Presenting Functional Ingredients of Asia: Where Tradition Meets Science
Asia is the richest source of functional ingredients for health - more than 50% of the world’s functional ingredients and foods originate here. Asia is also home to over half of the world’s population, relying on the benefits of food not only for survival, but also for longevity and quality of life.
Join us for “Functional Ingredients of Asia: Where Tradition Meets Science.”, 19 September, Bangkok, Thailand. This meeting brings together experts in food science, pharmacology, botany and health innovation to analyze traditional wisdom through scientific methodology. Join us in building cross-border collaborations and unlocking the future of health products rooted in Asia’s heritage. Scan the poster QR code in the posters below to register or watch on Facebook Live here: Food Innovation & Regulation Network – FIRN.
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and IUFoST join forces with long-term collaboration agreement
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and IUFoST have signed a long-term agreement for collaboration on Capacity Building and Training, Research and Development, Advocacy and Development and Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination. The AAS is the only continental Academy in Africa supported and recognised by the African Union, governments and major international partners. Its mandate is to recognize excellence; to provide advisory and think tank functions for shaping the continent’s science, technology and innovation (STI) strategies and policies; and to implement key STI programmes aimed at addressing Africa’s developmental challenges. Projects and initiatives will be implemented in all the above areas through this strategic partnership. IUFoST’s role is to include provision of technical expertise and knowledge transfer; development of training materials and programmes, global networking and partnership building.
Redefining Food Processing as a Critical Tool for Global Nutrition, Food Security and Sustainability
Speaking at the International Congress of Nutrition in Paris, IUFoST President Professor Samuel Godefroy joined scientists from nutrition and other disciplines in emphasizing the need to bridge nutrition science and food science to address urgent global food challenges. They reaffirmed the essential role of food processing in ensuring safe, sustainable and equitable access to nutrition worldwide.
“Nutrition science identifies what people need for better health, while food science transforms that knowledge into safe, nutritious, and accessible products. The two disciplines must work together, not in silos, if we are to meet the pressing demands of food security, sustainability, and public health.”
IUFoST is calling also for adherence to a science-based food classification following Codex international standards, referencing examples in nutrient profiling, labelling guidelines and front of pack labelling systems.
Next steps include a Scientific Roundtable Discussion (SRD) (mark calendars for October 16/17, 11 a.m. UTC,) for the UNIDO/IUFoST International Nutrition Congress inter-disciplinary presentations and further preparation together with all those invested in science-based solutions towards presentation of documents to the Codex Alimentarius Commission later this year.
Bridging Science, Innovation and Policy
The Asia Codex and Food Regulatory Forum 2025, convened under the leadership of the Chair of the FAO/WHO Codex Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA) and co-organised by IUFoST and its regional and national partners with its disciplinary group GFoRSS brought together 85 participants from 18 CCASIA member countries, Codex Contact Points, observers, academia, industry and consumer organisation from 18-20 August in Bangkok, Thailand. Three days of meetings and targeted discussions examined emerging regulatory challenges, including discussions on the rising discourse around “ultra-processed foods”. Proceedings and outcomes will be presented at the 23rd session of FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia, to be held in Nanning, Guangzi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China from 22-26 September.
It's About Seaweed: the latest Scientific Information Bulletin (SIB) is released
IUFoST Scientific Council has released the latest in its series of Scientific Information Bulletins (SIBs), this one A Global Perspective on Usage of Seaweed – From Abundance to Nutrition and Economy by Extraction.
“Given the limited availability of land, the exploitation of resources from the ocean has great potential for the foreseeable future and is expected to significantly contribute to the blue economy. The blue economy generally refers to all sustainable economic activities related to ocean resources, excluding traditional animal products like fish and seafood. The relevant industrial sectors which stand to gain from the blue economy include food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic, biotechnological and biomedical industries.”
This Scientific Information Bulletin (SIB), which is independently reviewed and approved by the IUFoST Scientific Council, mainly focuses on seaweed and its utilization for the production of a range of food products and co-products. Appreciation is expressed to Keshavan Niranjan and Rahul Kumar, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, UK who prepared this SIB for IUFoST.
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Comments to Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues
IUFoST commented on Agenda Items related to the 56th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCCPR56), held in Santiago, Chile from 8-13 September. The CRD is available here. In addition, IUFoST reiterated its support of the international scientific assessment approach of the Joint FAO/WHO meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), in that is “provides an essential function through internationally recognized rigorous evaluations of toxicological data and dietary exposure.”
Take the Global Stage for Food Science and Technology
Expressions of Interest in hosting an IUFoST World Congress are now open. Bid procedures are available here and for further information, please contact the IUFoST Secretariat, Subject: World Congress. Deadline is 15 November for submission of required documents.
Recognizing our work and our achievements
Have a look at the Members’ Meeting video by following this link.
IUFoST Resources related to Food Processing
Npj Science of Food 9, 56 (2025) Defining the role of processing in food classification systems - the IUFoST formulation & processing approach Ahrné, L., Chen, H., Henry, C.J., Kim H-S., Schneeman B. & Windhab
E.J. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00395-x
Scientific Information Briefs (SIBs)
Special series: authored by IUFoST Expert Task Force (Ahrné, L., Chen, H., Henry, C.J., Kim H-S., Schneeman, B. &Windhab E.J.
- Nutritional Optimization Under Responsible Ingredient Selection and Handling (NOURISH)
- Introducing the PRISM Framework: A Comprehensive Multi-Faceted Food Quality Assessment System
- Food Processing: The Essential Toolbox for PRISM-Optimized Food Products
Scientific Roundtable Discussions, presentation videos and reports
Available here: https://iufost.org/scientific-roundtable-discussions
Scaling up Food Processing in Africa – The Role of Young Scientists
(joint roundtable with Association of African Universities) May 2025
Food Processing: sustainability and misconceptions
(joint roundtable with International Dairy Federation (IDF)April 2025
The Recipe for Health: How Food Processing and Formulation Shape Nutritional Value
(joint roundtable with European Federation of Food Science and Technology, EFFoST) March 2025
Navigating the ultra-processed food debate: Scientific insights and ASEAN perspectives
(joint roundtable with Federation of Institutes of Food Science and Technology of the ASEAN, FIFSTA) February 2025
Advancing Food Processing in Africa: Challenges, Innovations and Opportunities
(joint roundtable with Association of African Universities) January 2025
The value of food processing
Episode 1. From Survival to Science
Episode 2. Longer Shelf life, Stronger Future
IUFoST Rose Spiess Award winner September 2024:
Mission: Possible - Restoring peatlands and preserving local wisdom with food technology
This and more videos: youtube.com/@IUFoST-Official
For information on IUFoST global membership and association and to learn how you can contribute following this link.
