FFC's 32^nd International Conference

Registration form        Abstract sample          Scholarship application

Years of research has demonstrated the efficacy of the diet rich in functional foods with bioactive compounds in reducing the risk of developing chronic disease. Decreasing the risk of chronic disease can also reduce the risk of viral disease, as those with chronic disease are more vulnerable to contracting and perishing from viral diseases. Considering the impact of the diet on both chronic and viral disease, having a greater understanding the bioactive compounds that produce the beneficial effects of the diet with functional foods can lead to improved health of the global population and decrease vulnerability to disease. Once identified, these bioactive compounds can be used in the development of functional foods for certain conditions, diseases, and their symptoms. 

To facilitate and promote the discussion of how the functional foods and bioactive compounds can be used to reduce the risks of disease, the central theme for the Functional Food Center’s 32^nd International Conference will be "Discovery, Research and Utilization of Bioactive Compounds: Development of Healthy and Functional Food Products". 

The conference is organized by Functional Food Center-FFC (Dallas, TX, USA), Functional Food Institute-FFI (San Diego, CA, USA), International Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds (ASFFBC), The Journal of "Functional Foods in Health and Disease" (FFHD), The Journal of "Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease" (BCHD) and The Journal of Functional Food Science (FFS).

FFC's 32^nd Conference will also examine all aspects of SARS CoV-2 infection prevention and management, including non-pharmaceutical interventions.

FFC32 - In-Person, as well as a Virtual Experience (LIVE Online Event): October 2^nd - October 4^th, 2024. For more than 25 years, the Functional Food Center has provided the functional and healthy food industry with outstanding education, training, exhibits and networking opportunities to a worldwide community of researchers, food scientists, and academics. 

For more details about conference sessions and topics, please visit conference Topics and Sessions page.

For a view of the floor plan of the conference, visit the Exhibitors Floor Plan Page.

Check out this link to view an about the upcoming conference:  Informational Brochure  

Please click the link to watch about the last FFC's conference: YouTube video 

Please click the link to learn more about Hotel San Diego: DoubleTree by Hilton 

Call for Abstracts

Share your research with a global audience through the FFC 32^nd International Conference! The deadline for the abstract submission deadline has been extended due to multiple requests from the publishers. The absolute last day to submit abstracts for our 32nd Conference is July 31st, 2024: Late abstract publication fee is $99.00. The entire abstract should have a maximum of 1000 words (including extra information about authors). Please use Times New Roman Font 12 for the entire abstract.

Submit your abstract to be considered for an opportunity to showcase your work along with other leaders from the fields of medicine and food science during this event in a short or regular presentation. You will also have the opportunity to answer audience questions in real-time. 

Short Presentations: 7 minutes

Regular Presentations: 20 Minutes

Special and Keynote Presentations: 25-30 Minutes

Decisions on selection will be promptly communicated to the authors via e-mail. All contributions will be reviewed by organizing committee members, and accepted abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings book. Please email your abstract as an attachment to ffc@functionalfoodscenter.net. Please review our sample abstract.  It is mandatory to make a payment within 7-10 days after you receive an abstract acceptance letter. 

Registration Fees and Deadlines

The registration fee will cover the Conference Proceedings book (Abstract book) and a 12-month membership to the Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds. It will provide access to all sessions as  well as free lunches and coffee. Each registration allows the registrant to present up to 3 accepted abstracts maximum. Registration includes access to the entire program and Expo, presentation materials, and networking with expert speakers and organizing committee members.

Cancellation Policy: Before February 28, 2024: 75% refund; before April 30t, 2024: 50% refund; after April 30th, 2024: No refund. Reimbursements will be sent after the conference. Notice of cancellation of registration must be received in writing to the Conference Secretariat. All refunds will be provided after the conference within 14 days.

Conference registration fees are in USD . 

*M: Members of Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds; **N: Nonmembers(N); ***If an exhibitor wants a larger space, they can rent bigger space; ****Conference is offering a 25% reduced registration fee to residents of UN list of least developed countries (https://unctad.org/topic/least-developed-countries/list); *** 50% discount for virtual participation for Regular Registration Rate

Venue and Accommodations:

Our venue will be located at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego, CA, USA.

Don't miss out on the many recreational opportunities, including an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and a sauna. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and gift shops/newsstands.

Enjoy a meal at the restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the hotel's room service (during limited hours). Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Full breakfasts are available daily from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee.

Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access, a 24-hour business center, and dry cleaning/laundry services.  Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.

In the heart of San Diego, DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Downtown (Address: 1646 Front Street, San Diego, California 92101) is within a 5-minute drive of USS Midway Museum and San Diego Convention Center. This 4-star hotel is 1.6 mi (2.5 km) from Petco Park and 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Balboa Park, near Port of San Diego and San Diego International Airport (2-3 miles only). 

Special price for registered conference attendees: 209.00 per day.  Please see the reservation link:

Deadlines: 

• The deadline for the abstract submission has been extended due to multiple requests from the publishers. The absolute last day to submit abstracts for our 32nd Conference is July 31st, 2024: Late abstract publication fee is $99.00. The abstract format should be the same as listed above in the Call for Abstract section. Please review our sample abstract.
• Full-text papers (full review or research articles) for oral presentations or posters will receive 75% discount for the article publication fee. Please note that the submission of full text papers are mandatory for oral presenters. Please review the author guidlenes before submitting your article. We will chose your article for publication in the following 3 open-access, peer-reviewed journals in accordance to your article content and other parameters: 1. The Journal of "Functional Foods in Health and Disease" (FFHD), is indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. 2. The Journal of "Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease" (BCHD) is indexed in Scopus. 3. The Journal of Functional Food Science (FFS) will be submitted for Scopus indexing. Full-text paper submission deadline is July 31st, 2024.
• Power Points for oral presentations should be submitted before September 21st, 2024. 

Please note that the program and sessions are subject to change. For more information about the conference, please contact us by e-mail at ffc@functionalfoodscenter.net.

Research and Review Abstract Samples

Abstract Sample 1 (Research):

Diacylglycerol for Obesity: Serotonin hypothesis

Hidekatsu Yanai¹, Hiroshi Yoshida², and Norio Tada³, Yuji Hirowatari⁴

¹Department of Internal Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kohnodai Hospital, Chiba, 21567-0345, Japan;

²Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba, 31567-0345, Japan;

³Internal Medicine of Metabolism and Nutrition, Jikei University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, 41567-0345, Japan;

⁴Bioscience Division, TOSOH Corp, Kanagawa, 51567-0345, Japan

Corresponding Author: Hidekatsu Yanai, Ph.D., Department of Internal Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kohnodai Hospital, Chiba, 21567-0345, Japan

Keywords: diacylglycerol, intestine, obesity, serotonin, thermogenesis

Background: Diacylglycerol (DAG) oil is a natural component of various edible oils. DAG has been reported to prevent obesity through a variety of potential mechanisms in comparison with triacylglycerol (TAG) in humans. An increase in postprandial energy expenditure (EE) is proposed to be one of the mechanisms underlying this effect of DAG. Up-regulated mRNA expressions associated with EE by DAG in the small intestine may explain increased postprandial EE. The small intestine seems to contribute to changes in EE by DAG. We previously studied plasma serotonin, which is mostly present in the small intestine and mediates sympathetic thermogenesis. We found that DAG ingestion increases plasma serotonin levels by approximately 50% compared to TAG ingestion.

Objective: To understand the molecular mechanisms for DAG-induced increase in serotonin and EE, we investigated effects of DAG on serotonin release and expressions of genes associated with EE, using the human intestinal cell line.

Methods: The intestinal cell line, the Caco-2 cells, was incubated with medium containing 1-monoacylglycerol (1-monooleyglycerol [1-MOG]) and 2-monoacylglycerol (2-monooleylglycerol [2-MOG]), distinctive digestive products of DAG and TAG, respectively. We measured serotonin release from the Caco-2 cells using a newly developed high-performance liquid chromatography. Further, we studied effects of 1-MOG, 2-MOG, and serotonin on expressions of mRNA associated with EE (acyl-CoA oxidase [ACO], medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase [MCAD], fatty acid translocase [FAT], and uncoupling protein-2 [UCP-2]), by the Real-Time quantitative RT-PCR system.

