Track: Innovation (R&D&I) and Brands Value

In this session, we will share practical insights on how to protect brands and turn them into a strategic asset for any company. We will explain how to simplify the procedures and make them more accessible for SMEs and entrepreneurs, helping them strengthen their identity and compete more effectively in the market.

At ALIBER 2026, the latest trends in new business models (technology platforms, innovation hubs, clusters, etc.), entrepreneurship (startups), new technologies and new trends in healthy food, consumer perception, circular economy and digitalization at the IAB will be presented.

This insightful presentation, offers an exclusive glimpse into the future of the industry. Dive deep into the latest market and consumer trends as we highlight the breakthrough directions and innovations set to transform the food and beverage world in 2026 and beyond. This presentation will empower you with the forward-thinking insights you need to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Pasta is one of the most consumed dishes in the world and, paradoxically, one of the worst executed outside traditional restaurants. In this talk, Relleno explains how it addresses this challenge through its own system combining technology, design, and operations, integrating innovation and logistics to ensure consistency at scale, from raw materials to the last mile, in any city and channel. Pasta as an operating system.

The food industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation driven by Deep Tech technologies such as AI, robotics, photonics and biotechnology. These solutions are reshaping processes, optimising resources and addressing social and environmental challenges that were considered insurmountable. We will explore real case studies from leading companies applying these technologies, redefining production models and sector competitiveness.

The tortilla and the smash burger are global icons in the world of gastronomy. In Spain, these niches are clearly led by two key players who have reached the top through high-quality products, a premium brand experience, and innovative strategies in which social media has played a decisive role.

How is the trend of satiating products linked to GLP-1 redefining food innovation? In this presentation, we will explore the challenges and strategic opportunities it presents for the agri-food industry.

Innoval 2026 Awards Ceremony, an event recognizing the food industry's investment in R&D.

The 17 best innovations were highlighted, distributed as follows:
Retail Channel Award
Horeca Channel Award
Impulse Channel Award
Award for the best innovation in each of the four trends (pleasure, convenience, health, and sustainability)
Distributor Award
Award by category

Triptolemos Foundation is a global pioneer in sustainable food systems: ALIMENTARIA's 50th anniversary invites reflection. Leaders committed to Sustainable Food Systems will share their experiences, demonstrating how business leadership, innovation, science, and cooperation enable progress toward more competitive, sustainable, and healthy food models, generating positive social impact and economic value

The rules of the game have changed. AI is no longer just a tool for chatting or creating text; it can now pursue business goals and make autonomous decisions. We have moved from giving simple instructions to ChatGPT to enabling AI to work independently to deliver results. Today, there is a strong competitive advantage in redesigning processes and a real cost in continuing to rely on legacy tools in this new era

Preventive health and longevity are the new status symbols — not luxury, not wealth.
The real question is whether the food industry is ready to lead this shift or will remain trapped in legacy models. What opportunities exist to move fast and own a place in consumers’ emerging lifestyles? And, more importantly, what will be the kryptonite — the strategic blind spots that could make today’s winners irrelevant tomorrow?

Step into the fast-moving world of functional food and beverage innovation as we explore today’s key consumer health concerns and how brands are responding. We’ll spotlight the health areas gaining momentum, the claims shaping purchase decisions, and the ingredients driving product development, from evolving protein and fiber to the next wave of functional ingredients.

LUXE Collection – Gourmet Honey is Alemany’s gourmet line, featuring pure honey blended with premium ingredients. Small formats designed to deliver an intense and sophisticated experience in every spoonful.

Alemany 1879 and GrillCo join forces to create Honey with Vitamin B12: a natural boost for your well-being. Designed for diets low in B12, it contributes to normal energy metabolism and helps reduce fatigue.

We will explain the collaboration between Chocolates Torras and Realfooding through the launch of a new generation of chocolates made with real ingredients, with no added sugars or sweeteners, responding to current consumer trends. We will highlight how the creative process, an innovative formula, and a shared vision come together to shape the chocolate of tomorrow.

How can challenges be turned into opportunities to create innovative foods? This panel discussion will bring together leading companies to share real-life experiences in new product development, addressing technological, organisational and regulatory barriers. Collaboration, creativity and agility will be highlighted as key drivers to accelerate innovation in the food of the future.

Latest innovations and trends in the avocado market, and the role that Trops is developing as one of the leading players in the European market.

In a market where consumers alternate between extreme austerity and selective gratification, understanding this new hybrid behavior is key. Discover how pricing architecture, mini formats, and "little luxuries" are redefining profitability and how to anticipate these changes to lead successfully in 2026.

‘De Cerca’ celebrates its second edition on March 25 at 10:15 AM at the Auditorium – The Alimentaria Hub (Pavilion 5), during Alimentaria Barcelona. With free entry upon prior registration, the event will give a platform to women executives in the meat industry to share their experiences and discuss key sector challenges such as innovation, sustainability, and generational transition, in a space for professional exchange and reflection.

“To share the shopper’s perspective on innovation in the FMCG sector and, together with industry companies, reflect on the challenges and best practices needed to drive growth based on relevant innovation.”

This insightful presentation, offers an exclusive glimpse into the future of the industry. Dive deep into the latest market and consumer trends as we highlight the breakthrough directions and innovations set to transform the food and beverage world in 2026 and beyond. This presentation will empower you with the forward-thinking insights you need to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving landscape.

In this talk, we will analyze the development of functional foods, their impact on the industry, and the challenges of turning science into competitive value propositions.

We will explore how the new generation of analogues overcomes the limitations of plant-based products. We will present innovations based on lemna, single-cell proteins and in vitro cultivated meat—technologies that unlock new possibilities in taste, texture and sustainability, offering more efficient and attractive alternatives for the food industry.

The spread of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss has gained momentum worldwide, including in Spain, which continues to surprise. At Lantern, we believe that the growth in the number of users and their changing habits opens up opportunities for many food brands.

Laia Vergés, Head of R&D at Zyrcular Foods, and Mónica Orasan, from Business Development, will present the company’s latest innovations under the Amara Green brand: Amara Pro Bites, plant-based balls with prebiotics and vitamin B12, and the Amara Green Burger, a vegetable burger with mycoprotein—two sustainable, convenient proposals aligned with today’s flexitarian consumer.

We will address how to anticipate the main food safety challenges through data-driven approaches, digitalisation and a preventive mindset. We will explore AI as a tool and present SEALI-Hub, an AINIA initiative designed to help food companies detect, assess and prevent risks, strengthening market confidence.