AFMNet's 4th Annual Scientific Conference!
Canadian Innovations in Food, Nutrition, Health and Bio-Materials to be
Showcased at Leading Scientific Conference, May 31-June 3
Vancouver, British Columbia - May 21, 2008 - Visitors to the Advanced Foods and Materials Network (AFMNet) Fourth Annual Scientific Conference - to be held in Vancouver from May 31 to June 3 - will be among the first to learn how Canadians and Canadian businesses are poised to benefit from the latest discoveries in the food and bio-materials industries.
From new, environmentally-friendly approaches that prevent fruits and vegetables from rotting, to the development of enriched foods capable of boosting the immune system and natural food products designed to prolong the lives of people suffering from kidney disease, to groundbreaking research that may someday lead to a longer shelf life for frozen foods, the four-day event will highlight 25 projects currently breaking new ground and discovering ways to improve the foods we eat, the products we make and the goods we buy.
WHAT: Advanced Foods and Materials Network (AFMNet)Fourth Annual Scientific Conference
WHEN: May 31 - June 3, 2008
WHERE: Four Seasons Hotel, 791 Georgia Street West, Vancouver
"Our vision is for a healthier Canada," said AFMNet Scientific Director Rickey Yada. "AFMNet is committed to working with researchers, professionals, industry partners and government agencies to transform discoveries into commercial applications that promote good health, maintain public confidence in Canada's food supply, ensure high quality food products and lead to new bio-materials that improve everyday life."
Among the research projects to be showcased at the AFMNet conference are:
• The development of environmentally-friendly alternatives to chemical fungicides that safely detect and prevent post-harvest rot in fruits and vegetables. AFMNet researcher Dr. Louise Nelson at the University of British Columbia and Dr. Peter Sholberg from the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre have developed two approaches to meet the challenge of post-harvest decay, which is estimated to account for five to10 per cent in lost revenues for the Canadian apple industry. The first uses a rapid DNA-based system to detect early signs of post-harvest rot within hours as opposed to traditional culture-based methods that take days to deliver results. The predictive model will help growers and packing houses to determine whether fruit should be sold immediately or placed in storage. A second approach, currently being tested on apples and extendible to other crops such as greenhouse tomatoes, uses environmentally-friendly soil bacteria to prevent decay during cold storage, ultimately reducing the need for chemical fungicides.
• Work to increase the effectiveness of bioactive compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and antimicrobials. Ryerson University Professor Dérick Rousseau and Dalhousie University Professor Allan Paulson are using biopolymer gels - an advanced form of gels - to control how bioactive compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and antimicrobials are released into the body after being consumed. The intent is to control the molecular structure of the gels so that the location within the body and how quickly it is released is controlled. Without controlled delivery and release, manufacturers must place higher doses of the compounds in the products to compensate for losses. By controlling how compounds are released, this research will lead to more effective products that require smaller doses, all at a lower cost. The research team is developing a number of different gels with unique properties, and will explore clinical trials by collaborating with other AFMNet researchers and industry in the near future.
• A look into whether a simple food can enhance the health of people with HIV/AIDS and those taking various chemotherapeutic drugs. Dr. Gregor Reid of the University of Western Ontario, working at the Lawson Research Lab of the London Health Sciences Centre, is leading a study to assess whether enriched food and lactobacilli (bacteria that converts lactose and sugars to lactic acid) can boost the immune systems of people who are malnourished from taking medicines that have significant side effects, like chemotherapy or AIDS treatments. A controlled trial in which HIV-positive adults received three different types of yogurt over a period of four weeks indicated that the T-cell (white blood cell that attacks virus-infected, foreign and cancer cells) count was boosted in participants who received special vitamin and mineral-supplemented yogurt.
• The development of a natural approach to reduce hypertension (high blood pressure) in kidney patients. AFMNet researcher Rotimi Aluko from the University of Manitoba is developing a natural health product from pea proteins that has a direct effect on kidney disease. Because the kidney plays an important role in controlling blood pressure, people suffering from the disease typically have high blood pressure, which leads to additional kidney damage, creating a vicious cycle that ultimately leads to renal failure. The natural product being developed - as a pill or liquid - has proven effective in reducing high blood pressure in an experimental rat model of chronic kidney disease. Ongoing experiments will determine whether it also helps to slow down the deterioration of the kidney tissue itself.
• A study of plant proteins extracted from naturally cold tolerant plants that has potential to improve the quality of frozen foods. Dr. Barb Moffatt at the University of Waterloo is investigating a group of proteins isolated from extremely cold-tolerant plants in an effort to identify their components and understand how they work. Once completed, her research may be applied to limit water loss in frozen foods, reducing the likelihood of "freezer burn." A long-term goal is to use the proteins to improve the cold tolerance of Canadian food crops.
• The creation of a large-scale consumer panel that will allow researchers to accurately track changes in Canadian eating habits and measure consumer response to issues like food scares. Professors John Cranfield and Spencer Henson at the University of Guelph have put together a 2,000-member consumer panel dedicated to food research, the first study of its kind in Canada. The panel is designed to allow researchers to survey participants with 24-hour's notice, providing a window into immediate consumer reaction to events like food scares, such as whether people stopped eating spinach after some brands were found to be tainted with E.coli. It will also enable researchers to monitor how people's perceptions and concerns about new food developments change over time. The information collected will be used to inform the government and representatives of the food system (which includes all processes involved in providing food - from growing, harvesting and processing to packaging, transporting, marketing, consuming, and disposing of food and their packages) about the views of Canadians towards food, and find ways to make the food system work better.
Highlights of the AFMNet conference include keynote addresses by Dr. Ron Woznow, former CEO of the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network, Rahul Sood, Chief Technology Officer, HP Global Gaming Business, and television broadcaster Evan Solomon, author of Feeding the Future: From Fat to Famine, How to Solve the World's Food Crisis. The conference is the primary networking vehicle for Canada's leading academic, industrial and government experts in advanced foods and bio-materials. A visual poster viewing area - showcasing the innovative work of AFMNet researchers, including advances in antibiotics, health care and food products - will also be featured.
About AFMNet
The Advanced Foods and Materials Network (AFMNet) is Canada's front line of research and develop-ment in the area of advanced foods and bio-materials. Its dynamic network of national researchers, professionals, industry partners and government agents continues to break new ground in the development of healthier foods, safer processing procedures and commercial products. AFMNet's vision is to create a healthier Canada through new industry opportunities, and sustainable commercial materials and methods. A unique Networks of Centres of Excellence, AFMNet identifies and funds numerous research projects; networks with academic, industrial and governmental experts across Canada; collects and shares results of its applications; and facilitates technology transfer for commercial use.
Media are invited to attend all sessions of the conference. Interview and photo opportunities will be available. Please see attached for a full conference program.
Media Information: Gail Bergman or Indira Tarachandra
Gail Bergman PR
Tel: (905) 886-1340 or (905) 886-4091
Email: info@gailbergmanpr.com
Tags:
Not tagged
Comments
You must login to view or post a comment on this communication. There is currently 0 comment(s) for this communication.
|
|
|
|