Results: 100 mM 1-MOG significantly increased serotonin release from the Caco-2 cells compared with the same concentration of 2-MOG by approximately 37% (P<0.001). Expressions of mRNA of ACO, FAT, and UCP-2 were significantly higher in 100 mM 1-MOG-treated Caco-2 cells than 100 mM 2-MOG-treaed cells by approximately 13%, 24%, and 35%, respectively. Expressions of mRNA of ACO, MCAD, FAT, and UCP-2 were significantly increased in 400 nM serotonin-treated Caco-2 cells as compared with the Caco-2 cells incubated without serotonin by approximately 29%, 30%, and 39%, respectively.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that a hydrolytic product of DAG increases serotonin release from the intestinal cells and enhances expressions of genes associated with b-oxidation (ACO, MCAD), thermogenesis (UCP-2) and fatty acids metabolism (FAT). Furthermore, this study revealed that serotonin also enhances expression of these genes, proposing a new molecular biological mechanism for DAG-mediated anti-obesity effect. Serotonin may play an important role in DAG-mediated prevention of obesity.

(Please note: the portion below is required for our records, but will not appear in the published abstract. The entire abstract should have a maximum of 750 words (including extra information about authors). Please use Times New Roman Font 12 for the entire abstract.

FFC's 32^nd International Conference:

Corresponding Author:
Hidekatsu Yanai, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kohnodai Hospital, Chiba, 01567-0345, Japan, e-mail: hy@gmal.com, phone number: (001) - 619-642-8088

Main Presenting Author:
Hidekatsu Yanai, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kohnodai Hospital, Chiba, 01567-0345, Japan, e-mail: hy@gmal.com, phone number: (001) - 619-642-8088

Co-authors:
Hiroshi Yoshida, MD, Ph.D., e-mail: hyoshida@gmal.com

Yuji Hirowatari, Ph.D., e-mail: yhir@gmal.com

Norio Tada, MS, e-mail: mtada@gmal.com

Presentation Type (please choose): Oral or poster, in-person or virtual

In-person or Virtual Presentation (please chose one): In-person or virtual

Conference Venue: San Diego, California or Yerevan, Armenia (choose one)

Session (please choose one): Choose one from the conference website

**Click here to download/edit the Research Abstract Sample document: Abstract Sample 1

Abstract Sample 2 (Review):

Definition for functional food by FFC: Creating functional food products using new definition

Danik Martirosyan and April Mitchell

Functional Food Center/Functional Food Institute, Dallas, TX, 75254, USA

Corresponding Author: Danik M. Martirosyan, Functional Food Center/Functional Food Institute, Dallas, TX, 75254, USA

Keywords: Functional food definitions, bioactive compounds, biomarkers

ABSTRACT:
Healthcare costs in industrialized countries are soaring as a result of rising average life expectancies and epidemics of specific chronic diseases. As the public pursues ways to become healthier and improve quality of life, functional food science has become an intriguing field of research and topic of debate to combat certain chronic diseases cost-effectively. While steps are being taken to develop and research functional food consistently across the globe, there is still not a shared international or conclusive definition of functional food. The term “functional food” was first coined in Japan in the 1980’s and the science expanded to EU and the United States quickly. However, the term “functional food” has since been the center of confusion in scientific and consumer discussions due to shifting definitions. Inconsistent definitions in the literature and government legislation have posed challenges for the development of functional food science and have caused public doubt in the effectiveness of functional food as a potential strategy for chronic diseases.

Here, the Functional Food Center’s new definition for “functional foods” was revised to: “Natural or processed foods that contains known or unknown biologically- active compounds; which, in defined, effective non-toxic amounts, provide a clinically proven and documented health benefit for the prevention, management, or treatment of chronic disease” [1,2]. In this latest version of our definition, we added the phrase “in effective non-toxic amounts” to highlight the significance of bioactive compound dosage in the consumption of functional food. This new definition of functional food by the Functional Food Center can improve communication and collaboration between the scientific, medical communities, food industry, and the public to legitimize functional food science globally.

References:

1. Danik M. Martirosyan and Jaishree Singh, A new definition of functional food by FFC: what makes a new definition unique? Functional Foods in Health and Disease 2015; 5(6):209-223
2. Danik M. Martirosyan and Jaishree Singh, Introduction to Functional Food Science, Third Edition, Edited by Martirosyan DM, Dallas: Food Science Publisher; 2015:10-24

(Please note: the portion below is required for our records, but will not appear in the published abstract. The entire abstract should have a maximum of 750 words (including extra information about authors). Please use Times New Roman Font 12 for the entire abstract.

FFC's 32^nd International Conference:

Corresponding Author: Danik Martirosyan, Ph.D., Research and Development Department, Functional Food Institute, Dallas, TX, 75254, USA, e-mail: ffc@functionalfoodscenter.net, phone number: (001) - 619-642-8088 

Main Presenting Author:
Danik Martirosyan, Ph.D., Research and Development Department, Functional Food Institute, Dallas, TX, 75254, USA, e-mail: ffc@functionalfoodscenter.net, phone number: (001) - 619-642-8088

Co-authors:
April Mitchell, BSc, e-mail: ffc@functionalfoodscenter.net

Presentation Type (please choose): Oral or poster, in-person or virtual

In-person or Virtual Presentation (please choose one): In-person or virtual

Conference Venue: San Diego, California or Yerevan, Armenia (choose one)

Session (Choose one from the conference website): 

**Click here to download/edit the Review Abstract Sample document: Abstract Sample 2

Accepted Abstracts for Presentation

This list is not finalized, because the abstract submission deadline will be extended soon. 

