ICEF12 Panel: Convergence on Food Innovation for Health and Wealth – The Case for Pulses

On the occasion of the 12^th International Congress on Engineering and Food (ICEF12) hosted in Québec City from June 14-18^th 2015, the MCCHE has organized an industry panel “Convergence on Food Innovation for Health and Wealth” as part of the plenary program. The theme of the panel builds upon the Convergent Innovation (CI) research and action developed with our network of national and international partners. To transform 21^st Century society through food, CI breaks disciplinary science and technology siloes, as well as those between business, civil society, government and academia. CI aims to mainstream nutrition and health as drivers of commercially successful innovation while nourishing engagement throughout society for behavioral change and ecosystem transformation at scale.

All food businesses --from the small and medium enterprises to the large national and international companies-- have a direct impact on the nutritional intake and overall health of the population by integrating nutrition into their innovation pipeline and business strategies. Food innovation is of critical importance for the food industry to stay ahead of the competition in successfully leading trends. This panel will address ways by which the many food innovation siloes may converge for better health and wealth.

Capitalizing on the leadership role played by MCCHE and its world network of business partners, we will first address the key challenges and possibilities for mainstreaming nutrition and health in food innovation and business strategies from an industry perspective. Next, in light of in the United Nations declaration of 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYOP), we will shift our focus to pulses (beans, dry peas, lentils, chickpeas). Pulses, which contribute to both the health of people and planet in industrialized and developing countries alike, are in a particularly strategic position as a “One World” farm- and food-based solution for creating a 21^st Century society with better health and wealth for all.

After introducing Convergent Innovation and the current state of pulses in food applications and their potential for health and wealth development, panelists will comment on:

1. The place that food science and technological innovation takes in feeding the commercialization of nutritious food products that successfully tap into leading trends and enable a business to stay ahead of the competition. This includes key knowledge, capability, policy and investment gaps to fill for solutions at scale.
2. Current and future appreciation for the place of pulse and pulse ingredients (lentils, peas, chickpeas, etc.) in other food product lines and value chains, fostering value addition close to farm and two-way relationships between farms, SMEs and larger businesses. How can education, media, health and other non-food sectors assist to successfully scale supply and demand?

Moderator:

 Panelists: