Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Division has had another very productive and prosperous
year as demonstrated by a significant increase in the number of its members
(820 active-members), and the very successful and diverse technical program in 2005 Annual
Meeting in New Orleans. The Division sponsored and co-sponsored eight symposia (a total of
47 speakers). In addition, there were two oral sessions and three poster sessions in which
104 technical papers were presented. All these sessions were well attended and received by
the participants. I would like to thank all the organizers, moderators, presenters, and
attendees for an excellent job done. The relentless efforts of Division officers, symposia
organizers, and other volunteers are much appreciated.
We are looking for new ideas for symposia topics for 2006 and beyond. As you are all aware, the deadline for symposia proposals for the IFT Annual Meeting Technical Program has traditionally been September 1, but the deadline this year is postponed until December 1, 2005. There is still time to think about symposia proposals for 2006.
Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Division will first time have a "Student Poster Award Competition" at the 2006 IFT Annual Meeting in Orlando. The Award is designed to encourage and highlight the outstanding research carried out in different aspects of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements. The purpose of the award is to encourage scholarly activity of outstanding research by students in academic preparation for a career in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements.
We are looking forward to companies to provide funds to the Division for its activity. Volunteers interested in fund raising are encouraged to contact one of us.
On behalf of the Division, I would like to invite all interested members to get involved in the activity of the Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Division by contacting myself or one of the Executive Division members. Finally, my appreciation goes to all of those members who have worked hard to continue to make the Division successful.
Cesarettin Alasalvar
Chair, Nutraceutical and Functional Foods Division, IFT