O* - abstract for oral presentation

P** - abstract for poster presentation

V*** - abstract for virtual presentation

1. (O) Sophio Kalmakhelidze, PhD, Department of Physics, Biophysics, Biomechanics and Informative Technologies of Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia. Protective effect of Herniarin on ionizing radiation-induced neurobehavioral changes
2. (O) Debasis Bagchi, PhD, Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, and Department of Psychology, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA. An Overview on the Regulations of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods in the United States with a Special Emphasis on GRAS Status
3. (O) Akinori Yanaka, MD, PhD, Visiting Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan. Dietary Sulforaphane Mitigates Colonic Mucosal Inflammation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Treated Mice and in Human Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.
4. (O) Manashi Bagchi, PhD, FACN, Department of Research & Development, Dr. Herbs LLC, Concord, California, USA. Clinical investigation to assess the safety and efficacy of a patented fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed extract in Type 2 diabetics: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
5. (O) Abimbola Kemisola, PhD, Department of Home Economics and Food Science, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Anti-diabetic properties of mango - neem leaf tea: effect on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and insulin concentration.
6. (O) Yasuhito Shirai, Ph.D, Dean and Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, KObe, Japan. 67 kDa Laminin receptor works as Vitamin E receptor.
7. (O) Zayniddin Muhidinov, PhD, Lead Scientist, Chemistry Institute of the National Academy of Sciences, Tajikistan. Biopolymers composite film with bioactive compounds for food preservation.
8. (O) Shuo Xu, PhD Student, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. A New Approach to Producing High-purity Trehalose by the Yeast Yarrowia lipolytica Displaying Trehalose Synthase on the Cell Surface.
9. (O) Qing Li, PhD Student, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Evaluation of Safety and Physiological Functions of the New Functional Sugar Alcohol Threitol.
10. (O) Carmen Alicia Yáñez Gonzalez, MsC, MSc Chemical Engineer, University of Alicante, Spain. Infant Nutrition: Breast milk substitutes and gut-brain axis improved by microalgae.
11. (O) Anand Swaroop, PhD, Research and Development Department, Cepham Inc., Somerset, NJ, USA. Fenfuro®, furostanolic saponins from Trigonella foenum-graecum, alleviate diet-induced glucose intolerance and hepatic fat accumulation in rats.
12. (O) Claire Odornato, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; FFC, USA.. lycopene holds significant promise as a dietary component for reducing cancer risk
13. (O) Tori Trachtenberg, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida, USA; FFC, USA.. Addressing vitamin D deficiency through nutritional strategies
14. (O) Sonam Christopher, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; FFC, USA. The benefits of terpenoids as a potential functional food product for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus
15. (O) Sooki Beeley, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA; FFC, USA.. Managing insomnia, anxiety, and other conditions with Valeriana officinalis: A functional food perspective
16. (O) Alondra Alvarado, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; FFC,USA. The Impact of Food Deprivation and Starvation on Mental Health: Blockade on Artsakh
17. (O) Debasis Bagchi, PhD, Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, and Department of Psychology, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA. A critical insight into the molecular mechanisms of macular carotenoids with respect to their physicochemical stability, industrial production, targeted tissue delivery and bioavailability
18. (O) Lusine Matevosyan, PhD, Scientific Center of Agriculture, Ministry of Economy of RA, Armenia. Assessment of quality indicators of different varieties of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) under the conditions of the foothill zone of Armenia.
19. (O) Mary Muchiri, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Karatina University, Kenya. Post-fermented Tea (Camellia sinensis) Beverages: Bioactive Compounds, Health Benefits and Future Trends in Development of Functional Foods.
20. (O) Nayma Sultana, Professor, Department of Physiology, Colonel Maleque Medical College, Manikganj, Bangladesh. Hepatoprotective Effects of Metformin Alone and In Combination With Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) On Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats.
21. (O) Hairong Cheng, PhD, Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. The exploration of physiological function of the newly biosynthesized sugar alcohol: Threitol.
22. (O) Tamami Shirai, PhD, Associate Researcher, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. How Japanese diet has been changing, and how functional food including FOSHU products has been developed and resided among Japanese people.
23. (O) Anush Baghdasaryan, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; FFC, USA. Economic implications of functional foods
24. (O) Anca Lucau-Danila, PhD, Associate Professor, BioEcoAgro, University of Lille, Lille, France. Exploring Chicory's role as a functional food in One Health
25. (O) Hui Li, PhD, Professor, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Gycine and serine complementation is effective against serum-resistant bacteria.
26. (O) Esther Nwanna, PhD, College of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching and Research, UC Davis, USA. Bioactive compounds from copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana) as potential antimicrobials against AMR-pathogens causing mastitis in California dairy cattle.
27. (O) Xuanxian Peng, PhD, Professor, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Nutrient metabolites potentiate antibiotic killing.
28. (O) Alexander Haslberger, PhD, Professor, University Vienna, Austria. Personalisation in Nutrition and in the use of Functional Foods.
29. (O) Tulo E. Alaba, PhD Student, University of Maine, USA. Steamed Broccoli Sprouts alleviated Inflammatory Bowel Disease via increased anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and gut protective Metabolites in DSS-mice.
30. (O) Elizabeth Plourde, PhD, 21st Century Health Consulting, USA. Foods Protect from Electromagnetic Radiation Harm.
31. (O) Jiawei (Vivian) Zhou, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Functional foods for cholesterol management: A comparison between the United States and Japan
32. (O) Sonam Christopher, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; & FFC, USA. The benefits of terpenoids as a potential functional food product for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus
33. (O) Gohar Kirakosyan, General scientist of Department of Breeding and Cultivation Technology, Scientific Centre of Vegetable and Industrial Crops CJSC of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Marz, Armenia. Effect of Biofertilizer Application on biochemical properties content in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) Crops in Open and Greenhouse Conditions.
34. (O) Karine Sarikyan, Head of Department Breeding and Cultivation Technology Solanaceae Crops, Ministry of Economy of Armenia, Armenia. Study of Anthocyanins in Several Genetic Resources from the National Eggplant Collection of Armenia.
35. (O) Bella Grigoryan, PhD, Voskehat Educational and research center of enology scientific branches of Armenian National Agrarian University of Armenia, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia. The study of biochemical composition of grape and wine from Armenian selection variety Nrneni.
36. (O) Kaj Winther, Phd, Professor, Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Can rose-hip (rosa canina L) subspecies Lito influence the consumption of pain killers, age related body changes including skin wrinkles, cell longevity and body weight?
37. (V) Lusya Hovhannisyan, PhD, Leading Researcher, Institute of Hydroponics Problems after G.S. Davtyan, Armenia. Efficacy and Selenium Enrichment of Lycium barbarum in Hydroponic and Soil Conditions in the Ararat Valley.
38. (V) Anahit Hakobjanyan, PhD, Senior Researcher, G.S. Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia. Thuja occidentalis and its essential oil in medicine.
39. (V) Anush Vardanyan, PhD, Senior Researcher, G.S. Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, NAS RA, Armenia. Pharmacochemical investigation of medicinal raw material of Rosmarinus officinalis L. cultivated by clonal micropropagation and hydroponic combined method.
40. (V) Anna Tadevosyan, PhD, Leading Researcher, G.S.Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, NAS, Yerevan, Armenia. Antiradical activity and bioactive substances of Eleutherococcus senticosus grown under hydroponic and soil conditions in Ararat Valley and Dilijan forest zone.
41. (V) Alexander Plakida, PhD, Professor, Odessa National Medical University, Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine and Physical Training, Odessa, Ukraine. The effect of an aqueous solution of Chlorella Vulgaris on the composition of the body in healthy people.
42. (V) Yinan Du, PhD, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China. The effect of heat treatment on the large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) roe protein isolates-curcumin interactions and performance of protein hydrogels.
43. (V) Gayane Martirosyan, PhD, Head of Department Vegetable Seed Production, Ministry of Economy, Armenia. Biochemical Composition of Armenian Chili Pepper Varieties for Functional Food Applications.
44. (V) Jianan Yan, PhD, Dalian Polytechnic University, China. Scallop male gonad powders improve exercise performance and exert antifatigue effect via alleviating the oxidative stress and modulating inflammatory cytokines in mice.
45. (V) Laura Alonso Pintre, BSC Student, Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL), Madrid, Spain. Proteomic identification of potential sources of antioxidant peptides from the microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana.
46. (V) Marta Magdalena Majchrzak, Masters, Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL), Madrid, Spain. Beneficial effects of simulated orogastric digests from microalga Tetraselmis chuii against Helicobacter pylori infection.
47. (V) Knarik Shamilyan, PhD, Yerevan state medical university after Mkhitar Heratsi, Armenia. Discovery of Sour cherry fruits antiplatelet activity.
48. (V) Irina Cherknukha, PhD, Academician of Russian Academy of Sciences, VM Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems, Moscow, Russia. The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica displaying trehalose synthase on the cell surface.
49. (V) Norizah Sarbon, PhD, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. Purification, Identification, and Characterization of Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory Peptide from Ultrasound- Treated Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Protein Hydrolysate with Acute Toxicity study.
50. (V) Tamar Sanikidze, PhD, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi 33, 0186, Georgia. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of phenolic compounds (grain germinates, and grass seedling) of wheat processed with innovative laser bio agrotechnology to make a functional health-improving drug..
51. (V) Julijana Tomovska, PhD, Faculty of Biotechnical Sciences, University St. Kliment Ohridski 7000 Bitola, Macedonia. Examination of the chemical composition and chemical elements in cow’s milk.
52. (V) Chunping You, State Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology, Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200436, China. Lactobacillus paracasei BD5115-derived metabolites promotes intestinal epithelial cells proliferation by upregulating the MYC signalling pathway.
53. (V) Marcello Iriti, PhD, Professor of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Milan State University, Italy. Climate change, natural disasters, armed conflicts and migrations at the crossroads between food and nutrition insecurity and undernourishment
54. (V) Anastasia Kim, PhD, Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Antioxidant activity of fermented fabaceae as functional food product
55. (P) Rimma Osipiva, Senior Researcher, Scientific Centre of Agriculture, Armavir region, Armenia. Research of the effect of bioregulators and micro fertilizers on the productivity and quality of lentil seeds.
56. (P) Miriam Hagan, PhD, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Howard University, Washington-DC, United States of America. Seaweed Consumption and Weight Management: Exploring the Anti-Obesity Effects of Seaweed Vegetables on Adults with Obesity - A Systematic Review.
57. (P) Lusine Suvaryan, Deputy director, Ministry of Economy of Republic of Armenia, Armenia. The Main Economically Sicnificant Indicators In The Grain of Winter And Spring Forms of Triticale And Identification Of Alleles Of Short-Stem Genes.
58. (P) Francesco Marotta, Senior Consultant, Regenera R&D International for Aging Intervention, Italy. A Novel Multimodal Functional Food Approach to NAFLD/MAFLD.
59. (P) Gayane Melyan, Head of Department of Plant tissue culture, Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnology, branch of Armenian National Agrarian University, Armenia. Enhancing Yield Capacity and Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cvs ´Albion ´ and ´San Andreas´ Using Biotechnological Methods.
60. (P) Gayane Shaboyan, Researcher of the Laboratory of land Nutrition and Productivity, G.S. Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, Armenia. The study of several samples of the ICARDA lentil collection in outdoor hydroponics in Ararat Valley and the soil conditions in Gegharkunik Marz, Armenia.
61. (P) Laura Ghalachyan, Senior Scientist, G.S. Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, NAS RA, Armenia. The study of gross B-radioactivity of some vegetables and medicinal plants in conditions of outdoor hydroponic systems and soil culture in Ararat Valley.
62. (P) Laura Tadevosyan, PhD, Scientific Centre of Vegetable and Industrial Crops, Darakert, Ararat Marz, Armenia. Chili pepper local varieties for funcional food.Introduction of varieties with high content of bioactive components.
63. (P) Liyun Ji, PhD Student, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Disruption of Transaldolase Gene in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica Discovering the Volemitol Synthetic Pathway by Reducing the Erythrose-4-P flux.
64. (P) Syuzanna Matevosyan, Head of Certification section, Center for Agriculture Research and Certification" State Non-Commercial Organization, Armenia. Certified Seeds and Planting Material as Foundations of Bioactive Compounds and Nutrients.
65. (P) Anna Tadevosyan, Leading Researcher, G.S.Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, NAS, Yerevan, Armenia. The influence of planting density on the oil and fatty acids content of soybean in hydroponic and soil conditions of the Ararat Valley
66. (P) Anna Tadevosyan, Leading Researcher, G.S.Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, NAS, Yerevan, Armenia. Some parameters of hydroponic and soil Rhubarb cultivated in Ararat Valley of Armenia.
67. (P) Ruzanna Paronikyan, Leading Researcher, Scientific and Technological Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry NAS of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia. Study of the psychotropic properties of N-isopropyl benzyl hydantoins and their lithium salts.
68. (P) Ani Badasyan, Bachelors Student, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA), Yerevan, Republic of Armenia (RA). The Strategic Food Reserves Storage, Safety and Risk Minimization: Perspectives of Natural Underground Constructions.
69. (P) Eteri Stepanyan, Lecturer, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia. Preliminary Analysis of the Growth Potential of the Two Iranian Pistachio Varieties and Their Prospects as Functional Foods in the Conditions of the Republic of Armenia.
70. (P) Liana Grigoryan, PhD, Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan, Armenia. Comparative assessment of meat carcass quality of healthy and fasciolosis-affected animals.
71. (P) Marina Melkumyan, PhD, The Laboratory of Ecological Safety, "Armbiotechnology" Scientific and Production Center (SPC) of National Academy of Sciences of Republic of Armenia (NAS RA). Crops Biological Protection: Phytopathogens Growth Inhibition by The Entomopathogen.
72. (P) Samvel Bagdasaryan, PhD Student, Agrobiotechnology Scientific Center?, Branch of ANAU (Armenian National Agrarian University) Foundation. Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University (RAU), Armenia. New Functionally Substitutes Cyclopropanecarboxylic Acids as Ethylene Biosynthesis Innovative Regulators.
73. (P) Lusine Melkonyan, PhD, Senior Researcher, SPC “Armbiotechnology” NAS RA, 14 Gyurjyan, 0056, Yerevan, Armenia. Biofertilizer based on Agrobacterium as a key to food security.
74. (P) Vladimir Popov, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology at Medical Institute of Tambov State University, Tambov, Russia. A prospective randomized comparative placebo-controlled double-blind study in two groups to assess the effect of the use of Nutraceutical with Siberian fir terpenes for the biological age.
75. (P) Hrachya Hovhannisyan, DsC, Professor, Leading Researcher of the Lactic Acid Bacteria Sector of the SPC “Armbiotechnology” of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. A New Health Promoting Dairy Beverage Fermented by Joint Use of Probiotic Lactobacillus helveticus MDC 9602 and Alcoholic Extract of Lemon Balm.
76. (P) Naira Gasparyan, PhD, Lecturer of Armenian National Agrarian University, 74 Teryan, 0009, Yerevan, Armenia. Evaluation of Several Lettuce Varieties Based on Economically Valuable Traits and Nutritional Value Under Hydroponic Cultivation Conditions.
77. (P) Narine Hovhannisyan, PhD, Head of Division, Scientific Research Institute of Biotechnology and Nutrition. The use of secondary raw materials
78. (P) Aram Mikaelyan, PhD, Agrobiotechnology Scientific Center, Branch of ANAU, Ejmiatsin, Republic of Armenia. Plant-derived melanin: Effects on In vitro potato growth and adaptation
79. (P) Lusine Hambaryan, PhD, Chair of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia. Relationship between Spirulina platensis growth and MP (microplastic) particles biofilm formation in vitro conditons.
80. (P) Hasmik Yepremyan, PhD, Senior Researcher, Scientific and Production Center “Armbiotechnology” of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia. Purification and characterization of the recombinant aminoacylase from Escherichia coli
81. (P) Rotimi Arise, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Telfairia occidentalis seed protein hydrolysate improves glucose homeostasis in diabetic rats by ameliorating beta-cell dysfunction and carbohydrate metabolic disturbance.

