With growing populations and increasing climate pressures, two futures emerged from our data science modelling of human behaviours.
Radical Transformation presents a future where we proactively protect and savour nature, using abundant, diverse, and regenerative ingredients that emit lower GHGs and drastically cut food waste from our processes.
Resilient Adaptation emerges in a world slow to address climate change, driving a food gap to fill. We adapt to new constraints with technology and science to create novel foods and replicate flavours of diminishing ingredients.
“We need a revolution in society, and it’s not going to come from any other way except from agriculture. People don’t care about how cotton is grown in Turkey, but they really care about their food.”
“Biodiversity is key to building systems that support equity and food sovereignty. It's not just about having enough food, but also ensuring people can access nutritious, high-quality food they can culturally resonate with.”
“What we do to our land, we do to ourselves”
“Not everything needs to be technologically driven. You need to take into account we still have millions of small scale farmers, fishing communities. If we enable them to go back to nature-based systems, with climate-smart additions, we can create a future-proofed system.”
“The misconception is that the best thing we can do for the planet is stop eating meat. There are ways to have healthy, delicious, and ethical meat if we don't produce and eat over planetary boundaries.”
“Soil health is essential for food security. If we don’t change the way we’re farming, we’ll run out of top soil within 50 years. Through regenerative agriculture, we’re improving soil health. We don’t need fertilizer or synthetic chemicals that damage the soil. Higher quality soil gives you better yields & nutritional density.”
“Humanity isn’t doomed to do things in a way that ruins everything.”
“Most of the solutions to the issues we face already exist — even if they’re not novel. Our future hinges not on producing more, but on consuming less, with greater intention. It starts with changing our mindsets and preferences.
Chef Oliver Truesdale-Jutras serves up two possible futures, shaped by Synthesis’ data and future forces—each dish a glimpse of the climates, cultures and ingredients that could shape our tables tomorrow.
If we replace protein from industrial farming with climate-smart farming like Selva Shrimp from BlueYou, we emit 47x fewer emissions per KG than average cattle production.
Crops grown in regenerative farming practices contain up to 34% more vitamins and other key nutrients compared to industrial farming methods.
Crop diversification improves soil fertility and productivity by 50%. Diverse crop rotations enhance soil health and resilience of our agricultural systems.
Nearly all parts of a coconut can be used, but up to 85% of the weight of harvested coconuts usually end up as waste. Coconut copra is where the nutrients are.
Although typically
discarded as waste, banana
peels contain up to 40%
more potassium than the
fruit itself.
Dewakan celebrates Malaysia’s biodiversity by transforming indigenous herbs, wild vegetables, and foraged rainforest and coastal ingredients into modern expressions of place and culture.
95% of ingredients sourced within Indonesia, many from regenerative farms or forest communities.
A laboratory and bar rooted in localism and sustainability, crafting minimal-waste cocktails through foraging, fermentation and indigenous flavours that honour and push Asia’s identity forward.
Menus reflect specific altitudinal ecosystems, featuring Andean tubers, ancient grains, and Amazonian produce.
All-organic, plant-based, grown biodynamically at the Farmacy Kitchen Garden in Kent. Advocates for food as medicine and seasonal growing cycles. Minimal intervention, often served raw or fermented.
A farm-to-pizza pioneer, sourcing from regenerative farms and closing loops through circular food systems, all in service of their mission to cultivate peace and happiness through food.
A collaborative dining space exploring food, culture, and responsible eating. Bricolage serves healthy, plant-forward meals with a focus on whole foods and full-ingredient utilisation.
Explore the signals that have an oversized impact shaping which future we’ll most likely be living in 2035:
Reach out to explore Schema in more detail.
Leans on resilient, underutilized grains like millet and sorghum – ingredients that thrive in diverse climates and carry cultural significance. Ingredients have a clear provenance, signal transparency, biodiversity, and cultural continuity.
Gentle and grounded in tradition – fermentation, sprouting, or stone grinding. Businesses upcycle food streams and rediscover overlooked ingredients. Waste is reduced through re-integration into food systems where scraps become ferments, animal feed, or compost.
