Impact of new technologies on the health benefits and safety of bioactive plant compounds

COST 926 is a networking partnership funded by the EU through the European Science Foundation. The project has a strong genomic emphasis with the primary objective of ensuring maximum benefit is gained in Europe from the application of new technologies in cellular and molecular biology in the study of bioactive components in fruits and vegetables in relation to disease prevention. Benefits are seen as improved public health and the increased competitiveness of the food and related industries.
 
By a variety of dissemination methods it aims at:

• Promoting scientific collaboration
• Integrating results
• Involving the food industry and consumer organisations
• Evaluating plant-derived food/health supplements
• Ensuring processing methods are optimal and safe

The inaugural meeting was held in February 2004, followed by a major conference in Budapest in the autumn of the same year. Seventeen countries are currently involved in the project, which has a strong genomic bias. Further information can be obtained from the Chairman, Dr Jenny Gee, at jenny.gee@bbsrc.ac.uk