Dr. Johnny Drain Keynote Speaker

Expert in sustainable food systems and fermentation innovation
Co-founder of Win-Win: creators of the world’s first cocoa-free chocolate
Author of Adventures in Fermentation (Penguin Life, 2025)

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Dr. Johnny Drain's Biography

Dr. Johnny Drain is an internationally recognized expert on the future of food, sustainable innovation, and fermentation. With a PhD in materials science from Oxford and a career spanning Michelin-starred kitchens such as Noma, he has pioneered ways to transform overlooked ingredients into delicious, zero-waste products for the world’s top hospitality brands. His thought-leadership and patented innovations have been featured by BBC, CNN, and Bloomberg, establishing him as a leading voice in global food culture.

As Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Win-Win (formerly WNWN Food Labs), Johnny led the creation of the world’s first cocoa-free chocolate, reshaping the confectionery industry with bold, sustainable alternatives. In 2025, Win-Win received two awards at the IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards, recognising its groundbreaking contribution to food technology. He also co-founded MOLD Magazine, a pioneering platform that explores the intersection of food design, culture, and technology.

A dynamic speaker and advisor, Johnny has captivated audiences at the United Nations (AI for Good), the V&A, and top international forums. He helps organisations tackle some of food’s most pressing challenges—from zero-waste innovation and gut health to entrepreneurship, climate resilience, and the intersection of AI and gastronomy.

His upcoming book, Adventures in Fermentation (Penguin Life, 2025), reveals the vast and unsung ways microbes are shaping the future of what we eat and more besides. With wit, clarity, and insight, Johnny’s talks blend scientific curiosity with entrepreneurial creativity, inspiring audiences to rethink the world’s biggest problems—starting with what’s on their plate.

The Future of Food: Innovating for Healthier, More Delicious Outcomes

What will we eat in the future—and how can we make it healthier, tastier, and more sustainable? A look at cutting-edge innovations shaping the way we grow, cook, and consume food.

The Secret Weapon of the Best Restaurants in the World

Channeling a passion for culinary storytelling, Dr. Drain shares his experiences cris-crossing the globe, training the world's best restaurants. From Michlein-starred greats to ones where the chefs carry guns, Johnny has seen it all.

Fungal Futures: How the Hidden World of Microbes Can Reshape Our Food Systems

Could fungi and microbes be the answer to feeding the world, fighting climate change, and even digesting waste plastic and oil spills? The unseen forces revolutionizing food, sustainability, and biotech.

Feeding 9 Billion: Why Fermentation Holds the Key to the Future of Food

With finite resources and a growing population, the future of food depends on looking to the past. How ancient fermentation techniques are unlocking new ways to nourish the world—sustainably, securely and at scale.

Technology, AI, and the Next Wave of Food

AI is already revolutionizing food—shaping everything from what we eat and how we produce it. From lab-grown meat to algorithm-driven flavors to highly personalised nutrition, how far can it go, and what shifts in taste, ethics and culture lie ahead?

Zero-Waste, Big Payoff: Turning Overlooked Resources into Opportunity

Can waste become the most valuable ingredient? How forward-thinking chefs and food brands are transforming scraps into gold—and proving sustainability is the smartest business model.

The Hidden Power of Microbes and Gut Health

Trillions of invisible allies inside you are shaping your health, mood, and even decision-making. Discover how microbes influence everything from immunity to mental clarity—and why gut health is the future of well-being.

Waste Not, Want Not: The Fermentation-Driven Path to Zero-Waste Entrepreneurship

The future of food (and business) is circular. How fermentation is turning by-products and waste into high-value products—and why this model is a game-changer for entrepreneurs in every industry.