The main foresight session at BIOPROM-2024 was named "Live to be 120: Technologies for Humans." Even if some discussions seem futuristic, a lot of them still center on solving common issues like obesity and excessive sugar consumption.
«ЭФКО» не только приняла участие в нескольких таких дискуссиях, но, главное, предложила возможное решение проблемы и представила различные варианты сладостей с биотехнологически синтезированным сладким белком: конфеты, мороженое и новинку – арахисовую пасту.
"In addition to participating in several discussions, EFKO most significantly proposed a potential solution to the issue and showcased a variety of confections made using biotechnologically produced sweet protein, including ice cream, peanut paste, and candies."
"We completed our registration this year and were granted market access permission for sweet protein," Vladislav Romantsev, Director for Strategic Development at EFKO, presented the products to Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, and Oksana Lut, Minister of Agriculture. "These are now industrial products that can already be mass-manufactured, taste good, and comply with all the standards; they are no longer experimental samples. The goal is for one piece to gradually cost the same as its traditional counterpart."
"Russia is one of the world leaders in a number of technological fields. Yearly EFKO shows its new products and technologies at BIOPROM," Anton Atrashkin, Program Director of the Forum, presented the novelties.
"6 years ago, when drafting the company's strategy, we came to the disappointing conclusion that the food industry is no longer a safe haven and we must invest primarily in biotech," Vladislav Romantsev explained. "Over 500 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, while nearly 1 billion people are obese. Sweet protein can address this problem. A year ago, at the Young Scientists Forum, we promised the Russian President that we would complete the registration of this food ingredient. And we did, indeed, finish it. And beyond: we've put a lot of effort into developing sweet protein products, which are currently manufactured commercially."
This year's new products include sugar-free peanut paste and ice cream made with sweet protein. All of the items' well-known flavor profile was recognized by stand visitors, who expressed excitement about seeing them on shop shelves.
The second foresight session "Star Wars on a Plate" also began with a sweet protein-based ice cream tasting.
"Totally sugar-free," Sergey Ivanov, Executive Director at EFKO and meeting moderator, warned.
The first reaction came from Ivan Okhlobystin, actor, director, and producer, who formulated it short but in-depth: "Cool!"
The traditions of national cuisine were a separate issue of the session agenda.
"I have never eaten better than in Russia," Ivan Okhlobystin shares. He confesses his pleasure of eating delicious cuisine and satisfying his appetite. Ivan adds what he would carry into the future: "Many individuals underestimate the turnip. That's the thing he'd definitely take! And in the future, I definitely wouldn't want robots cooking food. What I'd sure like is a pill to eat a lot and not get fat!"
Blogger Dmitry Puchkov (aka Goblin) has a more rational view.
"Today we enter a store and see a giant-sized confectionery department: flour mixed with sugar. Everything looks so good, you don't know how to keep up. We will soon surpass the US in the number of obese people. Why? Because it is a pleasure to eat sweets," Dmitry noted. "However, a good example is the introduction of the law prohibiting smoking in public areas. I'm waiting for the same about food. You should avoid eating this and that, along with large amounts of sweets, and not put sugar in it. Summing up, it's worth thinking about what to eat and how to do that."