Switzerland, July 10, 2025: Over 1,200 global business leaders from the food, feed, and sustainable mobility sectors gathered at Bühler’s headquarters in Uzwil, Switzerland, for the fourth edition of Networking Days. With the theme “Multiplying impact together,” the two-day event focused on scaling existing solutions to feed and move 10 billion people sustainably by 2050.
The event featured discussions on sustainability, innovation, circular economy, and bold leadership. Participants included leaders from 90 countries across six continents, representing industry, academia, and civil society. Bühler emphasized the need to act decisively in uncertain times, spotlighting examples of technological advancement, collaboration, and sustainable transformation across sectors.
Bühler Group CEO Stefan Scheiber opened the event by emphasizing the power of collaboration: “Every breakthrough, partnership, and bold decision has the potential to create ripples – spreading knowledge, inspiring action, and driving progress. But their true power lies in the multiplier effect... they accelerate it by compounding their influence and scaling solutions far beyond what any single effort could achieve.”
Bühler CTO Ian Roberts echoed this, stating: “It is so clear now that we must act with focus and collaboration... to share what they have already achieved to accelerate group learning and impact multiplication.”
Keynote speakers underscored the urgent need for industry leadership. Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé, urged the food industry to act collectively. “Climate change is a reality, but there is leadership and there are science-based solutions... We have the ability to address many issues the planet is facing, and we should be taking the responsibility that comes with it very seriously.”
Harvard Business School’s Ranjay Gulati addressed leadership in uncertain times: “Uncertainty causes fear, and fear can be paralyzing. But to survive and thrive, you must be bold and take action.”
Professor Johan Rockström, Director at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, highlighted the business value of sustainability: “We must think of sustainability as central to competitiveness, security, stability, and health... show that sustainability is not a burden – it’s a competitive advantage.”
Examples from companies such as AAK, illycaffè, and Andriani S.p.A. demonstrated the tangible benefits of circular economy strategies. Digitalization, trade resilience, and data-driven decision-making were also explored, with experts from PTC, Rabobank, and the University of St. Gallen sharing insights.
Bühler showcased its progress toward reducing energy, water, and waste in customer value chains by 50%. According to Bühler, certain value chains showed even greater potential when paired with external technologies—such as 77% CO₂e reduction in chocolate production and 65% in rice processing.
The event concluded with reflections on leadership. Rugby icon Francois Pienaar remarked, “Great leaders make decisions grounded in strong principles... Imagine the impact we could have if we cultivate a generation of young leaders with integrity.”
In his closing statement, CEO Stefan Scheiber urged continued commitment: “We need the courage to take decisive action – action that accelerates growth and drives the sustainable transformation of businesses, value chains, and entire industries.”
Networking Days 2025 reinforced the importance of joint action to tackle global challenges, laying a foundation for collaborative, scalable solutions to create lasting impact.
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