Future Food Systems: Innovation through Progress at Scientific Interfaces

12-14 November 2024 | Bruges, Belgium

The 38th EFFoST International Conference 2024 was hosted by the KU Leuven and Ghent University, supported by an independent scientific committee.

Considering the quintuple innovation helix framework, which involves university-industry-public-environment-government interactions, EFFoST2024 wants to promote interdisciplinary collaboration within the food sector. The conference strives to contribute to the overarching objective of generating sufficient, safe, nutritious and sustainable food with high consumer acceptance, for all individuals worldwide in line with the ‘one health’ concept as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Conference topics

The 38th EFFoST International Conference explored the theme: ‘Future Food Systems: Innovation through Progress at Scientific Interfaces’. This is further examined in the below-mentioned sub-themes and topics that highlight the expertise of our conference hosts.

This theme culminates in five sub-themes describing the interdisciplinary food technology challenges EFFoST2024 wanted to particularly focus on:

1. Human interface

• Food–nutrition–health
• Food for target groups
• Simulation of food human interactions (in vivo, in vitro, in silico)
• Sensory and consumer science
• Food allergens and contaminants

 2. Raw material interface

• New food processing strategies
• Innovative food sources
• Food (ingredient) interactions
• From farm to factory

 3. Micro-organism interface

• Predictive power of the food microbiome
• Food fermentations
• Microbial safety and spoilage
• Hygienic design

 4. Sustainability interface

• Water and energy use
• Food packaging
• Reducing food loss and waste
• Side-stream valorization

5. Computer science interface

• Sensors
• Modelling, simulation and prediction
• Foodomics, big data and AI

Each year the European Federation of Food Science and Technology (EFFoST) organises this prestigious academic food science and technology conference. Join world-renowned researchers, scientists, policy makers, professionals and students from multi-disciplinary food-related fields to share the latest developments and create new partnerships.