The group, which comprises of CSM Ingredients and HIFOOD, has joined the association of friends of the University of Gastronomic Sciences and will work together on circular economy and international communication projects.

CSM Group – a global player in the research, innovation, and production of food ingredients and part of the Ingredient-Tech Platform has joined as a Strategic Partner the Association of Friends of the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG – Pollenzo, Italy), the first university in the world to be focused on food at a transdisciplinary level. The university was founded in 2004 and promoted by the Slow Food Association in collaboration with the Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna regions.

Through this partnership, CSM Group and the entire Ingredient-Tech Platform become members of the UNISG Strategic Partners’ Club, which includes some of the most important companies and institutions in the world of food production, distribution, and consumption. All of them share UNISG’s commitment and strategic vision. CSM Group thus joins a circle of virtuous companies that choose the university as a fundamental partner to support the development of new scenarios of sustainable growth and innovative food and cultural models.

“We are particularly pleased to have launched this strategic partnership with the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, a reference not only when it comes to education but also innovation in the food sector. We firmly believe in the value of research and continuous training, and we are therefore confident that – thanks to this new collaboration – we will be able to further develop projects able to positively impact the evolution of the food sector.” – commented Aldo Uva, CEO of the Ingredient-Tech Platform. 

Rinaldo Rava, Vice President of UNISG, stated: “We are extremely pleased and proud to welcome CSM Group among the Strategic Partners of the University. The opportunity to develop research and innovation with a company that globally handles raw materials, focusing on the development of plant-based and allergen-free ingredients, presents new research prospects, educational opportunities, and student engagement for our institution. UNISG has always highlighted the importance of working closely with the production sector to develop low-impact solutions for the entire food system. The collaboration with CSM Group certainly aligns with this direction.”

Specifically, the first areas where the professors and students of the University of Gastronomic Sciences and the professionals of the Ingredient-Tech Platform will join forces will be regarding upcycling and circular economy projects in the ice cream and fruit industry and the marketing and communication abroad of ingredients of natural origin developed in Italy. 

Michele Antonio Fino, Associate Professor of Fundamentals of European Law and Delegate of the Rector for third mission activities, added: “The establishment of the strategic partnership between UNISG and CSM Group holds particular value for the teaching and the third mission of our institution. It will offer students opportunities to explore some of the most fertile areas of food innovation and also constitutes a significant opportunity for actions in dissemination, lifelong learning, and commissioned research for the university”.

“We are confident that working with young talents from all over the world will enable us to further evolve our open innovation approach. Thanks to this partnership, in fact, we will not only be able to help train the professionals of the future, but also expand our skills and develop increasingly sustainable solutions”, added Christian Sobolta, Managing Director of CSM Group.

CSM Group

Comprising of both CSM Ingredients and HIFOOD, CSM Group is a global ingredient-tech company that develops solutions for the food industry with the aim of collaboratively enabling the evolution of the food ecosystem. With 8 manufacturing plants, 4 innovation centers, 1 open innovation hub, and a team of over 1,400 highly experienced professionals, the company serves artisanal and industrial players as well as foodservice operators and retail chains in more than 120 countries. By combining its unique heritage and specialized technical expertise with world-class research and open innovation, CSM Group is committed to identifying emerging and growing trends in order to develop cutting-edge ingredients and tailored solutions for the bakery, fine pastry, dairy & non-dairy, ice cream, savory and gluten-free industries. Following the acquisition in 2022 of HIFOOD, CSM Group today also offers deep expertise and knowledge of applications and use of natural products, such as new fibers, proteins, gluten-free cores, and additive-free and plant-based systems. Together with Italcanditi, Comprital Rubicone, Parker Products, and Creative Food Ingredients, CSM Group is part of an Ingredient-Tech Platform that aims to enable Taste and Nutrition for a New World. 

Please visit www.csmingredients.com to learn more.

UNISG 

The University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, founded in 2004 by the International Slow Food Association together with  Regione Piemonte and Regione Emilia Romagna, offers complete and unique training in the field of food studies. In its twentieth year since its foundation, 3800 students from 100 countries have chosen Pollenzo for their programs, recognizing our university as a dynamic and young institution with a strong international footprint. Pollenzo’s approach insists on experiential teaching, equipping students with a global vision of food production systems, both past and present, and allowing them to appreciate the richness of cultural diversity.

The university trains food specialists with interdisciplinary skills in the fields of science, culture, politics, economics and food ecology.