There was a lot of discussion about the convergence of food and pharma at this week’s NutrEvent and NutriConference in Lille, France, but a €1bn+ Nestlé commitment does not a category make.

Hans-Christian Ambjerg, president of DSM Food Specialties, goes head to head with FoodNavigator.com on commodity prices, emerging markets and acquisition strategy.

A lot of talk has focussed on how non-sporty consumers are driving the market, but what about the potential for industry by targeting elite athletes? First, industry must understand the unique demands of top level performance, says Jeni Pearce from the English Institute Sport.

The supplements and functional foods industry is set to do “business as usual” at next month’s Vitafoods trade show, according to the event director, after an uncontrollable period in the wake of health claims.

There is huge potential in producing food ingredients from traditional and natural sources. These ingredients may deliver health benefit or offer functions in processed foods, removing the need artificial chemicals, says Dr Martin Wickham, of Leatherhead Food Research.

Claims consultant and European food regulation specialist, Patrick Coppens, from the Brussels-based consultancy European Advisory Services, says new data could win lutein players a positive health claim opinion.

Naturex will expand again in 2011 with several “€5-20m” targets, 1.5 years after completing the €110m integration of Spanish supplier Natraceutical that made the French botanical extracts supplier the biggest in the world.

Biomarkers for eye health nutrient lutein deserve validation, says a leading academic in the area.

The Probiotics European Scientific League (PESL) is a new group that seeks to improve quality among probiotic supplements by increasing testing and certifying products that pass via a League logo.

DSM Nutritional Products' vice president, Nutrition Improvement Program Oswaldo da Costa e Silva explains that the initiative is an integral part of the company's sustainabiltiy vision. Providing products for malnourished people around the world - and especially children in the crucial first 1000 days of life - can help them to develop and contribute to society and the economy.