Vitafoods Europe, the global nutraceutical event, is shaking up its education program, which will enable delegates to tailor their experience to their own business objectives.

In 2017, delegates will be given the opportunity to pick and choose from three distinct platforms and a range of topic-specific sessions, allowing them to benefit from the content that is most relevant to them.

The changes are based on feedback from the 2016 event, which hosted 17,666 visitors and over 900 exhibitors. Many of those who attended the Vitafoods Europe Conference said they found the experience valuable but wanted more flexibility in the program so they had more time to attend other educational events, as well as the main exhibition and meetings. In addition, they said they were keen to take part in more targeted sessions aligned with their particular job function and areas of interest.

As a result, in 2017, Vitafoods Europe’s new education Program will be separated into three streams, as follows:

1) Vitafoods R&D Forums. Developed for visitors with an interest in obtaining high-level technical knowledge of science and R&D for the purpose of substantiated product development, there will be seven half-day Vitafoods R&D Forums showcasing the latest in applied nutrition science. Each of the sessions will be dedicated to a particular ingredient: omega-3, plant sterols, polyphenols, vitamins, dietary fibers, protein and ingredients from India. The forums will provide a focus on documented ingredient benefits and applications for product development through a prism of clinical trials, observational studies and EU projects, and will be delivered by some of the world’s leading experts in the seven fields.

A call for papers for the seven R&D Forums has been issued, with participants invited to submit for consideration an 800-word Industry Success Story that highlights relevant ingredient applications for market success. Only one speaker per category will be chosen to deliver a paper but, for the first time, all accepted abstracts will be published on www.vitafoodsinsights.com, offering valuable exposure to everybody who contributes.

2) Vitafoods Business Workshops. Presenting best practice for business growth, market access and streamlined supply chains, four half-day Vitafoods Business Workshops will each focus on a different topic—regulation, market trends, marketing and botanicals. Developed for management and senior-level professionals in sales and marketing roles, the sessions will provide unique and in-depth insights to help delegates identify the space for innovation, de-code the route to lasting consumer engagement, and increase their knowledge and expertise in the areas of successful ingredient registration and market access.

3) The Vitafoods Summit. Focusing on probiotics, the full-day Vitafoods Summit will take place on the first day of Vitafoods Europe (Tuesday, May 9, 2017). Specifically dedicated to exploring the current market, regulatory restrictions and the latest developments in R&D within probiotics, the Vitafoods Probiotics Summit will place particular emphasis on identifying gaps in knowledge and research and identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.

Taking place from May 9-11, 2017 at Palexpo in Geneva, the next Vitafoods Europe will be an important event for everyone involved in the global nutrition industry.

Chris Lee, Vitafoods portfolio director at Informa Exhibitions, said: “We know how important it is that time spent out of the office is productive. That’s why we’ve decided to give visitors to Vitafoods Europe 2017 more freedom and flexibility in terms of how they engage with our educational program. The new format will make it even easier for everyone to manage their time as effectively as possible.”

He added: “Every visitor is different, and the new Vitafoods Europe education program will deliver targeted, high-value content focused on individual needs. There will be something for everyone—whether it’s information about business regulation, up-to-date market insights, or the latest cutting edge scientific research. It means that when you come to Vitafoods Europe 2017, you really can have it your way.”