Guidelines for Full Paper Submission

As we know this is an international conference, we will also be providing professional help with the English quality and proof-reading of your manuscripts.

Articles should be 8-16 pages in length. If you submit an article within the deadline, you can get a 75% discount for article publication fee or submit application for full waiver. 

We want to stress how excellent of an opportunity this is. Conference participants will be able to submit articles to our journal with a 75% discount and get published within 2-3 months. Furthermore, all published articles will be advertised in our LinkedIn groups and newsletters, which will increase exposure and citation for your articles.

Please note that article submission is mandatory for oral presenters. If you published your research in another journal already, let us know as soon as possible. Another option is to submit a review article on a similar topic.

You can visit our our journal website at: www.ffhdj.com. You can submit your articles via email to editor@ffhdj.com. If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Guideline

1. The entire text of the full papers must be in Times New Roman, 12 point size font.
2. Full paper margins should be 0.75 inches from the top and bottom, and 1.0 inch from the left and right for A4 format paper.
3. Line spacing should be 1.15 and alignment justified.
4. The submitted full papers should contain 8-16 pages (up to 5000 words). A shorter or longer manuscript must be discussed with the organizing committee.
5. When submitting a full paper, the corresponding author should send a cover letter indicating that the authors have not submitted a similar manuscript for publication elsewhere. Full papers submitted without cover letters will not be published.
6. The full papers and cover letter should be submitted as separate attachments to the following email address: ffc_usa@sbcglobal.net.
7. Submit the full paper within 2 months following the date in the abstract acceptance letter, but no later than the date mentioned on the conference website.
8. Full papers will be published in FFC’s Journal of Functional Foods in Health and Disease. Please download and use the suggested samples for an original scientific paper, review paper, and cover letter.
9. As a token of our appreciation for article submissions in the Special Issue, we are offering 75% discount off our standard publication fee. If sufficient scientific funds are unavailable for coverage of the discounted publication fee, ASFFBC is willing to accommodate as needed. Please contact us (in advance) for more details, if necessary. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this!
10. Full-text papers should be submitted before July 31st, 2024.

