Informa Markets will be holding a day-long Vitafoods Europe Summit on the topic of mental wellbeing the day before Vitafoods Europe 2022 begins, at the Fairmont Grand Hotel in Geneva. The summit will offer an in-depth exploration into ingredient science and its practical applications, along with networking events to discuss this market sector.
 
“Mental health is a top global health concern in 2022. We’re working longer, sleeping less, and are more stressed than ever before,” said Heather Granato, vice president of content, Informa. “Add the pressures of a global pandemic into the mix, and it’s no wonder that consumers have decided that now is the time to proactively improve their mental wellbeing. Understanding the market opportunities, trending ingredients that have scientific substantiation, product development and compliance considerations, as well as consumer needs are all key to developing effective nutraceuticals products in this sector.”  
 
“Taking place the day before Vitafoods Europe 2022 opens its doors, the Vitafoods Europe Summit brings together the industry’s leading researchers, providing a dedicated forum to discover how nutraceuticals can support all-round wellbeing and opening up conversations around building mental resilience through nutrition. By honing in on this one pressing subject at the Summit, we’re offering a deeper dive into it. It’s the practical application of nutritional science for mental health,” Granato continued.
 
There will be 15 speakers across 11 live sessions, two panel discussions, and five thematic lunch roundtables, all intended to inspire new product development in the mental wellbeing category. Sessions include:
 
– Dr. Joseph First, UKRI Future Leaders fellow at the University of Manchester, presenting the latest evidence of nutrition’s impact on mental health, with key learnings from the biggest studies to date.
 
– Dr. Kaitlin Roke, director of scientific outreach and communication at GOED, providing insights into the current knowledge and future research gaps in the field of omega-3 supplementation and mental health.
 
– Nicholas Carbonelle, counsel, Bird & Bird, discussing the key regulatory challenges in the mental health space, from product classification to the developments in labelling and advertising regulations.
 
– Dr. Holly E. Johnson, chief science officer at the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), on evaluating and choosing traditional herbal adaptogens and ingredients for mental health product formulations.

– Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, professor for healthy aging at the University of Groningen, on the latest ingredient science and solutions leveraging vitamins and trace minerals for cognitive performance.
 
– Dr. David Foreman, founder at Herbal Pharmacist, chairing a panel session exploring whitespace opportunities for product development and go-to-market strategies.