EIT Food & EIT Health Cross KIC Event: Benefits of biologicals for food & health industries

14th June 2018 (Rotterdam, NL)

 

Koppert Biological Systems hosted the first cross-KIC event amongst partners from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Food and Health Communities. The event was intended to showcase examples where the two EIT communities have been successful independently and to find ways they might work together in other EIT-funded projects, highlighting the links between food and health. Speakers included: Menno Kok (Director of EIT Health Belgium-Netherlands), Angelo Vermeulen (NASA), Imran Afzal (PepsiCo). This event illustrated the interconnection between the sectors and the willingness to engage more on projects where there are strong common interests.

Menno Kok gave an insight on how EIT Health could fund more prevention-related projects in coming years, and revealed there will be joint funding calls between EIT Health and EIT Food, as related to education, business creation, and sustainability. There will also be a joint innovation strategy for cross-KIC projects linking food and health. Importantly, for Quisper, Menno highlighted research in healthcare prevention, specifically patient participation and the impact on individuals once they are aware of their genetic risk and what it means in terms of health and dietary behaviours.

Angelo Vermeulen (NASA) talked about the many food innovations happening in the space sector, from 3D-printed food to space farming. One project, MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative, https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Melissa) is looking at closed-loop system relationships amongst food, waste, water, and CO2 and, most relevant for EuroFIR, making sure foods are nutritious and safe for human consumption. Imran Afzal from PepsiCo International (UK), a beneficiary in EIT Food Quisper, spoke about work connecting food with health.

Slides are available here: https://www.slideshare.net/EITFood/the-benefits-of-biologicals-for-food-health-industries

Photos are available here https://www.facebook.com/pg/EITFood.eu/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2134182613492909

Tags: Innovation, Nutrition, Research funding

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