Sample Pages

1. Sample for Research Paper
2. Sample for Review Paper
3. Sample for Cover Letter Form

Exhibitors Information

September 10-11, 2024, Armenian National Agrarian University in Yerevan, Armenia

Expo Information for Satellite Conference

We are excited to offer booth spaces for our upcoming satellite conference. Here are the details for booking your booth:

Booth Sizes and Inclusions

2 m² Booth: Includes one table, two chairs, power supply, safe storage for products, a trash can, and two badges. A certificate of participation will be provided at the end, and there is a special prize for the best booth.
3 m² Booth: Includes all of the above, with additional space.
4 m² Booth: Includes all of the above, with even more space.
Pricing

Booking Before August 15:
2 m² Booth: $250
3 m² Booth: $375
4 m² Booth: $500

Booking from August 15 - 30:
2 m² Booth: $325
3 m² Booth: $500
4 m² Booth: $650

Booking from September 1 - 9:
2 m² Booth: $400
3 m² Booth: $625
4 m² Booth: $775

To book your booth or for more information, please visit https://www.functionalfoodscenter.net/registration-form_ffc32.html.

We look forward to your participation and seeing you at the expo!

Please check out our Exhibitor floor plan by clicking here: Exhibitor Floor Plan

Learn more about why you should exhibit at the FFC32 Conference and Expo by clicking here: Why Exhibit?

October 2-4, 2024, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in San Diego, CA, USA

*In our last FFC31st conference we had more than 5700 vitual attendees, about 200 in-person and many visitors for EXPO.

Become an Exhibitor FFC32 
For more than 25 years, the Functional Food Center has provided the functional and healthy food industry with outstanding education, training, exhibits and networking opportunities to a worldwide community of researchers, food scientists, and academics. 

We invite you to showcase your products and services during the event. You will have the chance to generate leads and raise awareness about your products and services to food and medical industry representatives, food scientists, researchers, dietitians, nutritionists, govermental representatives, decision makers from around the globe. 

Exhibition Details:

Space for exhibing is very limited, spaces will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the timestamp of payment receipt we have on our back end.

Early-Bird Rate (Before April 30th, 2024): $695.00
After April 30th, 2024: $895.00
Additional Table Top: $495.00 (A $400 discount (from regular price) for those requiring extra space)

Special Exhibition Offer: Secure a table for the 32nd Conference at the rate of $695.00, and take advantage of our exclusive exhibitor promotion:

Exhibitor Registration for First Person: Free (with the purchase of a table)
Exhibitor Registration for Second Person: 50% off the standard rate ($447.50)

Not only will exhibitors receive time to present their product or service, but they will also be given all regular attendee benefits:

One advertisement in our biweekly newsletter,
a logo/bio of their company posted in our conference website, 
prepared handouts to provide to our attendees!
Exhibitors will be presenting their healthy and functional food products
They can attend all conference sessions

Expo Floor Hours:

Expo Dates and Hours:
 
Exhibit personnel will be allowed on the Expo Floor at 8 a.m.

Octoberr 2nd, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; October 3rd, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; October 4th, 11 am-2 pm.
 
Exhibits - Move-In: October 2nd, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Exhibitors - Move-Out: October 4th, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Conference Exhibitors (Current and Previously presented at FFC's EXPO)

Curent Presenters

	"Haterq food" LLC Company producing high quality and environmentally friendly honey. Haterk Food's brand was awarded the gold medal in the annual "PENTAWARDS Oscars" in London. Among 100 competitors, being named the best in the world motivates the team to work even harder, create, and deliver the best. The goal of our company is to make the phrase "made in Armenia" synonymous with high-quality food worldwide. For more information, please visit: https://haterk.com/
	Ecorise "Ekorise" company produces organo-mineral, complex fertilizer. It is intended for all crops, it is used as foliar feeding. Fertilizer is absorbed by the leaf system, providing plants with the necessary nutrients fastest. It is also used in drip irrigation and hydroponics. "Fulvomix" is an environmentally friendly, biostimulating fertilizer consisting of fulvic acids, humic acids, micro and macro elements, amino acids, and other vital substances. It does not contain pathogenic microorganisms and is compatible with medicinal substances and disinfectants. For more information, please click here.
	Agro-Life,  They carry out imports of agricultural products and raw materials from European countries. For more information, please click here.
	Best EMF Products Many people are feeling the impact of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) emissions around them. They have headaches, migraines, skin rashes, or hives that their physicians cannot explain. In many cases, these are the body's response to EMF exposure. The more sensitive are generally those who already have too many toxic chemicals in their bodies and the body cannot handle the additional assault. Best EMF Products offers unique devices that mitigate the radiations emitted by cell phones and wireless electronics (Wi-Fi router, computers, laptops, tablets, smart meters, baby monitors, cordless phones, and vehicles). For more information please click here.
	Previously presented

	Sari Safran Experience the exceptional quality of our organic saffron sourced from Armenia. If you've ever cooked with saffron, you know what a special ingredient it is. The cultivation and harvesting of our premium saffron remains true to ancient traditions. Saffron, scientifically known as Crocus sativus (Iridaceae), is a perennial herb that has gained popularity for its medicinal and culinary properties. Its remarkable aroma and bitter taste can be attributed to its essential bioactive compounds: safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin. For more information, please click here.
	Imperia Agro Imperia Agro has been selling professional seeds for many years and is one of the leading companies in the seed business in the Republic of Armenia. We offer high-quality seeds from leading foreign and local producers. The range includes the latest innovations and time-tested vegetable and flower seeds: https://imperiagro.am/
	Sun-Flower Producing healthy food products from topinambur, tea, coffee, special tinctures
	Balunts Agro "Balunts Agro" company has been operating since 2002, deals with agricultural fertilizers, agrochemicals and is the representative of Ukravit Science Park, Haifa Negev Technologies, Holland Farming companies in Armenia: "Balunts Agro" company
	PE Gevorg Ghazaryan: Shopping and retail: The official representative of Fito and Satimex firms in Armenia. For more information visit here: https://www.instagram.com/agroproekt_no1/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D
	Food Science Publisher (FSP)/Functional Food Center is especially interested in human clinical nutrition, functional food science and chronic disease aspects of the publishing field. FSP published 11 textbooks, 30 abstract books and publishing monthly 10 open-access journals including Functional Foods in Health and Disease -FFHD (since 2011), Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease-BCHD (since 2017), and Functional Food Science -FFS (since 2018). For more information visit here: https://ffhdj.com/

Midwest Elderberry Cooperative This growing agricultural cooperative supports commercial cultivation of better tasting American elderberry for functional foods. Midwest Elderberry Cooperative desires partners/buyers in the development of minimally processed native elder flower and berry ingredients on a commercial scale. For more information please click here.

NutraGenom, LLC, Las Vegas, NE, USA Since 2007, over 400 research studies demonstrate the health benefits and safety of administering molecular hydrogen (H2) by various routes including IV, oral, bathing and inhalation (1). H2 for wellness, anti-aging, prevention/treatment of disease and in promoting agriculture (2) has been extensively researched and brought to practice - in Asian countries. It has only recently has been introduced to the American market as electrolysis devices and base metals for generating H2. For more information please click here.

Ordinary Vegan I'm very passionate about food and about showing people that vegan food can be delicious. While I have no formal training, I love creating healthy meals and experimenting with new foods and flavors. I am proud of the recipes that are posted here and I hope all of you can learn from my mistakes. In 2013, I became certified in plant-based nutrition from the leading certification program in the country, Cornell University.

Inca Gold Organic We are a Canadian company with Peruvian roots, committed to delivering delicious and nutritious superfoods to North American tables at affordable prices. Our highest priorities are: Our products are certified organic, as well as gluten and pesticide free. We source our products from South America (predominantly Peru and Bolivia) and offer a wide range and variety of Quinoa, Chia, Maca and Sacha Inchi based products, whether as seeds, flours, flakes, oils, syrups, capsules or gelatinized powders.

Pure Indian Foods According to Ayurveda, ghee makes herbs more bioavailable. Both the nourishing quality of ghee AND the nutritive effects of the herbs are increased as the ghee is infused with the herb’s fat soluble components. This means you also get a more concentrated dosage of the herb when it is infused in ghee, due to the slow and thorough preparation process. A well-cured herbal ghee optimizes absorption and nutritional delivery. For more information please click here.

