For the most incisive debate on the latest research, emerging ingredients, health trends and challenges facing the food and drink industry, don't miss Food Matters Live, which returns to London's ExCeL from 20-22 November.
Business leaders, policy makers, manufacturers, and health and nutrition industry specialists will gather to share ideas, explore the newest products and hear the latest thinking on key issues in its unrivalled CPD-accredited education programme.
On the main conference stage, the big issues and challenges for food and drink will be addressed by 45 high-profile figures from across the sector.
From whether food tech entrepreneurs can bring about an age of truly sustainable diets and the trend for multi-sensory innovations to the effectiveness of calorie targets for popular foods and next steps for the sugar tax, leading speakers will share their thoughts in three days of inspiring debate.
They include: eating designer Marije Vogelzang, who has pioneered a design-led approach to food, Blue Planet II executive producer James Honeyborne, on building on its impact on plastic waste awareness, Simone Frey, founder of Future of Nutrition, on future-proofing food and nutrition and CEO of ANJA GmbH Marc Buckley, on disruptive food tech.
The wide-ranging Food Matters Live seminar programme, focused on emerging ingredients and research in nutrition and functional health products, offers insight on everything from mass market retail trends to the future for personalised nutrition, as people increasingly seek products tailored to their individual needs.
A seminar stream dedicated to nutrition for health and wellbeing will address the latest innovations to aid digestion, satiety, cognitive health, digestion, bone and joint health, infant and maternal nutrition, sports nutrition and immune health.
Links between fermentation and gut health, the potential for medicinal mushrooms to boost immunity, the role of vitamin K2 in bone health and the opportunities for using artificial intelligence in personalised nutrition will be part of the debate.
Seminars will also examine the effectiveness of the UK's childhood action plan in tackling obesity, key retail trends including the booming free-from market, healthy snacks and sports nutrition as well as the future technologies and business models improving sustainability and exciting emerging ingredients.
Among speakers, Professor Alex Johnstone, of the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, will discuss the role of snacking and protein in appetite control while Asanka De Silva, founder of Liver Health UK, discusses the next generation of functional drinks and Dr J Ben Lawlor, of Kerry Taste and Nutrition, examines the importance of oro-sensory cues in food intake.
Away from the informative education sessions, more than 800 organisations will showcase the latest innovations in healthy, ethical and sustainable food and drink - from emerging ingredients to finished products - and more in the Food Matters Live exhibition.
Arranged in zones covering healthy snacks, free-from goods, healthy and functional drinks, sports nutrition, the newest start-ups and an international showcase hosting global food and drink innovations, visitors can taste and explore the latest health and wellbeing products.
The exhibition includes the UK's largest gathering of ingredients companies, including leading manufacturers such as DSM, Lonza and Friesland Campina as well as distributors including i- ingredients, Protec Nutra, Brenntag and Univar.
And live attractions will put theory from the debates into practice. The Nutraceutical Showcase will offer expert advice on new innovations in dietary supplements, functional foods and sports nutrition, with participants including Vitabiotics, NBTY Europe and Natures Aid.
Members of the Council for Responsible Nutrition UK will be on hand with advice on food supplements and regulations and the Health Food Manufacturers' Association will discuss health claims, novel food regulations and Brexit.
Meanwhile, an exciting new attraction for 2018, the Innovative Ingredients Live theatre, will look at some of the newest functional ingredients and nutraceuticals - and the science behind them - from high-protein Lentein Complete, extracted from water lentils, to antioxidant-rich chaga mushrooms and organic protein and collagen sports nutrition products to boost recovery.
And an enhanced match-making service will enable exhibitors and visitors to identify potential business partners among manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, retailers, importers, exporters, business services and research centres.
Briony Mansell-Lewis, Food Matters Live Director, said: “Food Matters Live is fast becoming an annual business opportunity for many in the industry, providing a platform to explore the latest innovations in nutraceuticals, from functional food and drink to innovative supplements."
We’re delighted once again to welcome so many experts to share best practice, forge collaborative relationships, find solutions to challenges and explore new ways of working with colleagues across the food, nutrition and health sectors.”
Food Matters Live is on at London's ExCeL from 20 to 22 November 2018 and is free to attend, including entry to the conference, seminars and visitor attractions. Register at www.foodmatterslive.com