Food as Software: Place, Protein, and Feeding the World Silicon Valley-Style.

Area of Science:

• Economic Geography
• Food Innovation
• Sociology of Technology

Background:

• The rise of alternative proteins (APs), including plant-based and cellular products, presents new economic and geographical challenges.
• Silicon Valley's established reputation as a hub for technological innovation influences emerging industries.
• Understanding the role of 'place' is crucial for analyzing the development and trajectory of new food technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the specific role of Silicon Valley in the economic geography of alternative proteins.
• To introduce and apply the concept of "innovation terroir" to the AP sector.
• To analyze how physical and cultural emplacement in Silicon Valley shapes AP ventures.

Main Methods:

• Drawing on original fieldwork data.
• Engaging with existing economic geography debates on food, place, and innovation.
• Developing the concept of "innovation terroir".

Main Results:

• Silicon Valley's "place-myth" encourages AP founders to physically locate in the region for resources and credibility.
• Success in the AP sector within Silicon Valley requires cultural adaptation, reframing food through a high-tech, software-centric lens.
• "Innovation terroir" highlights how the region's logics and practices shape AP development.

Conclusions:

• Silicon Valley's influence extends beyond industrial resources to shaping the cultural and ontological dimensions of APs.
• The "food as software" paradigm, driven by Silicon Valley's culture, has significant implications for future food innovation.
• This study prompts consideration of alternative pathways for AP development and its role in addressing global food challenges.