To disseminate information on current trends, developments and manufacturing activities in food science technology and functional food ingredients, Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), has organised “Food Ingredients Asia Conference 2009.” The event will take place on September 10-11 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok, and run parallel to the 15th Fi-Asia tradeshow.

This year, the theme is “What’s New in the world of Functional Food Ingredients” The organisers said that at present, health and safety have been prime areas regarding new food products across the globe. Extensive research in both public and private laboratories has linked food science and technology with nutrition to come up with healthier, tastier and more palatable dishes. We aim to hear about the very latest food ingredients for promoting good health. The conference will present these innovations.

“The conference will also offer good opportunities for technology transfer and sharing research results and experiences among participants from universities, other research organisations, businesses and the wider community to enable creations of innovative products for good quality of life,” FoSTAT said.

The conference is planned to be segregated into seven strategy sessions:
” Functional ingredients for economical market and HPMC: fat replacement technology.
” Original weight-management and antioxidant ingredient from cactus fruit and Effects of olive leaf extract against Osteoarthritis
” Tocotrienol – a review of recent research findings on the mechanisms for improving human cardiovascular health and All fibres are not equal: learning from oat b-glucan & heart health.
” Chelating property of Curcumin and Trends in food ingredients in Taiwan.
” UMAMI Technology and Functional beverage ingredients: the industry review.
” L-Citrulline with multiple functions: advanced nutrition for vasodilation and Microcrystalline cellulose gels – a multifunctional ingredient.
” Next generation prebiotics: Galactooligosaccharides used in the development of functional foods for immune health and Milk protein concentrate high in Phospholipids for improving cognitive performance.

“Thailand has become one of the world’s major food exporters. From a position 30 years ago where only the surplus was exported, the food industry has grown to the point where many exports are processed or have some form of value addition. Today, the industry accounts for almost 20% of the nation’s total exports. This growth has resulted in the import of new technologies, development of new products, discovery of new markets and incessant focus on quality. Concurrent with this has been the growth in food science and technology and an increasing emphasis on developing the human resources necessary to support the industry in Thailand,” FoSTAT added.

“In my opinion, the functional ingredients is the current buzz word in the processed foods world and it will continue to be the important word in the coming 100 years especially in Asia. My presentation will refer to available affordable market in the world. Due to recent global economic challenges, more and more customers in the meat and culinary markets are looking for cost saving solution. We at Danisco, have a series of strategies for our customers to cut costs by using our functional ingredients,” Boon Weng Low, regional industry manager for dairy, ice cream, meat and culinary, Danisco Malaysia, and prearranged speaker for “Functional Ingredients for Economical Market” (session 1) told F&B News.

According to Low, Fi Asia 2009 is the only event in the Asian continent which promotes world food ingredients industry and provide a platform for networking and gather more information about the ingredient world.

Global researchers & food technologists, food and beverage manufacturers and producers, retailers, suppliers and distributors, safety and quality professionals, law makers, professional from governmental and non-governmental organisations, food and foodservice consultants, trade associations, education institutes and universities are likely to join the international convention.

The two-day convention is also supported by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), the Federation of Institute of Food Science and Technology in ASEAN (FIFSTA), Agro-Industry Academic Council Association (AIAC), UBM Information – Netherlands and UBM Asia (Thailand) Co. Ltd.