Promoting healthy diets, assuring product safety and protecting consumers from food fraud – those are some of the key concerns of the food and beverages industry, according to research released today by industry researchers Campden BRI.
The findings are a result of a period of consultation with Campden’s 2,400 member companies in 75 countries, and are an important indicator of the scientific and technical requirements of food and drinks manufacturers today.
Companies were also concerned about the need to encourage sustainable practices in relation to crop protection and responsible use of natural resources, and the extent to which the sector is facing a shortage of young, skilled workers. The report also features a number of approaches to resolving the issues.
Steven Walker, director general of Campden BRI, commented: “We were delighted that so many companies took the opportunity to share their thoughts with us, in what is the biggest consultation of its type on industry’s ‘innovation needs’ – involving some 29 discussion sessions, hundreds of face-to-face contributions, and dozens of written submissions. The exercise involved the whole supply chain – from primary production through to retail and food service – as well as those supplying into this chain, such as equipment and packaging companies.
Although this is the seventh time we have undertaken this ‘three-year refresh’, since the first in 1996, the findings will help us enormously in shaping our business plans to provide industry with what it needs – through our services, pre-competitive research, tailored technical support and knowledge management activities. It will also help us to encourage others to do likewise.”
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