According to the UN, we will need up to 70 percent more food to feed the world by 2050. At the same time, the food system accounts for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions and exerts growing pressure on ecosystems, biodiversity, land and clean water resources. Meeting this increasing demand for food while mitigating negative impact is a balancing act, and the need for sustainable practices has never been clearer. Alfa Laval is pioneering new ways to allow the food industry to accelerate innovation and boost sustainable food production at a global scale.

With the food processing industry looking for new ways to feed the world, innovation plays a vital role. Alfa Laval's new heat exchanger, Hygienic WideGap, offers a game-changing alternative to conventional technology, potentially halving emissions in the processing of liquid foods containing fibers and particles. The line of new heat exchangers underscores Alfa Laval's commitment to sustainability and food safety in the food processing industry.

A game-changing innovation in the liquid food segment

• Many food and beverage producers are eager to reduce a common dependency on fossil fuel-based energy sources and at the same time enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions. While lowering the consumption of energy, water and chemicals at a plant level, food and beverage producers are simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout their supply chains. The launch of Alfa Laval's new Hygienic WideGap heat exchanger enables the switch from conventional processes to a more sustainable alternative.

• With this innovation, Alfa Laval has introduced a patented design suitable for the sustainable and hygienic production of, for example, crushed tomatoes, dressings, plant-based beverages, and juices with pulp.

• In comparison with conventional technologies, the new heat exchanger is 50 percent more energy efficient with corresponding lower emissions. It is the combination of optimal heat recovery, a 55-percent lower steam consumption and a 15-percent lower power consumption thanks to a lower pressure drop that is the foundation for the superior energy efficiency of the technology.

"We are proud to introduce this new heat exchanger, empowering our customers to achieve their sustainability goals by cutting energy consumption and emissions and with helping them accelerate their safe food production. This innovation signifies a win-win scenario for all stakeholders, particularly for society at large," says Nish Patel, president of the Food & Water Division at Alfa Laval.