In line with the Congress theme Addressing Global Food Security and Wellness through Food Science and Technology and in keeping with IUFoST s mission of Strengthening Global Food Science and Technology for Humanity, the Scientific program will consist of 50 sessions, most of which are already finalized, about key issues in FST, covering education, research, international collaboration and the food industry. One hundred speakers from 31 countries have already confirmed their participation. Abstract submission is going on and more than 100 reviewers from different countries are working to evaluate them. Ten sessions are reserved for oral presentation of papers selected from the submitted abstracts.

FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN BRAZIL

Whether it is in education, research or industry, considerable progress has been achieved in food science and technology in Brazil, making this country a leader in this area in Latin America.

Education and research

Brazil has built high quality academic capability, both in the generation and advancement of knowledge and in training of human resources, in different fields of studies including food science and technology. About 70 universities offer the five-year undergraduate course in Food Engineering. There are 27 programs offering both the Master and Doctorate degrees in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering and Food and Nutrition. In addition, 14 programs offer only the Master degrees. These numerous academic institutions provide qualified human resources not only for the universities themselves, but also for research institutes, government agencies and industry. Aside from the Brazilians, students from other Latin American countries work for their degrees, especially graduate degrees, in Brazil.

The graduate programs are evaluated and ranked by a Food Science and Technology Committee at the Coordination for Higher Education (CAPES) of the Ministry of Education with the view of promoting high standards in graduate studies throughout the country.

The funding agencies National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Research and Projects Financing (FINEP), both of which are linked to the Ministry of Science and Technology, support research at the national level. Each state has its own research foundation, such as the Foundation for the Support of Research in the state of Sco Paulo (FAPESP). A large number of basic and applied research on diverse topics, especially projects that are innovative and relevant to the country s scientific, technological and economic development, as well as those that contribute to the population s health and wellness, are financed. These agencies also provide university scholarships, especially for graduate students. Among the research topics in food science and technology are: development of Brazilian functional foods and characterization of the bioactive compounds, biotechnological production of aromas; incidence and control of mycotoxins and other contaminants, new processing technologies, development of tropical and subtropical fruit products, production of enzymes for application in food, development of alternatives to reduce trans-isomers in industrialized products, development of products from indigenous plant foods, utilization of sub-products of the Brazilian food and agri- industries in the development of products with added value, development of food products for special uses. Thanks to substantial research funding, Brazil is the world leader in sugarcane and ethanol knowledge and technology. The sustainable use of the biodiversity of flora and fauna for food and other purposes is gaining strong interest.

Agricultural production

With its vast territory, rich soil and a varied climate that permits a diversity of crops, Brazil has enormous agricultural capacity, furnishing diverse raw materials and ingredients to industry, as well as an impressive variety of products for the fresh produce market. Brazil is the world s largest producer of sugarcane, coffee and oranges. It is the second largest producer of soybean, and the third for corn. It also has the world s largest commercial cattle herd (50% larger than that of the U.S.) at 170 million heads. It is second to the U.S. in poultry production.

Brazil has numerous native fruits and vegetables, which should be better utilized, considering their high contents of nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids and flavonoids.

This country has the fourth largest agricultural system in the world, and production is still growing fast while that of competitors is stalled. Only about 9% of the total land area is currently used for agriculture, and Brazil has 14% of the earth s fresh water. There is active agricultural research, led by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), the mission of which is to provide feasible solutions for the sustainable development of Brazilian agribusiness through knowledge and technology generation and transfer.

The food industry

The Brazilian food industry is large, dynamic, advanced and highly competitive. It is part of the agribusiness chain of production, which in 2004 according to the National Confederation of Agriculture, accounted for 30.2% of the country s GDP. Brazil is the world s third largest exporter of agribusiness products.

The food processing industry, the second largest sector among manufacturing industries in Brazil, was valued at US$173 billion in 2009 according to the Brazilian Food Processors Association (ABIA). Meat and by-product processing was the most lucrative, accounting for US$34.4 billion; coffee, tea and cereals ranked second amounting to US$19.5 billion. The sugar industry ranked third. Expansion of the Brazilian food industry in recent years has been attributed to rising exports and increased consumer purchasing power.

Brazil is the world s principal exporter of coffee, beef and poultry, juices, sugar and ethanol. It is also a major supplier of oil and soy meal, corn and pork. Brazil s food industry exported US$ 17 billion worth of products in 2004, accounting for 17.7% of Brazil s total exports. Brazil s processed food exports go (in decreasing order) to the European Union, Middle East, Russia, Nafta, Japan, China, Eastern Europe, Mercosul and India.

Of the top ten leading companies in the food industry, four are Brazilian companies (Sadia, Brasil Foods, Copersucar and JBS) and six are multinational (Ambev, Bunge, Cargill, Nestle and ADM). Along with the modern large- and medium-sized companies, there are numerous cottage industries that manufacture traditional and typical Brazilian food products.

The Brazilian food markets offer the consumers a remarkable array of meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, milk and dairy products, cereals, pastas, vegetable oils, juices and other fruit products, beverages, chocolate and candies, fish and fish products, bakery products, etc., along with a wide variety of fresh tropical, subtropical and temperate fruits and vegetables.

Delia B. Rodriguez-Amaya

Glaucia Maria Pastore

Taken from an article published in International Food Ingredients, November 2011

Visit the Congress 16 website: http://iufost.org.br/en/Homepage
For Exhibitors and about the Exhibition: http://iufost.org.br/en/Exhibition
To submit abstracts: http://iufost.org.br/en/submit-session
To become a sponsor: http://iufost.org.br/en/Sponsorship
About Young Scientist Award Nominations: http://iufost.org.br/en/YoungScientistAwards
About Global Food Industry Award Nominations: http://iufost.org.br/en/GlobalFoodIndustryAwards

IUFoST organises world food congresses to stimulate the ongoing exchange of knowledge in those scientific disciplines and technologies relating to the expansion, improvement, distribution and conservation of the world's food supply. The congresses provide the international food science and technology community with their best opportunities to exchange ideas and develop strategies to meet IUFoST's goals of strengthening food science and technology for humanity.

Fifteen (15) World Congresses of Food Science and Technology have now been held. London 1962, Warsaw 1966, Washington 1970, Madrid 1974, Kyoto 1978, Dublin 1983, Singapore 1987, Toronto 1991, Budapest 1995, Sydney, 1999, Seoul 2001, Chicago 2003, Nantes 2006, Shanghai 2008 and Cape Town in 2010. The 16th World Congress is being held in Iguassu Falls, Brazil from 5-9 August 2012, Congress Chair: Prof. Glaucia Pastore and Scientific Committee Co-chairs Prof. Delia Rodriguez-Amaya and Prof. Rickey Yada