Cibus Tec 2026 returns to Parma from 27 to 30 October, bringing together some of the main innovations dedicated to technologies for the food and beverage industry.
The event covers the entire supply chain, from ingredients and processing to packaging and logistics, making it possible to look at packaging not as an isolated element, but as an integral part of the production process.
The technologies on display include packaging systems, packaging materials, coding and labelling, end-of-line solutions, handling, traceability, logistics, automation, robotics and food safety solutions.
This broader perspective highlights one of the most interesting transformations taking place in contemporary food packaging.
Food Packaging: designing with the entire supply chain in mind
When discussing innovation in food packaging, attention often focuses on materials. Today, however, designing a pack means working on several different levels at the same time.
Packaging must first of all protect the product and help preserve its characteristics throughout distribution. At the same time, it must be compatible with packaging technologies, production line speeds and systems for handling, storage and transport.
There are also increasingly important requirements related to identification and control. Codes, labels and traceability systems make it possible to connect the package with the information that accompanies the product throughout the supply chain, while automation and digitalisation are creating an increasingly integrated relationship between packaging, production and logistics.
It is no coincidence that Cibus Tec dedicates a specific area to Food Packaging and brings together technologies for primary packaging, inspection, labelling, automation and digital solutions within the same innovation environment. Packaging and end-of-line technologies are also presented as sectors closely connected to the evolution of the food and beverage industry.
The result is a change in perspective: choosing a packaging solution no longer means considering only the final result that will appear on the shelf. It also means understanding how that solution will perform throughout the entire process.
Cibus Tec: what does food packaging need today?
Food safety, production efficiency, sustainability and the ability to adapt to different distribution channels are increasingly converging towards a more integrated approach to packaging design.
Packaging intended for large-scale retail, for example, must be designed by considering product preservation and shelf presentation, as well as handling and operational efficiency. Packaging for fresh products may require different solutions from those used for bakery products, dairy products, ready meals or foods designed for a longer shelf life. Cibus Tec brings together technologies developed for a wide range of sectors, from meat and fish to fruit, vegetables, pasta, bakery, snacks, beverages and pet food.
At the same time, increasing attention is being paid to the efficient use of materials and to production systems capable of combining quality, safety and sustainability. The event itself identifies food safety, hygiene, energy and the environment as key areas for the development of the food industry.
The innovations surrounding Cibus Tec 2026 therefore describe a type of packaging that is becoming increasingly connected to the rest of the supply chain. Materials, structure, packaging technology, traceability and logistics are becoming parts of the same project.
For companies developing food packaging, the challenge is no longer simply to create an effective package, but to design a solution capable of accompanying the product from the production line to the shelf, while combining functionality, safety, efficiency and communication.
