49th Annual AIFST Convention 2016

From producers, to nutrition and sensory scientists, leading SMEs, trends analysts and policymakers, the 49th AIFST Convention will be one of Australia's biggest food industry gatherings of 2016, co-located with FoodTech.

With the Australian Government last year naming food and agribusiness as one of the five key areas of growth for Australia's economy, the convention program emphasises the role of the food sector in delivering against the government's innovation agenda.

Highlights of the event will include:

• CEOs in Conversation — a high-profile panel discussing the current challenges and opportunities for Australia's food and beverage sector.
• Demographic trends — presented by Phil Ruthven, a futurist and founder of IBISWorld, who will present on the major social and demographic trends influencing the direction of the food industry, from production agriculture to the changing manufacturing landscape.
• The rise of functional foods — presented by Chris Blanchard, director of the Functional Grains Centre, who will discuss the rise of pulses as a key ingredient in 'functional foods', eg, foods with added health promotion or disease prevention functions in celebration of the United Nations' International Year of Pulses.