The Cereals & Europe meeting, beginning today in Montpellier, France, and running through to Friday, claims to be the industry's "gateway" to cereals in Europe.
AACC International, an organization of industry experts who contribute to the research, development, and processing of grains and grain-based products, said its Spring event starts with an outline of the major challenges the cereals industry is facing today in view of its consumers' demands and expectations.
Two days of presentations follow, divided into two tracks: Technology and Science.
The Science Track will elaborate on how to translate nutritional issues into raw material, processing and product requirements; and the resulting technological requirements and how industry can best meet them, said AACCI.
The Technology Track will focus on new processes, ingredients, and final products.
The Opening Plenary Session includes, amongst others, talks by Julie Miller Jones of the College of St Catherine (on Consumer, Cereals and Health: Trends, Fads and Reality); Ron Madl of Kansas University (Health Benefits of Whole Grain Products); Richard Shepherd of the University of Surrey (Consumer Attitudes towards Healthy Cereal Products); and Jo Goosens of Giract (Nutrition and Health 2020).
The Science program will feature around 20 speakers, including academics and industry players.
The tracks will focus on Consumer Insights and Nutritional Aspects of Innovative Cereal based Products; Nutritional and Sensory Quality; Physiology; Cereals: source of high quality Nutrients; Regulation and functional nutrients; and Methodology.
The Technology tracks will examine: Better Processes for Better Nutrition; Bioactive Ingredients; Product Quality; Product Texture; Shelf Life; and Toxicology.
A Concluding Plenary Session will combine information from both tracks, leading to discussions on the future of the grains industry.
Technical posters and exhibits will provide attendees with additional opportunities to explore the latest technology and research.
FoodNavigator.com will be reporting from the conference.
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