Modern food production is largely dependent on fossil fuels. Now that we are beginning to reach the end of them, the main question remains: How will we feed a global population of 9 billion people in 2050?

Modern food production is largely dependent on fossil fuels. Now that we are beginning to reach the end of them, the main question remains: How will we feed a global population of 9 billion people in 2050? In the Netherlands, Belgium and Silicon Valley, numerous startups have sprung up that use smart technology, big data and new distribution systems to find solutions for this issue.

In Backlight, we explore tomorrow’s food, which not only needs to be sustainable, tasty and organic, but mainly nutritious and above all sufficient for all earthlings. Will the approach of this new generation of food startups help us to ensure the necessary quantity and quality of food in the future?

In “Digital Food”, we meet up with sustainable food guru Michael Pollan, chef Dan Barber and philosopher Julian Baggini. Food scanners, data-supported crop rotation for farmers and the reintroduction of forgotten foods are among the first successes in the world of digital technology. In Limburg, lettuce is grown under LED light, which is fast and efficient, plus it requires less fertilizer and pesticides. And a Belgian website has analyzed our food at a molecular level and put it all in a database. This way, pouting can be transformed from an insignificant fish into a culinary delicacy.

In Backlight: The recipes for tomorrow’s dishes.