Growth Asia 2021: All five broadcasts now FREE to view on demand - featuring Mars, Suntory, Thai Union, Danone, Impossible and more!

The broadcasts feature high-level insights from a raft of big-name brands, leading academics, policy experts, and the most innovative suppliers.

The series​ ran from the 29th June to 15th July, and focused on five core categories - Healthy Ageing: Mobility & Cognitive Health (June 29), Healthy Ageing: Metabolic & Digestive Health (July 1), Plant-based Innovation (July 6), Healthy Snacking (July 13) and Infant & Maternal Health (July 15).

Register to watch the event on demand for free.​

Speakers included:

• Patrick Gantier, Asia General Manager, Mars Wrigley
• Gregg Ward, Head of Open Science Innovation Centre, Danone.
• Dr Yong Shan May, Brands Suntory, Principal Scientist
• Dr Tunyawat  Kasemsuwan, Thai Union, Thai Union Global Innovation Centre (GIC) Director
• Prof Grant Brinkworth, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia
• Dr Shawn Watson, Senescence Life Sciences, Founder and CEO
• Dr Matthew Pikosky, National Dairy Council USA, VP Nutrition Research
• Dr Paul Clayton Institute of Food, Brain and Behaviour (Oxford), Fellow
• Jin Zong Xiao, Morinaga, Director of Next Generation Science Institute
• Angus Brown, Ārepa, Co-Founder and CEO
• Ramasamy Venkatesh, Gencor, MD
• Dahlia Ghazalay, USDEC, Regional Director SEA
• Prof Alex Tups, University of Otago
• Dr Sumanto Haldar, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) at A*STAR, Principal Investigator
• Michelle Lee, IFF, Regional Marketing Leader, Greater Asia
• Christian Philippsen, Beneo, MD, Asia Pacific
• Florence Leong, Kosmode Health, Co-Founder and CEO
• Laurent Stevenart, Impossible Foods, Country Manager (Singapore)
• Damien-Pierre Lessot, Roquette, Head of Technical Developers
• Hugo Leclercq, Lesaffre Biospringer, Innovation and Business Development Director
• Ronan Moloney, Kerry, VP & GM for Food and Meat
• Coco Tse, Hero Protein, VP, Strategy & Operations
• Franklin Yao, YouKuai Group International, founder
• Aashim Maholtra, Dole Sunshine Company, VP and MD APAC
• Yuwi Chan, Eat Real Snacks, International Sales Manager (APAC)
• Salomi Naik, Ai Palette, Head of Innovation
• Martin  Teo, USDEC, Technical Director - Food Applications
• Chyn Boon Wong, Morinaga, Research Associate
• Tamara Rausch, Advanced Lipids, Global Scientific Marketing Manager
• Airing  Wang, Nature’s Way, Head of Marketing - China
• Monica Meldrum, Whole Kids, Founder and CEO
• Max Rye, TurtleTree Labs, Chief Strategist
• Sigalit Zchut, Advanced Lipids, Global Scientific Marketing Manager
• Jane Li, Li, Page & Co, Founder

The full line-up of events is:

Healthy Ageing: Mobility & Cognitive Health​

In recognition of the huge public health challenges, and immense business opportunities, posed by Asia’s rapidly ageing population, this year we staged two editions on Healthy Ageing in order to give the topic the level of attention it requires. The event drilled down into the latest research, trends and products for conditions associated with mobility, including bone, joint and muscle health. Also, with cognitive health top of mind for consumers of all ages, we debated the latest nutritional solutions to aid memory, mood, alertness, sleep and relaxation.

Healthy Ageing: Metabolic & Digestive Health​

Many Asian nations are still struggling to fight battles against obesity, diabetes and heart disease, so we placed the spotlight on the role the food, beverage and nutrition sector has to play in helping alleviate the various metabolic health conditions. We also be assessed the latest developments in gut health, with a particular focus on how Asia’s flourishing probiotics and prebiotics sectors can confer benefits to digestive health and beyond.

Plant-based Innovation​

Interest in plant-based alternatives across Asia shows no signs of slowing, as evidenced by the growing number of major brands, suppliers and trend-setting foodservice outlets continuing to ramp-up investment. With Asia tipped to be the largest region for plant-based food consumption in the $21bn global finished product market by 2025 on the back of consumers’ ethical, health and environmental concerns, plus extensive product innovation, we’ll looked at how the sector can establish itself as a mainstream, as well as trending, category.

Healthy Snacking​

Asian consumers are increasingly opting to eat several smaller meals across the day, instead of the traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner. This has led to a boom in the region’s snacking market, but many consumers are not satisfied with simple indulgence or convenience. Increasingly, they are demanding healthier options, opening up huge opportunities for value-added ingredients that can play a role in assisting with reformulation or fortification, as well that those that can foster claims to be natural, or clean label. We assessed the latest developments in all of the above as brands strive to meet these emerging snacking trends.

Infant & Maternal Health​

The Asia-Pacific infant formula market is due to double by 2026, to reach $26.8 billion, with brands continually striving to find a competitive edge with scientifically backed and high-value ingredients. We also looked at the booming market for children’s supplements, particularly in China, as well as debating the latest understanding and opportunities around maternal health, in a region where many mums-to-be still experience key micronutrient deficiencies.