IUFoST Introduces Outline Plan of Work for Global Food Science Community

The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) today released its outline plan of work for the global food science and technology community. Known as the Cape Town Declaration, its principles were unanimously accepted by delegates to the XIIIth General Assembly of (IUFoST) during its recent world congress held in South Africa.

Essential to the Declaration is the right of every individual to have access to adequate and safe food. IUFoST delegates recognise the indispensable role of food science and technology in achieving these aims of eliminating food insecurity worldwide. IUFoST members, who are the national scientific organisations worldwide working within the Union, outlined the primary areas of work for food scientists, technologists and engineers in the Cape Town Declaration:

• promotion of the safety and quality of all foods;
• reduction of physical and nutritional losses in the food value chain;
• adaptation and improvement of traditional foods and processes, while respecting the traditional, ethical, cultural and religious aspects involved;
• beneficial application of science and technology
• development and dissemination of improved knowledge of food composition;
• facilitation of domestic and international food trade;
• development of food materials with improved functionality;
• more efficient and environmentally sustainable food production, processing and packaging;
• education in nutrition, food science and technology at all levels

The General Assembly, which represents over 200,000 food scientists, technologists and engineers from more than 70 countries, is committed to implementing the principles of the Cape Town Declaration. It will re-assemble at each congress to agree priorities, actions and deliverables. The full text of the Cape Town Declaration is available here: http://iufost.org/cape-town-declaration