Gelita Symposium Focuses on Future Nutrition

21 June 2013 --- At the beginning of June, representatives from the global food industry got together in Heidelberg, one of Germany's scientific centers. The event in question was the 2013 Food Symposium organized by GELITA, the world's leading manufacturer of collagen proteins.

One of the major topics discussed by the participants from Asia, Europe and North- and South America was how modern nutrition could help meet the challenges presented by a constantly ageing society.

The GELITA Food Symposium held on June 4-5 focused on proteins as the major building blocks of human nutrition and health. Properly used, proteins can be incorporated in numerous products such as food, nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals, where they can exercise a major role in shaping the markets of the future and provide valuable ideas for future nutritional behavior.

After a welcoming speech by GELITA's CEO Dr. Franz Josef Konert, lectures by distinguished nutritional experts and scientists such as Cristiana Paul from the USA, Dr. Volker Heinz from the German Institute for Food Technology and Prof. Daniel König from the University of Freiburg were on the program. Gerard Klein Essink from Bridge2Food lectured on how proteins could optimize the nutritional needs of a number of specialized groups. During a number of separate interactive sessions, the participants had the opportunity to sense the properties of the proteins by touch and taste and to study them using the unique models provided.

As this was a GELITA event, there just had to be a focus on innovation – the innovation rate at GELITA was 8.4% in 2012. Silicon Valley was also an inspiration: David Sutherland, founder of the Launch Institute in Atlanta USA, presented innovations of a number of young companies located in Silicon Valley in California who are working on novel nutritional solutions. At the end of the second day, best-seller author Anja Förster ("Alles, außer gewöhnlich", "Hört auf zu arbeiten") lectured on company management of the future and staff motivation.

Oliver Wolf from GELITA who had organized the event was most pleased about the initial feedback during the symposium: "The lectures were most appreciated and the participants relished the exchange with colleagues from other parts of the world. The location was an impressive one and gave the symposium a unique setting. We really appreciated the positive feedback."

The GELITA symposium took place in the newly restored historical indoor swimming pool in Heidelberg. The combination of its original walls and modern fittings provided a unique environment and ambience for the lectures and discussions. In the evening, GELITA invited the participants to the world-famous Heidelberg Castle. A glass marquee in the center of the ruins provided an majestic backdrop for the get-together.