Cell Science Systems Corp. Cell Science Systems Corp. is a specialty clinical laboratory that develops and performs laboratory testing in immunology and cell biology supporting the personalized treatment and prevention of chronic disease. Cell Science Systems Corp. operates a CLIA certified laboratory and is an FDA inspected and registered cGMP medical device manufacturer.

Lifeway Foods, Inc Lifeway Foods, Inc., 6431 West Oakton St. Morton Grove, USA. Lifeway Foods, America’s leading supplier of the probiotic fermented beverage known as kefir, is on a mission to provide the best probiotic and nutritious foods to consumers. Lifeway has also innovated several new ideas in the dairy industry by introducing breakthrough products. The company is committed to four ideals: all natural hormone and GMO-free ingredients, philanthropy, environmental responsibility, and local farming sustainability.

Japan Institute for the Control of Aging (JaICA), Nikken SEIL Co., Ltd., Fukuroi, Shizuoka,  Japan The Japan Institute for the Control of Aging has conducted research into control of aging since its foundation under the doctrine of contributing health promotion. As a result, the institute succeeded in developing a DNA oxidative damage measuring kit, thus taking the lead for this field. The institute now sells many products related to oxidative stress, and such products are utilized in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, biochemistry, food sciences, etc. For more information click here.

Vitargo, Inc. Too tired to workout? Need some fuel in your tank? No need to train empty to maintain stomach comfort anymore! Within 10 minutes Vitargo is emptying from your stomach to deliver high-octane fuel to your muscle and brain cells. You can finally fully fuel your training yet feel empty enough to train. Stacks well with: Low or no-carb Preworkout for increased blood-flow and pump

Osato Research Institute Osato Research Institute, 1956 Inatomi, Ono-cho, Ibi-gun, Gifu, 501-0501, Japan. Website: http://en.ori-japan.com/. Osato Research Institute works with universities and institutes around the world to support research on FFP® (Fermented Papaya Preparation) and its effect on healthy aging. One of their many goals to is to reduce medical costs associated with aging through preventative therapeutic strategies and education.

FOR LONG LIFE Inc., FL, USA We manufacture in USA and EU and distribute our exceptional VEGAN epigenetic nutraceuticals and Immuno-modulators against civilisation diseases world wide to health and anti-aging enthusiasts. We are looking for international and US domestic distributors. For more information please click here.

Sun Genomics, San Diego, Ca, USA Testing your microbiome is only half the battle. Sun Genomics is more than just probiotics. Sun Genomics closes the loop by offering Floré; a personalized product that allows you to test your microbiome and take precision probiotic allowing you to experience the change in your body. It's PrecisionProbio™. For more information please click here.

Danem Dairy Products, Inc Danem Dairy Products, Inc., Suleyman Demirel University Technopark, East Campus, 32260 Isparta, Turkey. Web Site: http://www.kefirdanem.com. Danem’s purpose is to protect, maintain and produce genuine kefir grains that contain all of the probiotic bacterial and yeast strains naturally found in traditional kefir. From these grains, we produce our traditional kefir product, Kefirzadem™, with no additives.

BESO Biological Research Inc. BESO Biological Research Inc., 21660 Copley Dr. Ste# 180, Diamond Bar, CA 91767, USA. Website: http://besoinc.com/home.html. Based in CA, U.S.A. BESO develops nutritional products ranging from daily nutrition to supportive needs. Our products are made with 100% fermented foods that help increase bioavailability and improve nutrient absorption.

Nutritional Support for People With Diabetes & Prediabetes Lysulin acts as a guardian by binding to glucose, shielding your proteins from reacting with glucose. The Lysulin bound to glucose is safely excreted through urine. Actively managing your blood sugar promotes metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological health. Lysulin provides nutritional support to help you live the life you love with fewer complications. For more information please click here.

Canada RNA Biochemical Inc. Richmond BC, Canada Canada RNA Biochemical Inc. (CRNA) treasures the medical knowledge that is passed down through generations of empirical medical practices.  Even though our forefathers did not have access to modern science and technologies, they relied on their empirical observation, great listening skills, trials and errors, and even spiritual intuition in order to arrive at a therapeutic revelation.  For more information please click here.

Keto Dough Co, LLC, Dacula, GA, USA Keto Baked Goods and Supply Chain Solutions. In addition to the absence of added sugars in Keto Dough Co Baked Goods, there are bioactive compounds created by the reconstruction of nutritional value in any vegetable or fruit in the absence of sugar within the baked goods using cellulose and dry vitamins/minerals. For more information please click here.

Fruit Bliss Only the highest quality fruit makes it into Fruit Bliss snacks, which is why we search high and low for regions around the world that produce the best organic fruits. Our fruit begins its journey in its country of origin, such as the Eastern Anatolian region of Turkey, or the Agen region of France, before finally making it to your home. Enjoy the fruits of our labor, one bite at a time

Baobab Foods, LLC Baobab Foods, LLC is an organic superfoods company on a mission to provide high quality, great tasting, nutrient-dense ingredients and retail products that deliver natural fruit-based nourishment for consumers and create socio-economic opportunities for marginalized African communities.

Vibrant America Vibrant America, 1021 Howard Avenue Suite B, San Carlos, CA 94070-4034, USA. Website: https://www.vibrant-america.com/. Vibrant strives to become the leader in autoimmune diagnostics. Our platform allows us to provide results 4 days sooner than any other regional or specialized laboratory. We are committed to providing the best services and a clinically relevant menu of testing options to accommodate healthcare providers and their patients.

Human Metabolome Technologies America, Inc HMT Metabolomics offers new opportunities in metabolite identification and biomarker discovery to provide pathological understanding of complex diseases beyond traditional technologies for patient stratification, disease progression, or drug development. Metabolomics provides a fundamental basis for understanding biology and biochemical change.

Virginia Raw Foods In developing Bee Panacea™, we travelled to over 30 countries to find the best, healthiest ingredients the world has to offer. Bee Panacea™ combines 20 ingredients to provide the most balanced natural supplement you can find. All Bee Panacea™ is made by hand in small batches. When making the product, we carefully maintain the temperature and do not add anything beyond the beautiful ingredients that you see below.

Finlandia Cheese Inc Finlandia makes great tasting cheese and butter. It’s what we do. In fact, it’s the only thing we’ve done for more than a century. And when you’ve been passionately perfecting your craft for so long, you end up creating something very special. Our master craftsmen are relentless in the pursuit of taste perfection with no room for shortcuts or compromise.

Honey Mama’s are honey-cocoa bars Honey Mama’s are honey-cocoa bars made from five nutrient-rich ingredients. We make each of our bars from five whole foods: raw honey, virgin coconut oil, cocoa powder, Himalayan pink salt, and either sprouted almonds or shredded coconut. That’s it! We’re committed to sourcing the highest quality direct–trade, non–GMO, and organic ingredients we can find to make a treat that allows your body to thrive and your tastebuds to celebrate.

Choice Organic Teas As pioneers in the industry, we are the first tea crafter in the United States to produce exclusively organic, Fair Trade Certified™, and Non-GMO Project Verified teas. From classic teas and blends to sophisticated new brews that offer a twist on tradition, we’re dedicated to creating delicious organic teas. Based in Seattle, Washington, we are one of the few tea companies that packages teas in the U.S, offering more than 80 varieties of teas, herbs, and blends that honor people and the planet in every cup

Further Food We began as a community-built education platform for holistic health solutions in order to be our own health advocates and support each other. Today, we take the wisdom from our community to create real food-based supplements that help promote optimal health and wellness. Our products are now sold around the world and we donate a portion of our proceeds to fund chronic illness and healthy eating programs

Thunderbird Real Food Bars Founded in the beautifully weird city of Austin, TX, Thunderbird Real Food Bars was crafted by endurance athletes with the simple belief that eating genuinely healthy food doesn’t have to mean sacrificing taste or convenience. By using only 4 types of ingredients (fruits, nuts, seeds, spices, and absolutely nothing else) Thunderbird Real Food Bars are naturally both plant based/vegan and paleo certified.

