As a partner of TFF, all IAAS members from Switzerland were invited to join the summit in Zurich on the 1. and 2. of April. It consisted mainly of workshops, speeches, and pitches of the finalist teams, all tackling the global challenge of feeding 9 billion people by 2050.
After the opening keynote and lightning talks, we had 7 different THINK & MAKE workshop series to choose from: Growing Innovations, Sustainable Business, Hacking Biology, Empowering the Crowd to Influence Change, Potential in Open Data, Nutrition & Health, and Natural Resources and Climate Change.
In the THINK session we examined and debated the world’s prevailing assumptions and how these are being turned on their heads through new thinking, new technologies and new business models. After the lunch break we continued with the MAKE part, which consisted of case studies, hands-on learning and development of new solutions.
After the workshop series the groups gathered on the main stage for the Three Horizons plenary session. We tried to connect the dots between the present and our desired future, while also defining the pathways for innovation required to get there.
In the evening, the fondue dinner offered the opportunity to share your ideas and discuss with people from all over the world and different backgrounds.
The second day was more about the TFF challenge itself. After the morning activities and updates from last year’s winning teams (FoPo Food Powder and FoodFresh) the 10 finalists took the stage to pitch their big ideas on how to feed the world. All pitches consisted of a short video about the team, a presentation, and some questions by the judges.
While waiting for the final results, we had the chance build our personal and professional skills in practical workshops. The topics ranged from productivity hacks to financing, from storytelling to social media, and much more.
After the announcement of the winners – Kulisha, Biteback, and Peer-to-Peer Probiotics – the TFF Global Summit 2016 terminated with drinks, dinner and an unforgettable After Party!
Sources: The Summit Handbook, http://www.tffchallenge.com/