Evolve beyond being recyclable. Biodegradable, reusable, refillable items are the standard – waste is avoided by making packaging an edible part that adds flavor and texture.
Designed for gut-brain-body harmony and emotional nourishment. Indulgence means slow release, seasonal adaptability, and deep emotional satisfaction, not hyper-stimulation.
Involve community-based retails (farmer’s markets, co-ops, eco-retreats). Distribution is designed to enable connection – pickup from a local grower or shared rituals around sourcing.
Focuses on radical transparency and storytelling rooted in rituals and wisdom. The focus is on inclusive connection, making slow food feel meaningful, not elitist.
Less about top-down enforcement, but more about shared accountability frameworks where governments, corporates and communities co-design agreements. Policies encourage composting schemes and food sharing initiatives.
Re-established as moments of community, restoration, and connection. Family meals, neighborhood feasts, and seasonal gatherings revive as food is not only consumed but celebrated as part of life’s rhythm.
BlueYou adopts a “Planet Positive” standard – highlighting regenerative aquafarming that restores nature and drives conscious consumption.
Zespri's Kiwifruit became the first fresh fruit in the EU to achieve an approved health claim, shown to support digestive health by improving regularity — paving the way for more whole fruits and vegetables to carry functional benefits.
Karana transforms undervalued jackfruit into meaty, nutritious culinary products while scaling regenerative, biodiverse farming and reducing waste – nurturing both soil and communities.
Dole Green banana powder upcycles unripe bananas into a naturally nutrient-rich powder high in resistant starch, fiber, potassium, and magnesium – fueling gut health and digestion.
Sirona Foods delivers instant whole-food meals and broths made from pure, natural ingredients that serve nourishing simplicity, with broths offering a natural source of collagen.
Big Tree Farms produce regeneratively grown coconut sugar that is low GI and mineral-rich, while also organic, non-GMO, fair trade, and produced in agroforestry systems that preserve trees and save water.
Yolélé Fonio Chips (West Africa/USA) offer a low-calorie, nutrient-dense ancient grain rich in fibre, iron, and B-vitamins, grown in arid soils to regenerate land while transforming rural communities through new markets.
Bio&Me Granolas are made with 15 different plant-based foods to support gut microbial diversity, high in fibre, all-natural, no added sugar, and designed to be “good for your gut.”
Living Koko grows regenerative cacao rich in fibre, flavonoids, and minerals that support mood and cognitive function, while honouring indigenous communities and promoting mindful, zero-waste, heart-opening rituals.
“Innovation is only better if it provides a better outcome for consumers, business customers, and the planet. We need to pursue solutions that meet consumers' convenience, price, taste, and credibility needs.”
“Technology is a tool that allows nature to work better. Our Vertical Oceans not only mimic natural ecosystems, it enables them to perform at their maximum capacity.”
“To accelerate innovation, big companies need to partner with start-ups to test at low scale. It's low risk and cost for them, whereas startups have the opportunity to scale innovative technology into bigger manufacturing processes.”
“Solein, protein made from thin air, doesn’t need
arable land or favorable climate conditions.
Instead, the process requires renewable energy,
such as solar or wind power. It’s a protein that will revolutionise food, feed the world and never run out.”
“We don’t see nature as a problem to fix but as a partner to learn from. The future of food will come from blending biology’s wisdom with modern tools, and scaling innovation through ecosystems of discovery, capital, and collaboration. Feed. Fuel. Feel Better”
Chef Oliver Truesdale-Jutras serves up two possible futures, shaped by Synthesis’ data and future forces—each dish a glimpse of the climates, cultures and ingredients that could shape our tables tomorrow.
Shrimps from Vertical Oceans, a pioneer in artificial ecosystems that perfectly mimic nature. Every aspect of their tech supports their zero waste, zero discharge system.
Growing challenge of maintaining nutritional value from nutrient poor high-yield crops grown from depleted soil.
As soils lose nutrients, supplements have become a routine part of meals, taken before or after eating to top up daily nutrition.
