This week, the Tastebuds Collective team had the exciting opportunity to attend Nutrevent 2024 in Lille, France — one of Europe’s most important events in the food, health, and nutrition sectors. It was our first time attending, and we are thrilled with the connections, insights, and collaborations that emerged from this incredible experience.
International Connections & Collaborations
Nutrevent provided a valuable platform for us to connect with food and nutrition professionals, researchers, and businesses from across Europe and beyond. Meeting academics and industry leaders face-to-face opened doors to new collaborations in research, innovation, and product development.
"Attending NutrEvent is groundbreaking for Tastebuds, and the region's food research. Taking a group of co-exhibitors promoting what the wider region and the Norwich Research Park has to offer the world in terms of healthy nutrition and food and drink innovation will help our members connect with international peers, further strengthening the Tastebuds network. We also helped put Norwich and East Anglia on the map for reasons other than football - back of the net!"
- Alex Larter, Managing Director, Tastebuds Collective
One of the most exciting outcomes was the discussion around potential internships. We explored opportunities for French students to join us in the UK, fostering cross-border learning and collaboration. We believe this exchange of knowledge and ideas will benefit both the students and work in this sector as we continue to innovate in the food and drink space.
Insightful Seminars on Plant-Based Alternatives & Processed Foods
The seminars were a key part of the event, offering deep dives into the latest research. While some were quite scientific, they were incredibly informative, especially those focused on plant-based alternatives and the ongoing debates surrounding highly processed foods. The talks offered fresh insights and gave us much to think about when it comes to the future of sustainable food production and healthier food choices.
Exciting Meetings with Key Industry Players
We also had the pleasure of reconnecting with a former UEA PhD student, who is now the Head of Nutrition and Engineering at a leading university in France. It’s always inspiring to see how past students are making a global impact in their fields.
Additionally, we met several contract manufacturing businesses with state-of-the-art facilities for new product development. This opens up exciting possibilities for collaboration between our members, academics, and these businesses on cutting-edge food and nutrition projects.
"It was fantastic to partner with Tastebuds on the Nutrevent exhibition, this event demonstrated the massive value in getting the Norfolk and Suffolk offer out on the international stage and working with our local partners to showcase the best of the region"
- Michael Cousens, Senior Inward Investment & Enterprise Zone Manager, Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited
Looking Ahead
Attending Nutrevent for the first time was a brilliant experience. The event gave us great visibility, and we received such positive feedback on our stand. The organisation of the event was flawless, making it easy for us to connect with the right people. We’re now eagerly awaiting the results of the connections and discussions we’ve started — both for our own team and the wider Tastebuds Collective community.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue to build on the amazing connections made at Nutrevent 2024.
