Food(Tech) Sovereignty in a Fractured World
The hosts:
Alessio D'Antino, Forward Fooding
Daniel Skaven Ruben, Business Sweden
What is this Ripple about?
Geopolitical instability, trade fragmentation and climate shocks have made food security a matter of national strategy. This Ripple explores the FoodTech solutions governments and F&B majors are racing to deploy — and who's winning.
Why this topic timely or urgent in 2026
Trade fragmentation and tariff escalation (US-China, EU-China, regional blocs) are forcing countries to rethink food import dependency as a strategic vulnerability, not just an economic one.
Climate volatility (2025's crop shocks, water stress) is colliding with this moment, meaning the countries and companies making bets now are shaping who eats well in a more contested decade.
Fortune 500 F&B players are being pulled into these dynamics as they are no longer just optimizing supply chains, but navigating export controls, localization mandates, and government-as-customer relationships.
Key questions or challenges being explored
Is "food sovereignty" a genuine strategic priority for governments, or a politically convenient narrative layered on top of business-as-usual trade? Where's the real capital going?
How should large F&B companies balance global efficiency (centralized supply chains) against the mounting pressure to localize production and partner with sovereign investors?
Which nations and blocs are positioned to be food-secure "winners" by 2030 and what does that mean for the ones left more exposed?
The key tension or debate at the heart of this discussion
Who would get the most value from attending this Ripple?
Corporate strategy, government affairs, and supply chain leaders at F&B multinationals navigating localization and geopolitical risks Government officials and sovereign investment leads shaping national food security and AgriFoodTech strategy Investors and founders in agtech/foodtech evaluating where sovereign and corporate capital is flowing Policy and trade specialists tracking the intersection of food, climate, and geopolitics