEW

Kyoto, with its rich culinary traditions and advanced food processing technologies, will host the Kyoto Foodtech Expo, blending heritage with cutting-edge solutions for climate change and smart agriculture. Exhibitors across industries and organizations will come together, creating a space to foster new Kyoto-style foodtech innovations.

Click here for more details



【PODCAST】Tabemono Integral #25

Traditional Japanese Complete Nutrition Food – Protecting Miso Culture

A special interview with Yuto Saito, CEO of MISOVATION, winner of the UnlocX Award (double-awarded with the Wataya Besso Prize) at Food Tech Venture Day NEO. MISOVATION is fusing Japanese food culture with technology under the vision of “creating the world’s health industry.”

The company develops products such as the complete nutrition miso soup MISOVATION and freeze-dried miso soup subscription service MISOBOX. This episode dives into Saito’s personal food experiences, the possibilities of miso soup, and the future imagined by “complete nutrition food.” (From the official site)

Click here for Tabemono Integral

【PODCAST】Tabemono Integral #267

The Origin of Hamburg Steak? Frikadelle – From Hamburg, Germany
Exploring the roots of Hamburg steak: Germany’s Frikadelle and Mongolia’s Tartar steak. How did these evolve into today’s hamburger? (From the official site)

Click here for Tabemono Radio

The podcast can be listened to on various audio streaming platforms, including the above link (Spotify).

Tabemono Radio is currently looking for supporters to help support our activities! Please support our activities to help people learn about food in an interesting way here .



[This month's Sustainable Food Museum]

The Sustainable Food Museum in Nishi-Shinbashi is a hub that exhibits and introduces new ideas and services from 100 carefully selected companies related to new sustainable ingredients, including food tech startups.

September's limited-time menu is a collaboration with two companies! Click here for details


[EVENT] Sustainable Food Showcase vol.9 [Tasting the Earth: How to create a brand that communicates the global environment and deliciousness, and is a "choice" brand?]

The 9th Sustainable Food Showcase will feature three amazing companies: Green Ace Co., Ltd. and Da Latee!

Shinnosuke Nakamura from Green Ace Co., Ltd. and Junya Oshima from Da Latee will also be appearing at the pop-up talk session on Friday, September 19th.

Don't miss this exciting discussion!

*Please note that speakers are subject to change.

Learn more



【BOOK】“Destroy Nissin Foods: Create and Destroy on Your Own Terms” by Tokutaka Ando

*This is Japanese translated version


The first book by Tokutaka Ando, President of Nissin Foods.

Why are Nissin’s commercials so addictive?
Why is the company always considered “unique”?
Why is it essential to pursue the business of optimized nutrition foods?

From marketing and new ventures to personal drive and his determination as the third-generation leader, Ando speaks candidly about the source of Nissin’s dynamism.

Click here for more details



See you in the next Foodtech EYES! 


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