HKBU hosts the First FoodMed Conference

The first FoodMed Conference, hosted by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) on 28 - 29 May 2024, was a pioneering event that convened over 300 experts from diverse sectors, including food, Chinese medicine, academia, industry, and regulatory bodies. The theme, "Integrating Food and Chinese Medicine: Exploring Science, Technology, and Holistic Approaches for Health," set the stage for a comprehensive discourse on the role of food in promoting health and its therapeutic applications.

The conference's commencement was graced by HKBU's President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex WAI, and Dr Terence CHEUNG Yung-yan, a Consultant in Community Medicine (Risk Assessment and Communication) from the Centre for Food Safety, under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government. This two-day forum was designed to foster dialogue on the medicinal properties of food and its future role in primary healthcare.

In the opening address, Professor WAI underscored the ancient philosophy of "food as medicine" and its untapped potential in modern health practices. He elaborated on HKBU's multidisciplinary research efforts, which merge expertise from biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science to advance the concept of food as medicine. This collaborative approach, he noted, not only advances the scientific basis of dietary health but also spurs the development of innovative nutraceutical approaches for health maintenance and disease prevention.

Professor Terence LAU, HKBU's Interim Chief Innovation Officer and Chairman of the Food Safety Consortium, observed that the conference was a deep dive into the health-promoting prospects of food-derived compounds and the role of technology in the evolution of the 'food as medicine' concept. Entrepreneurs and investors shared their experiences, while expert insights hinted at the limitless opportunities that technology presents.

The event featured keynotes from influential figures. Professor CHEN Junshi, Senior Advisor at the National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, discussed the health-promoting promise of food medicine homology. Dr ZHANG Fei from the Ministry of Commerce's Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation provided expertise on market access, regulatory matters, and investment in China's food and drug sector. Other notable contributions came from Mr Tom HEILANDT, ex-Secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and Dr Maura Di MARTINO from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, who spoke on regulatory frameworks and food safety challenges.

The conference included 35 speakers from local, mainland, and international backgrounds, covering a wide array of topics related to 'food as medicine,' such as regulatory policies, safety standards, scientific and holistic methodologies, innovation, scientific substantiation, evidence-based practices, and the synergy between Chinese medicine and food homology. It also addressed industry challenges and opportunities, investment prospects, and future directions.

Among other distinguished speakers were Dr Sarah MCMULLEN from the US Food and Drug Administration's China Office; Professor SO Kwok Fai from Jinan University; Professor HE Zuhua from the Shanghai Institute of Plan Physiology and Ecology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Dr Kazuaki MIYAGISHIMA, who has held prominent positions with the World Health Organisation and the World Organisation for Animal Health.

The conference also provided a conducive environment for networking, with events like evening cocktail, networking luncheon, investor corner and exhibition showcasing the latest breakthroughs, all of which offered invaluable interaction opportunities with leading minds in the food as medicine domain.

For more information about the conference, please visit the website.