Longreen Corporation Longreen Corporation (China) specializes in the sales and marketing of health food and dietary supplements. Believing in the health benefits primitively available in nature, Longreen focuses its marketing of natural products solely with herbal ingredients. Longreen strategically aligns its business along with its company mission – to help improve the health and well-being of the general public

The Aiya's Difference The bulk of Aiya's Matcha is grown in Nishio in the heart of Aichi Prefecture, Japan. A historic tea cultivating region dating back to the 1200s, Nishio’s stable climate, fresh pristine river waters, fertile soil, and remoteness from urban development foster tea leaves that are more resiliently green and full of nutrients.

BioNeutra North America Inc. Founded in 2003, BioNeutra North America Inc. is seeking to become the premier North American supplier of high quality fiber ingredients and products. We are dedicated to addressing the needs of our customers and consumers in both mainstream and functional food markets.

Salba Chia Salba is more than just a name. It literally defines the only two registered varieties of chia in the world—Sahi Alba 911 and Sahi Alba 912—for their consistent size, shape and off-the-charts nutritional quality. Only Salba Chia has gone through both selective and separate breeding to show a pure, distinctive, uniform, stable variety. It’s a better way for a better chia.

Exhibitor's Floor Plan

More information and updated floor plans and seating charts to come soon. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, look at some highlights from previous conferences here.

The Conference will take place on October 2-4, 2024 in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego, CA, USA. We anticipate over 5000 registered attendees (both in-person and virtual), representing more than 125 countries.

Please click here for Registration Forms, Submission Samples, and other information about the Functional Food Center's 32nd Conference!

Learn more about why you should exhibit at the FFC32 Conference and Expo by clicking here: Why Exhibit?

Scientific and Organizing Committee Members

• Danik Martirosyan, PhD, Conference Chair, Functional Food Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
• Debasis Bagchi, PhD, Professor, Departement of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, and Departement of Psychology, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA
• Blanca Hernandez Ledesma, PhD, Professor, Department of Bioactivity and Food Analysis, Spanish National Research Council Faculty, Research Institute of Food Science, Madrid, Spain
• Francesco Marotta, PhD, ReGenera R&D International for Aging Intervention,  Milano, Italy
• Tamara Sanikidze, PhD, Professor, Head of Department at Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
• Antonios Koutelidakis, PhD, Assistant Professor on Human Nutrition, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of the Aegean, Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
• Petras Venskutonis, PhD, Professor, Department of Food Scinece and Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
• Beata Cizmarova, PhD, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Kosice, Slovakia
• Lidia Wadolowska, PhD, Professor, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna, Poland
• Alexander Haslberger, PhD, Professor, Department for Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
• Marcello Iriti, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Milan State University, Milan, Italy
• Abdalbasit Mariod, PhD, Professor, College of Science and Arts, University of Jeddah, Alkamil, Saudi Arabia
• Irakli Chkhikvishvili, PhD, Professor, Chief of Bioactive Laboratory at Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi Georgia
• Mkrtich Avagyan, MD, Head, Department of Alternative Medicine, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
• Meruzhan Zadayan, PhD, President, Veterinarians Without Borders, NGO; Director, MHZadayan Consulting Group (Agro-Food Business, One Health Initiative), Yerevan, Armenia

Poster Guidlines

Instructions for Poster Presenters:
Poster presentations allow the audience to get a clear visual of the presenters' work in a simple format. The reasonable size for posters is 2.5 feet width (76.2 Centimeter), 3.5 feet height (106.68 Centimeter).

Poster Presentation Recommendations:
The poster should clearly present the title, the author(s), affiliation(s), and a description of the research, along with highlighting the abstract's major elements.Remember that pictures, tables, and figures are key to any poster display. At least 50% of the surface area should be used for photos, graphs, or diagrams. Good use of color and the use of black or dark blue for text. Too much color can be hard to read! One or two large, high-quality photographs attract attention. Make the title large and clear! Include author(s) name(s) and address(es). Your poster title should be easily readable from 3 - 4 meters away. We recommend the following sections on the poster: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Tables, Figures, Results, and Conclusions. 

• For those who are presenting virtually, we ask that you create a powerpoint instead of a poster to feature your research
• The powerpoint may be up to 10 slides (ideally 7-10 slides in length)
• You may have up to 7 minutes to present  

Further guidlines to follow:

• Poster presentations give the audience a clear visual of the presenter's work in a simple format. The reasonable size for posters is 2.5 feet wide by 3.5 feet high.
• Present the title, the author(s), affiliation(s), and a description of the research, along with highlighting the abstract's major elements.
• Minimize detail and try to use simple statements. Keep it short and easy to read.
• Remember that pictures, tables, and figures are key to any poster display.
  If possible, use color in your visuals.
• Don't overwhelm the audience with excessive information. Instead, construct a display that enhances the presentation.
• At least 50% of the surface area should be used for photos, graphs and diagrams.
  Use a clear structure and layout.
• Use complementary colors. Use black or dark blue for text. Too much color can be hard to read!
• One or two large, high quality photographs attract attention.
• Your title should be a condensed statement of the main idea of your poster. It should be large and clear.
• Your poster title should be easily readable from a distance of 3-4 meters. Include author(s) name(s), and address(es).
• We recommend the following sections on the poster: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Tables, Figures, Results, and Conclusions.
• Please put up your own poster in the position indicated by your presentation number by noon of each day.
• Presentation numbers are already indicated on display panels. Please check your presentation number and be careful to put up your poster on the correct panel. Please use pins to put up posters. Please do not use glue or sellotape.
• Please present your work in front of your own poster during the poster session.
• The best poster presentation award will be chosen by votes of all participants.
• Posters will be changed every day. Please help by taking your own poster down. Posters still displayed after the removal time has passed will be disposed of by the secretary the following day.
• Portrait size: 2.5 feet width (76.2 centimeters), 3.5 feet height (106.68 centimeters)

Why Exhibit at FFC's Conferences and Expo?

1. Confirm that you are an important player in healthy and functional food industry: Your presence at the Functional Food and Longevity Expo will build your company’s status as a legitimate resource for industry solutions.

2. Showcase your new products: Exhibitions are one of the best venues to feature your latest new healthy food product offerings. Nothing beats a hands-on demonstration of a new and innovative food product. As you demonstrate your products, explain attendees exactly how your product will help them.

3. Expand your customer base: Attendee badge that you scan is another benefit. Our expo can produce many qualified leads, laying the foundation for new client sales.

4. Close sales: Our conference attendees are specifically seeking solutions to problems they encounter on a regular basis, especially for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. This means they are often ready to learn and invest in a good solution on the spot.

5. Expand your distributor network: You will meet with many vendors and product distributors who are always looking for healthy and functional food products to add to their repertoire. The exhibitor across the aisle from your booth may turn out to be your future partner or costumer.

6. Move your excess inventory: Bring some items/product with you to use as giveaways to key customers.

7. Meet face to face with your remote customers: Functional Food Center’s international conferences attracting customers from across the globe. We always have 20 to 50 country representatives who attending our conference, they might be interested in your product.

8. Obtain feedback and opinions from customers: One of the best ways to improve your brand is to seek feedback from existing customers and prospects. You can accomplish this with the help of a short survey of attendees. 

9. Expand your industry contacts: As an exhibitor, you will have access to the exhibitor handbook and contact information of the other companies and individuals that are participating in the expo. These contacts may prove to be valuable to your organization in the future.

10. Sign up an agreement with Functional Food Center for the education, research of functional food ingredient, and development of healthy, functional food products. 

FFC 32 Satellite Conference and Expo

Registration form         Abstract sample          Scholarship application

Years of research has demonstrated the efficacy of the diet rich in functional foods with bioactive compounds in reducing the risk of developing chronic disease. Decreasing the risk of chronic disease can also reduce the risk of viral disease, as those with chronic disease are more vulnerable to contracting and perishing from viral diseases. Considering the impact of the diet on both chronic and viral disease, having a greater understanding the bioactive compounds that produce the beneficial effects of the diet with functional foods can lead to improved health of the global population and decrease vulnerability to disease. Once identified, these bioactive compounds can be used in the development of functional foods for certain conditions, diseases, and their symptoms. 

