CONACTA2018 FINAL REPORT 

The Colombian Association of Food Science and Technology- ACTA- organized on October 3rd-5th, 2018, the XIV International Congress of Food Science and Technology- CONACTA2018- at the Universidad de La Salle, sede Chapinero, in Bogotá, Colombia.

In this Congress there were only plenary sessions related with food safety, regulatory aspects, food agro-industry, analytical techniques, and food science and nutrition according to the motto of the Congress “Innovation and integration in the food agro-industry”.

Several international scientific institutions were represented at the Congress such as: IUFoST (International Union of Food Science and Technology); the IFT (Institute of Food Technologists); ALACCTA (Asociación Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos); AATA (Asociación Argentina de Tecnología de Alimentos); ATAM (Asociación Nacional de Tecnólogos en Alimentos de México); ASCOTA (Asociación Alimentaria de Costa Rica) and ILSI-Nor-Andino (International Life Sciences Institute).

From the academic side there were conferences of professors from the following universities: Universidad de La Salle, Texas Tech University, Michigan State University, Universidad CES de Medellín, Universidad del Quindío, Universidad Javeriana de Cali, Pennsylvania State University and Uniagraria.

There were conferences of speakers of government entities such as: Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT); Ministry of Health and Social protection (MSPS), National Institute for the Surveillance of Drugs and Foods (INVIMA), Group Risks evaluation in Food safety (Grupo ERIA) from the National Health Institute and the National Institute of Metrology.

From the industry side there were also speakers from the National Business Association of Colombia, Fenavi, Casa Luker, PorkColombia, Alpina, Supracafé, R-Biopharm, DSM, Terravocado, Fresenius Kabi.

Other institutions that participate with speakers were: the Interamerican Institute for Agriculture Cooperation (IICA), Global Food safety Initiative (GFSI), Agrosavia Tibaitatá y La Selva; Latin-american Fund for irrigation rice/ International Center for Tropical Agriculture (FLAR/CIAT).

The Congress had the presence of 10 international speakers from UNAM -México, Argentina (AATA, IUFoST), Costa Rica (CITA) and United States (IFT, Texas Technical University and the Acheson Group); 35 national speakers and more than 450 participants from the industry, universities and government agencies.

On the area of food regulations there were sessions dedicated to the significance that for the Colombian food agro-industry have the policies of OCDE, GFSI, the fulfillment of FSMA and their impact on food exports. It was also discussed the influence on the food industry of the new regulations on sugar, salt and fats.

In the sessions related with food safety were discussed the effects of norms such as FSMA and GFSI on the food handling along the agri-food chain. The current status of allergens was presented. Other themes of interest were the food shelf life studies and the program of antimicrobial resistance related with the agri-food industry.

From the stand point of laboratories of food analysis, it was discussed issues such as: contribution of labs to the food exports, advances in the studies of microorganisms in the meat industry and in foods with low Aw and risk evaluation of diarrhea in potable water consumption using predictive microbiology.

In the segment of Agri-food industry and primary sector there were conferences about successful case of innovation in:  geomatics applied to Colombian agriculture; in fruits at small and medium scale; in coffee, nutria-metabolomics for the development of functional foods, eggs and egg products, edible mushrooms, new natural antimicrobial preservatives; avocado and chocolate.

On food and nutrition, the speakers talked about truth and myths of foods; the scientific evidence that support the position of the international food scientific associations about the mistakes and deficiencies of the NOVA classification of foods; and the new nutritional recommendations for Colombian populations and how these will affect the development of new food products.

As it is traditional in this Congress, the ACTA, ACTA/ACOFANUD and ACTA/IFT Awards were granted to the best pre and post graduated research works in the areas of food science and technology, food safety, food and nutrition, innovation at the food industry. The “Life Time Award in Food Safety” was granted to a professional in this area.

The book «Papel de los cereales y los pseudocereales en la seguridad alimentaria”, published by the International Life Science Institute – ILSI Nor Andino was launched during the Congress.

CONACTA2018 showed that Colombia has the tools for achieving a truly Innovation and integration of the agri-food chain through a close cooperation between the different sectors of the Colombian society.

Noviembre 5, 2018Jorge A Cabrera Laverde

Head CONACTA2018

Asociación Colombiana de Ciencia

y Tecnología de Alimentos – ACTA