ILSI SEA Region 2023 Annual Meeting and Science Session

A Special Session to mark the occasion was held on the morning of April 27^th during the Assembly of Members, and included Science Lectures on Nutrition and Genomics – Future of Precision Nutrition.
The first presentation was given by José M. Ordovás, Professor of Nutrition and Senior Scientist at the USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, USA. Dr. Ordovas shared a brief overview of the origins and recent developments in the field of precision nutrition, including emerging areas such as nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics. Prof. Ordovas also noted that timing has an impact on individual response to nutrition. For example, the timing of food intake can affect the effectiveness of weight loss; however, this is not equal for every individual and is dependent on specific genetic variation among individuals. Before concluding, Prof. Ordovas touched on new technologies and digital innovations that support diet monitoring and thus by extension, precision nutrition. Finally, he highlighted the multiple factors, including social and physical environments, that play important roles in influencing an individual’s food choices which impact health and well-being.

The second presentation of the Special Session was shared by Prof. Morakot Tanticharoen, Professor Emeritus at the School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Thailand. Prof. Tanticharoen discussed the role of science, technology and innovation in the transformation of food systems in Asia. She noted that food and nutrition challenges in Asia Pacific region include population growth, hunger, as well as over-nutrition. Nonetheless, some of these challenges could be addressed through examples of innovations in agriculture, aquaculture, and the sustainable management of marine resources being implemented in the Thailand and the region. Prof. Tanticharoen further elucidated on opportunities in food, nutrition and health, particularly in the areas of food safety, food wastage and sustainability. She concluded her presentation by highlighting research gaps and priorities, and encouraged multi-stakeholder as well as trans-national collaborations in research and innovation.

Next, Dr. Stephane Vidry, Global Executive Director of ILSI, shared a presentation on ILSI’s Global Research Program – Harnessing Excellence and Diversity. He highlighted ILSI’s focus areas for science and research, including emerging areas in nutrition and food safety. He noted the rapid advancements in new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and how they can be harnessed for scientific research and initiatives to improve public health. Dr. Vidry then elaborated on how ILSI as a global organization is focused on providing higher value to its stakeholders and making a stronger impact through its research and programs. Strategies to achieve these goals include strengthening its operational model, effective prioritization of its scientific agenda, as well as expanding its funding sources and opportunities.

The final presentation of the Special Session was shared by Mr. Geoffry Smith, President of ILSI SEA Region, on the topic of Strengthening Collaborative Science across the Region. Mr. Smith provided an overview of emerging areas of science and research in nutrition and food safety, that are of interest and relevance to the Southeast Asian region, such as the “omics” sciences, the microbiome, whole genome sequencing, and new technologies in plant breeding and protection. Mr. Smith noted that a rapidly changing world requires a multi-disciplinary approach to research, as well as effective prioritization. He also emphasized the need for ILSI SEA Region and its stakeholders to link up with global experts to avoid overlap and optimize resources. He concluded that ILSI SEA Region will continue to strengthen its private-public operational model and collaborate with a wider network of universities and research institutes around the region to implement is science and research programs.