In this episode, Kaan Demiryurek, author of 'Food for thought - Food Science and Engineering for the Future of Humanity' and with over 20 years of experience at PepsiCo, discusses topics like amateur soccer, the journey towards becoming an engineer, observations on packaging in South Africa, and the power of mindset shift and sharing knowledge.
Food engineers and scientists must take the lead in addressing the impact of the global food system on climate change.
Thinking critically and redefining problems is crucial for finding innovative and sustainable solutions for the future.
Drawing inspiration from traditional and cultural practices can drive innovation in the food industry.
Deep dives
The Importance of Inspiring Future Generations in Food Engineering
The podcast episode features a discussion with Khan Demirek, an R&D director at PepsiCo, who explores the importance of inspiring future generations in the field of food engineering. Demirek emphasizes the need for food engineers and scientists to take the lead in addressing the impact of the global food system on climate change. He shares his journey from being a food engineer to his current role in sustainable packaging. Demirek also highlights the value of thinking critically, anticipating challenges, and redefining problems in order to find innovative and sustainable solutions for the future.
Balancing Thinking and Action in the Pursuit of Sustainability
The podcast episode delves into the balance between thinking and acting in the pursuit of sustainability. Demirek acknowledges his love for thinking and the importance of anticipate and thoroughly analyzing problems before jumping into solutions. He emphasizes the significance of stepping back and pressure testing problem definitions to ensure an accurate understanding before moving forward. Demirek also points out the need for progress while being conscious not to treat perfection as the ultimate goal, but rather to embrace adaptability and recognize the complexities of sustainable solutions.
Inspiration from Traditional and Cultural Solutions in Sustainability
The podcast episode discusses the inspiration that can be drawn from traditional and cultural practices in the pursuit of sustainability. Demirek refers to an example of packaging food in banana leaves and shares how communities around the world have employed traditional methods for food preservation. He highlights the importance of looking back to our ancestors' knowledge and employing that wisdom to address current challenges. Demirek also advocates for the collaboration and learning from different cultures and their sustainable practices to drive innovation in the food industry.
The Role of Food Engineers and Scientists in Shaping a Sustainable Future
The podcast episode emphasizes the crucial role of food engineers and scientists in shaping a sustainable future. Demirek urges professionals in the field to recognize the responsibility and opportunity they have to make a positive impact on the planet and people's lives. He encourages food engineers and scientists to lead the charge and collaborate with other disciplines to find interdisciplinary solutions for global food challenges. Demirek also shares his personal mission of inspiring the next generation of food engineers and scientists, aiming to convey his passion and encourage them to contribute to a sustainable food system.
The Importance of Making Connections in Innovation
Innovation is not about creating something entirely new, but rather connecting existing dots in different ways. Making analogies and going across fields can lead to magical breakthroughs. Industrialization connected dots in certain ways, but now we need to assess and adjust those connections in light of changing circumstances. Innovation is like the traveling salesman problem, finding new ways around challenging situations by understanding the latent relationships between seemingly disparate pieces of information or different domains of expertise. Bringing a systems thinking approach and fostering reapplication of developments across different fields are crucial. It requires a holistic view and avoiding unintended consequences.
The Division of Labor and the Value of Specialization and Unified Vision
The division of labor, a concept from Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations,' specialization can make processes more efficient and increase overall output. However, specialization could also disconnect individuals from understanding the value they bring to the overall process. On the other hand, Karl Marx argued that extreme specialization could diminish workers' sense of purpose. The modern challenge is finding a balance between specialization and a unified vision. In soccer, every team member has a different role, and success relies on understanding the impact of individual efforts on the whole. Likewise, in the food industry, everyone plays a different role, and it is necessary to determine how each person's contribution aligns with the unified vision of sustainable food systems. Both specialization and a unified vision are essential for progress.
We are closing the season 2 of Flavour Talks podcast with Kaan Demiryurek, who recently published the book "Food for thought - Food Science and Engineering for the Future of Humanity". Kaan has worked in R&D, food science and engineering at PepsiCo for more than 20 years. His combination of curiosity and expertise, coupled with philosophical aspects and future-oriented thinking, is an exciting and inspiring combination.
Host: Trevor Groome & Michel Aubanel, Music: Aidan Kirkwood, Editing: Britta Nobis, Publishing: Ján Peťka
