On the occasion of World Creativity and Innovation Day, at Importaco we highlight the role innovation plays as a driver of development in the food sector. A process that goes beyond launching new products and involves transforming knowledge into real solutions that create value for people and the environment. 

To explore this vision further, we spoke with Nati Sebastiá, Head of Research, Innovation and New Technologies, whose career combines scientific rigour with industrial application. 

Innovating to create impact

At Importaco, innovation is understood as a tool to generate real value from knowledge. A process rooted in science, supported by technology and translated into concrete market solutions. 

As Nati Sebastiá explains, innovation not only involves developing new products, but also improving processes, optimising resources and anticipating consumer needs, always from a responsible and sustainable perspective. “It is highly applied innovation, where every advancement has a direct impact on both the business and society,” she notes. 

The scientific method as the foundation of innovation

One of the defining pillars of Importaco’s innovation model is its approach based on the scientific method. Each project begins with a hypothesis that is validated through testing, data analysis and continuousimprovement of solutions. 

This approach enables evidence-based decision-making, optimises resources and ensures that every development meets the sector’s standards of quality, efficiency and sustainability. 

Innovation serving sustainability and health

In a global context shaped by challenges such as climate change and evolving eating habits, R&D&I plays a key role in transforming the sector. 

At Importaco, sustainability is embedded from the design stage of every project, assessing aspects such as the origin of raw materials, energy consumption, waste reduction and the valorisation of by-products. At the same time, the company works to maintain and enhance the nutritional value of its products, responding to a growing demand for healthier food. 

Creativity applied to food

Innovation in food is largely an exercise in applied creativity. The combination of health, convenience, taste and sustainability defines today’s greatest development potential in the sector. 

From the development of functional ingredients and new textures to product reformulation and process optimisation, innovation is built from multiple sources: scientific knowledge, trend analysis, internalcapabilities and active market listening. 

Innovation that enhances the consumer experience

The impact of innovation translates directly into the consumer experience. Healthier, tastier products tailored to new lifestyles help strengthen trust and the relationship with the brand. 

At a business level, innovation drives efficiency, diversification and adaptability in an increasingly demanding environment. In this regard, trends such as healthy eating, clean label, sustainability and thedevelopment of balanced snacks are shaping Importaco’s main lines of work. 

From research to market

Nati Sebastiá’s career reflects the connection between science and industry. After years in research, her motivation to move into the business sector was clear: to apply scientific knowledge to real solutions. 

“In industry, the impact is more immediate and visible. It allows you to close the loop from research to the consumer,” she explains. 

This approach is complemented by key learnings from her research stage, such as critical thinking, rigour in data analysis and the importance of experimentation, understanding error as part of the innovationprocess. 

Looking ahead

The future of innovation in food will be shaped by major challenges: the true sustainability of the food chain, the need to produce more with fewer resources and the adaptation to new nutritional demands. 

This is coupled with the integration of new technologies, such as digitalisation and biotechnology, which will transform production processes and open up new development opportunities. 

For Nati Sebastiá, innovation can be summed up in one word: impact. A concept that reflects the ability to generate real change in products, processes and the way people relate to food. 

A shared responsibility

On World Creativity and Innovation Day, at Importaco we reaffirm the role of innovation as a shared responsibility within the food sector. 

Committing to science, collaboration and applied creativity is key to developing solutions that are not only competitive, but also sustainable and healthy—helping to shape the future of food.