Food preparation technologies, from canning to cell-based cultivated foods, have rocked the food industry and the marketplace by evoking contradictions, controversies and concerns which impact purchasing decisions among a growing segment of consumers.

Their climate-conscious perspectives and commitments — albeit idyllic — are commonly confounded with complexity and confusion about what’s the best choice for their prosperity and for the planet.

A clearer understanding among consumers about how these innovations favorably impact the value chain of food production, processing & packaging sustainability, supply chain reliability, and ultimately health & well-being is crucial to exonerating the food industry from unfounded controversies which continue to spawn misinformation and foment distrust.

In our dual role of scientist-consumers, what should we believe and how can we be objective in what and whom to trust?

The scientific method and cooperative learning have served humankind well in our collective quest to seek answers and make sense of complexity and information. The primary question we must consider is how to transparently share our discoveries to-date about the value proposition of food innovations.

Our ultimate goal should be to help consumers navigate the modern food marketplace both confidently and conscientiously.