There is a need for forums where the representatives from the food processing sector and the pharmaceutical sector can meet up and exchange experience. In the coming years, requirements towards both sectors for innovation, energy efficiency and environmental concerns will ascend to even higher levels than today. This is where both industries could learn from each other's experience.
Initially, compounding foodstuffs and pharmaceutical products may seem controversial. Consumers are often sceptical when a product crosses the line between being a foodstuff and a medicinal product, i.e. enriched foodstuffs. Nevertheless cooperation between the food processing industry and the pharmaceutical industry brings many advantages. After all, they do deal with the same thing – the human body.
The food processing industry provides us with foodstuffs that keep the body healthy, whilst the pharmaceutical industry provides us with medicine to heal our bodies if they should become ill. Both industries deal with the human organism, which is why society has many of the same requirements to both industries. Hygiene, documentation and inspection must be sorted out lest the food and medicine might not work as intended and poison the body rather than helping it. Also, both foodstuffs and medicinal products must be manufactured with the highest possible regard for the climate and the environment.
If Denmark is to continue having a strong food processing industry, as well as a strong pharmaceutical industry, we must take advantage of the fact that they are facing the same challenges. Hence it is a good thing that a forum like the FoodPharmaTech 2010 exists where the representatives of these two industries can meet up. |
