Director of Innovation and Technology at Duas Rodas

Steven Rumsey, PhD, is the Director of Innovation and Technology at Duas Rodas, a multinational flavor and natural ingredient company based in Brazil. Dr. Rumsey has over 30 years of experience in the field of Food Innovation, working in both regional and global environments. He is also a member of the global board of the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI). Dr. Rumsey holds a degree in Neuroscience, a Master's and PhD in Human Nutrition and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Health in U.S.  

Through this article Rumsey outlines how thriving in the age of exponential innovation requires embracing uncertainty, leveraging transformative technologies and fostering a culture of adaptability, collaboration and continuous learning.

Challenges in Defining Necessary and Relevant Innovation

Innovation paths vary significantly depending on an organization's goals, capabilities and culture.

Each business environment presents unique challenges involving knowledge, competition  and  objectives  and  there is no universal formula for innovation. However, foundational principles for value-driven innovation remain consistent across industries: understanding the customer and how a product or service meets their expectations. Failures often stem from poor empathy and unclear objectives, especially in a rapidly evolving market with increasingly individualized customer demands.

In recent years, customer demands have become more individualized, challenging organizations to adapt. Developing relevant products or services for increasingly niche audiences and personalizing communication processes have become essential for staying relevant in a complex, fragmented market. This requires understanding and adapting to the specific needs of each segment, offering tailored solutions and establishing efficient communication and relationship-building channels.

Exponential Technologies as Innovation Tools

Technological transformation and exponential innovation are reshaping competitiveness across all industries. No sector is immune to disruptive change and recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) vividly illustrate this transformation. However, AI is just one aspect of exponential innovation. Advances in data analysis, genetic manipulation, robotics and nanotechnology are similarly accelerating the pace of change and creating new opportunities.

“By investing in the right people, processes  and  culture, companies can navigate the complexities of exponential change and position themselves to thrive in an increasingly unpredictable future.” 

The allure of exponential technologies lies in their ability to rapidly create personalized solutions. Advances in genetic understanding allow for customized health and nutrition interventions, while nanotechnology transforms everyday materials—like turning common graphite into graphene—yielding new uses and value streams. Graphene, for example, is a material that is incredibly strong, lightweight and has outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity, making it ideal for applications in electronics, materials science and energy. Meanwhile, robotics is advancing beyond industrial settings, promising more human-centered solutions for homes and other non-industrial environments. These exponential technologies are already accessible to millions, amplifying the range of potential applications and innovative solutions.

At Duas Rodas, we are focused on learning and adapting to incorporate exponential technologies to the business of food ingredients. Biotechnology and nanotechnology are new tools which are experimenting with extensively for the development of encapsulation and performance solutions. 

We harness AI and data technologies to better understand customer needs and develop more personalized ingredient solutions for food companies.

To help achieve this with data and AI, we established planta.vc, a startup focused on consumer data collection and direct engagement, which has evolved to include food-sector-specific platforms for clients to access relevant market information. For product development, we have implemented DRICA, an internally developed AI system that accelerates the selection, personalization  and  delivery of flavor and ingredient solutions.  DRICA is integrated into the development, production  and  delivery phases, increasing efficiency for our R&D technical staff and allowing us to meet the thousands of monthly project requests as well as improve the efficiency of supply and demand planning and execution in our manufacturing process.

In today's landscape, exponential innovation has become the new battleground determining competitiveness across industries. Human reasoning is essentially linear by nature, projecting the future based on past experiences. Exponential innovations defy this predictability, evolving in ways which we cannot foresee (even with the help of AI).

Adding to the challenge are other uncertainties—social, logistical, political  and  environmental—which further complicate the context. Despite these challenges, the need for continuous innovation is clear, as the market and consumer desires are in constant flux.

The Role of Senior Leadership in Adopting Exponential Technologies

How can leaders navigate exponential change in their day-to-day operations? Leading during times of exponential change is extraordinarily challenging, especially when the intricacies of new technologies exceed the traditional expertise of most leaders. However, senior leaders do not need to understand every technical detail; instead, their role is to create an environment that supports targeted experimentation and exploration to foster open-mindedness yet still connect with tangible business challenges.

Senior leaders must also focus on selecting talent equipped with the skills essential for future innovation, such as collaboration, resilience, effective communication, continuous learning and strategic thinking.

Providing opportunities for professional growth, exposure to new technologies  and  fostering cross-disciplinary knowledge are vital components of a successful innovation strategy.  Developing people to have confidence and comfort in navigating exponential technologies will define the organizations that thrive in the future. Investment in dynamic structures, rapid development cycles and a vision to tackle objectives relevant to the business units and their clients is crucial to staying competitive in an ever-accelerating world.

Ultimately, the organizations that will succeed in the age of exponential innovation are those that embrace uncertainty and see rapid technological change as an opportunity rather than a threat. By investing in the right people, processes  and  culture, companies can navigate the complexities of exponential change and position themselves to thrive in an increasingly unpredictable future.