FoodTech Junkies Facing Reality: Transforming Food Systems with KM ZERO’s Beatriz Jacoste
Oct 14, 2025
Beatriz Jacoste, CEO of KM ZERO Food Innovation Hub and a transformative leader in food systems, shares her journey from gastronomy to practical food innovation. She discusses the importance of real impact over overhyped narratives, emphasizing frugal innovation and the lessons learned from Latin America in tackling food security. Beatriz highlights the need for empathy and equity in corporate strategies, advocating for a shift towards collaboration and simpler, more meaningful solutions in the food industry.
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From Diplomacy To Food Innovation
- Beatriz Jacoste described a winding path from international relations to food, starting with gastrodiplomacy and community cooking in Berlin.
- She moved from grassroots cooking classes to the Future Food Institute, which launched her career in food innovation.
Shift From Hype To Pragmatic Innovation
- The food innovation sector has shifted from hype to realism, prioritizing efficiency, competitiveness, and people-centered solutions.
- Innovations must address real market and supply-chain problems instead of chasing over-technical novelty.
Prioritize Frugal Tech And Affordability
- Prioritize affordability and frugal technologies to make healthier products widely accessible and affordable.
- Focus upstream on reformulating products and regenerating agriculture rather than flashy end-product tech.
