Présentation of INFOGEST and ICFD
Résumé
Dear Delegates,
It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you in my hometown Rennes for the 5th International Conference on Food Digestion (ICFD5). This event is organized by INFOGEST, an international network that aims at “Improving Health Properties of Food by Sharing our Knowledge on the Digestive Process”. The specific objectives of the network are to:
-compare the existing digestion models, harmonize the methodologies, validate them towards in vivo data and propose guidelines for performing new experiments
-identify the bioactive components that are released in the gut during food digestion
-demonstrate the effect of these compounds on human health
-determine the effect of the matrix structure on the bioavailability of food nutrients and bioactive molecules
Between 2011 and 2015, INFOGEST was supported by European funding. It gathered more than 340 scientists from 37 countries (Europe but also Canada, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, USA…). Connections between academic partners and industry were also reinforced via the participation to INFOGEST of more than 40 food companies. INFOGEST allowed staff exchanges between partners, organized 8 workshops, 4 training schools and 4 Conferences during the period. Since 2015, thanks to the help of industry sponsors, we have been able to continue our networking activities and 3 new workshops in Athens, Wageningen and Norwich were organized. Three new Working Groups are currently running: WG1 on correlation between in vitro and in vivo data, WG2 on the development of a semi-dynamic model of in vitro digestion and WG3 on in vitro digestion models for specific populations (infant, elderly). In Rennes, 3 new WGs will be launched: WG4 on digestive lipases and lipid digestion, WG5 on digestive amylase and starch digestion and WG6 on in silico models of digestion. These WGs are fully open to new comers, so feel free to participate in you are interested!
The first edition of the International Conference on Food Digestion (ICFD) was held in Cesena in 2012 and gathered 150 delegates. In 2013, more than 200 participants met in Madrid whereas participation reached a peak in Wageningen in 2014 with 248 delegates and was in Naples with 224. This year, once again, the conference will be a success since it will welcome more than 210 participants from 36 countries. More than 200 abstracts were submitted with an extremely high scientific level and the selection of the oral presentation by the scientific committee was extremely difficult! So, I would like to thank the Local Organizing Committee for their efforts to welcome you in the most comfortable conditions and the Scientific Committee for offering you such an exciting programme!
We are in the process of making INFOGEST recognized by INRA as an “International Research Network” that would guarantee to continue our networking activities until mid-2022. The mailing list and website (www.cost-infogest.eu) are still active and will be regularly updated and the 6th International Conference on Food Digestion (ICFD6) will be held in April-May 2019. I would like to thank my friend Alan, vice-Chair of INFOGEST and the Working Group leaders and deputy leaders to help me running the network. Finally, I couldn’t finish this introduction without acknowledging Nathalie who is still taking care of most, if not all, the administrative tasks so efficiently.
So on behalf of the Local Organizing Committee and the Scientific Committee, I wish you an excellent Conference and hope to see you again at the 6th International Conference on Food Digestion in 2019!
Didier DUPONT, Chair of INFOGEST