Editor’s Note: Eva Everloo is senior investment analyst, and Anina Troya is an investment analyst intern at agrifood tech investor PeakBridge.The views expressed in this guest commentary are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of AgFunderNews.From accelerated drug discovery and turbo-charged R&D to sparkling marketing copy and improved customer service, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are being deployed in every field. But what do they bring to the food industry?In the third and final segment of a three-part deep dive into AI in food, Peakbridge explores the potential of AI to address the intersection of AI with nutrition and health.The rise of personalized nutritionChronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory conditions are the leading causes of illness, morbidity, and mortality in the United States and Europe, and constitute a significant portion of the global disease burden.In the US alone, they are responsible for 90% of the country’s $4.1 trillion annual healthcare, and they’re are on the rise, with 6 out of 10 US adults now having chronic diseases. Meanwhile, the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) forecasts that the global cancer burden is expected to increase to 28.4 million new cancer cases per year by 2040, with most cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Mental wellbeing should also be prioritized given the 13% rise in mental health conditions in the last decade.Factors exacerbating this situation include:Rise of unhealthy lifestyles: Diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in sodium and saturated fats are on the rise, alongside high rates of chronic stress, and sedentary lifestyles. Global dietary shifts: The globalization of food markets and the westernization of dietary habits have led to a surge in the availability and consumption of ultra-processed foods, pushing traditional diets to the sideline. This dietary shift has significant implications for healthcare as it affects overall well-being and health outcomes; this is exacerbated in regions where access to comprehensive healthcare and healthcare education is limited, and where there are stark economic disparities

The owner of the Westfield malls group is reportedly rethinking its plan to exit the U.S.Instead, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday (Sept. 12), Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield will hold onto some of its best-performing malls, while still getting rid of most of its properties in the U.S. by the year’s end.Chief Executive Jean-Marie Tritant told investors recently that “our strong operational performance gives us flexibility on when we’ll execute” additional sales, though the company still intends to undertake a “radical reduction” of its American portfolio.The company owns 16 malls, among them Westfield Century City in Los Angeles and Westfield Garden State Plaza in northern New Jersey and has invested substantially into some of the properties it was expected to have sold off, the WSJ said.The report notes that while older malls have seen their values plunge, many higher-end shopping centers continue to do well.Last month, Simon Property Group (SPG), the largest mall owner and developer in America, posted a strong second quarter despite headwinds from higher interest expenses.“Our business is performing well and is ahead of our internal plan. Tenant demand is excellent. Occupancy is increasing,” CEO and Chair David Simon said on an earnings call. “Property NOI [net operating income] is growing, beating internal expectations set at the beginning of the year.”As PYMNTS noted at the time, data from the U.S