A necessity-driven choice of
utilising resources like wasted pig ears to sustain meat-eating habits.
The good news is pig ears are packed with nutrients such as protein, omega-3 and omega-6.
THIC delivers flavour,
functionality and the
deliciousness of chocolate,
with zero cocoa or association
with palm oil or deforestation.
Tech to control sound, smell, light, and visuals in the dining room—coordinated to each course.
Researchers and biochemists to reimagine ingredients (e.g., transforming algae into crisp textures, using fermentation to create meat-like umami in vegetables).
Uses flavour encapsulation, edible balloons, aroma diffusers, and custom-built equipment to manipulate flavour and perception.
A lab-grown meat company that uses 3D-printed food and insect proteins.
3 star, completely meatless but working with Upside Foods (cultivated chicken) to bring lab-grown meat to high-end tasting menus.
Responding to environmental destruction through their menu which highlights ingredients that are abundant, invasive, or prevalent, while working with responsible producers, using low carbon emissions.
Explore the signals that have an oversized impact shaping which future we’ll most likely be living in 2035:
Reach out to explore Schema in more detail.
Shifts to lab-grown, functional, science-backed ingredients. Crops are biofortified for heat resilience, to require less water, and optimized for micronutrient gaps. Novel foods – algae, alternative proteins, and insects gain traction as “necessary nutrition”.
Durable, portion-controlled, and engineered to minimize spillage or spoilage. Multi-functional packs double as dosing tools for on the go.
Precise, personalized, tech-optimized. Production lines are designed for efficiency and resilience such as through zero-human batch operations and shelf-life extending technologies. Precision preservation and valorization of by-products into supplements ensure nothing is wasted.
Engineered to maximize health and bioavailability at the growing burden of healthcare costs, aging population, rising NCD rates, and depleting nutrient deficiency from depleting soil quality.
Dominated by D2C and smart platforms where convenience triumphs. Subscription models and automated replenishment systems backed by tech companies rather than traditional retail ensures continuity in times of scarcity. Smart distribution prevent over-purchasing and wastage.
Outcome based, biometric-validated, and tech integrated. Narrative focuses on tackling aging, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental strain – positioning food as both a safeguard for personal health and a collective duty.
Top down, with strict bans and taxes on harmful ingredients, accelerating demand for desugarization and reformulation technologies. Regulations enforce stretching via waste-reduction mandates and incentivize valorization tech.
Fragmented, individualized, and efficiency driven. Nutrition is delivered through micro-dosed formats, smart snacks, and fortified beverages on the go. Occasions center on continuous personalization – small, frequent, data-driven intakes optimized for mood, performance, or ageing needs.
Forged by Vow is crafted at the cellular level, without the need for green pastures or the animal itself. Forged start with a single animal cell and nourish it with ingredients chefs would recognise from their own pantry. No fillers or synthetic additives. A new, thoughtful way to make meat.
THIC ® (This Isn't Chocolate) is a delicious alternative chocolate made from upcycled ingredients like brewer’s spent grain (barley from beer production) and cacao shells. No palm oil, no additives, and no labs – just a tasty product made by chefs doing their thing.
Prefer Coffee creates bean-free coffee from upcycled broken rice and chickpeas, cutting carbon, water use, and deforestation while offering sustainable and cost-effective alternative to coffee.
Solar Foods' Solein is a protein made out of thin air, neither a plant nor an animal. It originates from a natural, non-modified, single-cell organism. Solein contains all of the nine essential amino acids that are required by the human body.
Perfect Day uses precision fermentation to make whey protein without cows—same structure, better digestibility
Every Company (formerly Clara Foods) makes egg-white proteins via fermentation—zero cholesterol, allergen-free
ZBiotics developed a genetically engineered probiotic that breaks down acetaldehyde (from alcohol)—supports liver health
High Fibre and Antioxidants Meati Foods and Nature’s Fynd use mycelium with high-quality protein + prebiotic fibre
Oobli and Bonumose create Low GI sweet proteins and rare sugars (e.g., allulose) through fermentation