Criteria judges will consider
- Scalability: Does the innovation show potential to expand efficiently and sustainably across markets or industries without compromising quality or functionality? How cost effective is it?
- Sustainability: Does the innovation help people or planet in a tangible way? How does it minimise environmental impact, promote resource efficiency, or support long-term ecological balance?
- Novelty: How groundbreaking and original is the innovation within the food tech space? Does it have the ability to address unmet needs or introduce transformative ideas?
- Market opportunity: Is there evidence of commercial interest, success, and market applications – including commercial success in major markets in the Americas, EMEA or APAC region and engagement from the core target market?
- Star quality: Does the product/innovation have potential to be a ‘game changer’? Does it have the ‘X factor’?
The judges
The judges will have a broad range of industry experience and insight and will be drawn from these areas:
- The academic: A food tech researcher who can judge the novelty and credibility of the innovation
- The NGO executive: A sustainability expert who can decide if the solution will benefit people and planet
- The VC investor: An expert on market, scalability and competitive advantage, this judge will assess which innovations have staying power
- The big brand: A specialist from the venture capital arm or an RnD specialist from a top CPG who knows what those firms are looking for
- The journalist: A FoodNavigator editorial expert who can pull all criteria together and judge who has a great origin story
Meet the 2026 judges
Americas judges
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