Nanotechnology conference predicts food sector boom
be used by their industry at an upcoming conference next month in
Atlanta, Georgia.
The second annual Nano4Food Conference gets underway October 12th-13th.
Consulting company Cientifica estimates that the value of nanotechnologies applied to the food industry reached $410m in 2006.
The applications of the technology are primarily restricted to food packaging, mainly for improved gas barrier protection and nutraceutical delivery systems.
Cientifica estimates that the value of these and other applications by the food industry will reach $5.8bn by 2012.
The Nano4Food conference, including food industry producers and suppliers, aims to examine when such applications will become commercially available and if they will be cost effective.
Those scheduled to speak at the conference include Vijay K Arora, a researcher for Kraft Foods and Ann Hollingsworth, president of Better Built Foods.
A special session will also look at public and scientific concerns that have been raised about the application of nanotechnologies to food products.
Speakers from the Burdock Group will discuss the safety issue along with a representative from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A discussion of liability issues related to the employing of nanoparticles in food stuffs will be led by Holland + Knight, a law firm.
The conference is being produced by Georgia Tech Research Institute's food processing technology division, Wageningen Bionanotechnology Centre for Food and Health Innovations, the Institute of Food Technologists, the US Department of Agriculture, the government of the Netherlands and Cientifica.
