Gilberto Tomazoni highlights the advancement of functional and personalized nutrition and investments in biotechnology during the Latam Retail Show; the executive receives the Leader Who Inspires Leaders Award.
Changes in eating habits, driven by increased life expectancy, the search for healthier habits and greater access to information, are redefining consumption and opening up new opportunities for the food industry. During the 11th edition of the Latam Retail Show in São Paulo, the Global CEO of JBS, Gilberto Tomazoni, highlighted how the company has been preparing to anticipate the demands of this new consumer profile through innovation and biotechnology.
According to the executive, the change in consumption patterns is structural and includes consumers who are increasingly attentive to the composition and nutritional characteristics of food. Tomazoni also cited the advancement of GLP-1 analog medications as one of the factors accelerating broader changes in eating habits.
“We are experiencing a structural transformation in consumption. People are living longer, seeking healthier habits, and are much more informed about what they consume. It is a change that opens up immense opportunities and requires the industry to be prepared to anticipate the future,” said Tomazoni.
To address this scenario, JBS structures its nutrition strategy around three fronts: basic, functional, and personalized. The company invests in science and biotechnology to develop new applications, increase the nutritional value of food, and explore the potential of proteins and other components of its raw materials.
One of the main initiatives in this area is JBS Biotech, an advanced biotechnology center inaugurated this year in Florianópolis (SC). With more than 4,000 m² and over 20 specialized laboratories, the facility develops science applied to the production chain in areas such as animal health, precision nutrition, and functional and alternative proteins.
Among the research projects are biotechnological processes capable of identifying molecules and compounds with higher added value in raw materials from the production chain. According to Tomazoni, the company has already patented five molecules and is working on a pilot plant to advance the evaluation of production on an industrial scale.
“Consumers are much more informed. Today, they don’t just look at the quantity of protein, but also at the quality and amino acid profile. This changes the way we need to think about nutrition and opens up a huge field for innovation,” said the executive.
At the close of the panel, Tomazoni received the Leader Who Inspires Leaders – Abilio Diniz award in recognition of the company’s ability to adapt to market changes and the executive’s management of the corporation, which operates in 20 countries and has more than 280,000 employees.
“I share this honor with all those who challenged me throughout my journey and believed in my potential, even in the face of what I didn’t know I was capable of achieving. Likewise, I share this award with every professional who stood by my side and whom I was able to inspire to go further. For me, true leadership is not about how many followers you accumulate, but about how many people you empowered and prepared to lead others,” thanked the Global CEO of JBS.
