FFFS 2026 | Future Food Panel 2: Shaping the Next Food Economy
Why Shaping the Next Food Economy? Innovation only matters when people and markets are ready for it
The future of food will be shaped not only by what science and technology make possible, but also by what consumers are willing to adopt, what markets can support, and how innovations can reach people at scale.
Against this backdrop, the Future Food & Fuel Summit (FFFS) 2026 will convene its second Future Food panel, “Shaping the Next Food Economy,” bringing together complementary perspectives across land-efficient food production, sustainable proteins, consumer behaviour, halal trade and regional commercialisation.
Panelists
Yosuke Kurihara
Director & CEO
ARK Inc.
Dr H. Zuraimi Jumaat
Group CEO
Everdeen Global Pte Ltd
Dr Aimee Pink
Senior Research Fellow
Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, National University of Singapore
Moderator: Leave a Nest Singapore
Taking place on Friday, 2 October 2026, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the panel will explore a central question: what does it take to build a future food economy in which emerging innovations can achieve both consumer acceptance and commercial relevance?
The discussion brings together three different dimensions of that challenge. ARK brings a land-efficient aquaculture and technology perspective; Everdeen Global contributes expertise across halal ecosystems, international trade and regional market development; while the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at NUS brings research into the psychosocial factors influencing food choice and the acceptance of sustainable food innovations.
Together, these perspectives allow the conversation to move beyond the technology itself. The panel will examine how factors such as consumer behaviour, cultural considerations, halal market access, commercialisation and regional expansion can influence whether emerging food innovations ultimately succeed.
This is particularly relevant to Singapore and Japan. Both countries face constraints around land and resources while possessing sophisticated food, research and technology ecosystems. Southeast Asia also presents a diverse consumer landscape where understanding culture, trust, accessibility and market requirements is essential for technologies seeking to scale.
As Singapore and Japan commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations, the panel will explore how food innovations can move between both ecosystems and into the wider region, creating new opportunities for technology developers, researchers, businesses and consumers.
Meet the Panelists
Yosuke Kurihara
Director & CEO, ARK Inc.
Yosuke Kurihara is Director and CEO of ARK Inc. Originally from Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, he graduated from the State University of New York before joining Dentsu Inc. in 2008. In 2015, he joined Uhuru Corporation and became Representative Director of its Overseas Headquarters in London, working on capital and business partnerships and the development and implementation of IoT, DX and data businesses for companies and government agencies. In 2020, he co-founded ARK Inc. and was appointed Chief Sustainability Officer.
Dr H. Zuraimi Jumaat
Group CEO, Everdeen Global Pte Ltd
Dr H. Zuraimi Jumaat is a halal ecosystem strategist, entrepreneur and international trade advocate with extensive experience building cross-border halal business networks and facilitating industry collaboration across ASEAN, the Middle East and Africa. As Senior Advisor to Halal Hub Vietnam and Anchor Speaker for the Halal Trade Conference Vietnam, he contributes to advancing regional halal trade, investment, certification awareness and ecosystem development. His experience brings a market-access and international trade perspective to discussions on how emerging food innovations can reach diverse consumer markets.
Dr Aimee Pink
Senior Research Fellow, Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, National University of Singapore
Dr Aimee Pink is a Senior Research Fellow at the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at NUS, where her research focuses on the psychosocial influences of food choice and eating behaviours. Her recent work examines consumer perceptions, acceptance and adoption of sustainable food innovations. She has led studies investigating how children and families engage with alternative proteins, including plant-based, cultivated and insect-derived foods. Her research provides insights into the behavioural and societal factors that will influence the future adoption and success of alternative proteins.
Event Details
Future Food Panel 2: Shaping the Next Food Economy
Date: Friday, 2 October 2026
Time: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
Venue: Padang & Co, Singapore
The Future Food & Fuel Summit 2026 is organised by Leave a Nest Singapore together with the Embassy of Japan in Singapore as part of SJ60, bringing together approximately 100 invitation-only stakeholders across industry, government, research, investment and deep technology.
Learn more about FFFS 2026:
https://hic.lne.st/en/schedule/future-food-fuel-summit-2026/