Food Vision debuts Big Debates in Cannes

From today Food Vision invites the whole industry to comment on the six issues the Big Debate will tackle in Cannes. Individuals can submit their opinions, thoughts and insights right here​. The debate will be hosted on the Food Vision website.​

A select few who contribute most actively and insightfully to the online debate will be invited to attend Food Vision and participate in the live debate with a free delegate place.

“We’ve worked with our partners and editorial teams to create a list of debate topics that summarise the big questions this global industry has to answer,”​ said Vision event director, Christina Wood. “We expect to see a lively online discussion culminating in the live debate in March.” ​

The Big Debate issues for 2015 are:

• Nutrition for life: ​ Better nutrition promises better, longer life – how can our industry make that promise practical and compelling?
• Nutritious, affordable, acceptable food:​  ​Should industry take the lead to overcome the most pressing human challenges?
• Don’t broadcast – talk:​  Have the rules of marketing changed utterly – has social conversation and micro-marketing taken over completely or is there still a role for ‘big spend’ broadcast media?
• Natural or functional:​  We know consumers want healthy food, but where will the big growth be?  ‘Naturally healthy’ as in organic and raw or, ‘made to be healthy’ as in fortified and functional?
• Theory or reality:​  Nutrigenomics aims to understand the molecular level interaction between nutrients and the genome.  Does this science have a practical, industry application and will it ever take off?
• On the Label or by the app?​ New EU food labelling (FIC) regulations dictate ingredients information that must be included on packaging but, with tech firms launching a plethora of food info apps, where will consumers really look for information? 

‘Nutrition for Life’​

Commenting on the ‘Nutrition for Life’ debate Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer,professor for healthy ageing at Groningen University in the Netherlands and senior VP of nutrition and science advocacy at platinum sponsor DSM, said: “We have evidence that lifestyle factors, including nutrition, substantially affect health."​

"The opportunity for our industry is to build on developments in nutrition science, engage nutritional solutions for a healthy life and make it happen.” ​

 He said consumers must be able to “make choices based on precise information and have confidence in the scientific and regulatory processes used to support health claims.” ​

He welcomed new technologies which, he anticipates, will allow future dietary advice to be based on gene make up and a “granular tracking of individual nutritional status”.​

‘Nutritious, affordable, acceptable food’​

Commenting on ‘Nutritious, affordable, acceptable food’ François Scheffler, head of BASF human nutrition business, said: “Since we will face the challenges of nourishing nine billion people by 2050, rethinking towards sustainability is not an add-on component anymore; it is essential to success.” ​

Scheffler emphasised that “people expect business to take the lead and think that businesses are accountable for improving their lives.”​  

Stakeholder collaboration is key in order to work onfuture of food solutions, François underlines. “Sustainability is a journey we can only go on together.”​

“Feel free to respond to their views or to address any one of our six Big Debate topics,”​ said Wood.