To facilitate and promote the discussion of how the functional foods and bioactive compounds can be used to reduce the risks of disease, the central theme for the Functional Food Center’s 32^nd International Conference and the FFC32 Satellite Conference and Expo will be "Discovery, Research and Utilization of Bioactive Compounds: Development of Healthy and Functional Food Products". 

The conference is organized by Functional Food Center-FFC (Dallas, TX, USA), The Armenian National Agrarian University (Yerevan, Armenia), Functional Food Institute-FFI (San Diego, CA, USA), International Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds (ASFFBC), The Journal of "Functional Foods in Health and Disease" (FFHD), The Journal of "Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease" (BCHD) and The Journal of Functional Food Science (FFS). 

The Conference will also examine all aspects of SARS CoV-2 infection prevention and management, including non-pharmaceutical interventions.

FFC32 Satellite Conference and EXPO - In-Person, as well as a Virtual Experience (LIVE Online Event): September 10th - September 11 (Yerevan, Armenia). For more than 25 years, the Functional Food Center has provided the functional and healthy food industry with outstanding education, training, exhibits and networking opportunities to a worldwide community of researchers, food scientists, and academics. 

For more details about conference sessions and topics, please visit conference Topics and Sessions page.

For a view of the floor plan of the conference, visit the Satellite Floor Plan page.

Check out this link to view an Informational Brochure about the upcoming satellite conference.

Click the link to watch a  YouTube video about a previous FFC conference!

For travel information, follow this link: Travel Information

Call for Abstracts
Share your research with a global audience through the FFC 32nd International Conference! The deadline for the abstract submission deadline has been extended due to multiple requests from the publishers. The absolute last day to submit abstracts for our 32nd Conference is July 31st, 2024: Abstract publication fee is $50.00. The entire abstract should have a maximum of 750 words (including extra information about authors). Please use Times New Roman Font 12 for the entire abstract. 

Submit your abstract to be considered for an opportunity to showcase your work along with other leaders from the fields of medicine and food science during this event in a short or regular presentation. You will also have the opportunity to answer audience questions in real-time.

Short Presentations: 7 minutes

Regular Presentations: 20 Minutes

Special and Keynote Presentations: 25-30 Minutes

Decisions on selection will be promptly communicated to the authors via e-mail. All contributions will be reviewed by organizing committee members, and accepted abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings book. Please email your abstract as an attachment to ffc@functionalfoodscenter.net. Please review our sample abstract. It is mandatory to make a payment within 7-10 days after you receive an abstract acceptance letter.

Functional Food Center Presents: FFC32 Satellite Conference and Expo!

Our 32^nd International Conference & EXPO will be in the format of a Satellite Conference, taking place in multiple locations:

        September 10-11, 2024, Armenian National Agrarian University in Yerevan, Armenia. (In-Person and Virtual/Live Online Event)

October 2-4, 2024, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in San Diego, CA, USA. (In-Person and Virtual/Live Online Event)

We anticipate over 5000 registered attendees, including both in-person and virtual participants, representing more than 125 countries.

What is a Satellite Event?

A satellite event is a unique concept where a single event occurs simultaneously across multiple locations, both physically and online. For instance, if you are planning a global product launch, each continent could host its own satellite event. This concept is scalable, applying to local, state, federal, and even smaller levels. By integrating multiple venues into a cohesive, well-coordinated event, you create an experience where both virtual and in-person attendees feel they are part of something exceptional. This approach is equally effective for multinational or global companies looking to host internal conferences.

How does a Satellite Event differ from any other event format?

You might be wondering, "What differentiates a hybrid event from a satellite event?" While there is some overlap, the distinction lies in the execution. A satellite event takes place at multiple physical locations simultaneously. For example, a hybrid trade conference in New York becomes a satellite trade conference when it also has a host venue in London. Essentially, a satellite event is an expansion of the hybrid concept, emphasizing the presence of multiple actual locations.

Benefits of a satellite events:

- Less Travelling
- Increased Attendees
- Improved Attendee Experience and Engagement
- Stepping Stone for a Larger Audience and Increased Impact

Why hold a Satellite Event?

Last year, we held our 31st International Conference in Yerevan, Armenia and had an amazing turnout, hosting over 5000 people(In-Person and Virtual Attendees) enthusiastic to share their knowledge and learn about Functional Foods and their impact to the world. We had many representatives from European countries such as Georgia, Greece, Poland, and Russia that were eager to participate. This year we initially chose to hold our conference in San Diego, California along with a virtual session for guests who are unable to commute, however, we realized that a virtual session does not do justice to the experience and engagement of the conference. We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to present their work in-person and connect face-to-face with peers and mentors about their work and studies, so therefore we will be returning to Yerevan for our first ever Satellite Conference: The FFC32 Satellite Conference and Expo. 

Here are some highlights from our 31st International Conference in Yerevan, Armenia:

  Group Picture taken at FFC Conference 31 -- All attendees not pictured

About our Previous Conference

Years of research has demonstrated the efficacy of the diet rich in functional foods with bioactive compounds in reducing the risk of developing chronic disease. Decreasing the risk of chronic disease can also reduce the risk of viral disease, as those with chronic disease are more vulnerable to contracting and perishing from viral diseases. Considering how the diet affects both infectious and chronic diseases, a better knowledge of the bioactive substances that provide the diet its positive effects through functional foods might promote global health and reduce susceptibility to disease. These bioactive substances can be employed to create functional foods for certain illnesses and ailments after they have been identified. 

To facilitate and promote the discussion of how the functional foods and bioactive compounds can be used to reduce the risks of disease, the central theme for the Functional Food Center’s 31st International Conference's topic was "Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds: Modern and Medieval Approaches." This conference brought together experts in medicine, biology, and the food industry to discuss the usage of functional foods with bioactive compounds as dietary interventions for chronic and viral diseases, such as COVID-19.

The Conference was incredible successful, hosting representatives from over 125 countries and encompassing topics such as Traditional Healthy Food and Medicine in Armenia, Bioactive Compounds for the Management of Chronic and Viral Diseases, Functional Food and Health: A Paradigm Shift in Agriculture, and others, along with an Awards and Certifications section to highlight those who have went the extra mile in their research and advocacy in the field of Functional Foods and Agricultural innovation.

Meeting with Armenian Officials

On September 7th, 2023, a pivotal meeting convened with key stakeholders including Ashkhen Shirvanyan, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, Danik Martirosyan, PhD, representing the Functional Food Center (USA), Meruzhan Zadayan, PhD, and other esteemed participants. The focus of this gathering was the Functional Food Centers/Functional Food Institute’s 31st International Conference and EXPO, slated to take place in Yerevan, Armenia from September 29th to October 1st, 2023.

Insights and Discussions:
Dr. Martirosyan delivered an insightful discourse detailing the Functional Food Center's track record of organizing 30 international conferences across esteemed universities globally. He emphasized the necessity for functional food products to be rooted in scientific research, validated by animal and human trials, epidemiological investigations, and post-market studies. Open access publication of research findings was underscored as imperative to democratizing access to crucial information.

Success Stories and Collaborative Opportunities:
Dr. Martirosyan highlighted success stories from the Functional Food Center, including the establishment of esteemed scientific journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. The potential for collaboration between academia, government, and food manufacturers to yield tangible benefits for both the populace and economy was underscored.

Sustainable Collaboration:
Deliberations also centered on the practical commencement and sustenance of collaboration beyond the conference. Establishing detailed plans for collaborative endeavors and gradual progress towards ideal functional food formulations were identified as key steps.

Conclusion:
The Functional Food Center emerged as a pivotal institution for education and theoretical frameworks in functional food creation and evaluation. Deputy Minister Shirvanyan’s emphasis on practical aspects further underlined the necessity for concrete action and collaborative synergy to realize the potential of functional foods in enhancing public health and economic prosperity.

Registration Fees and Deadlines

The registration fee will cover the Conference Proceedings book (Abstract book) and a 12-month membership to the Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds. It will provide access to all sessions as  well as free lunches and coffee. Each registration allows the registrant to present up to 3 accepted abstracts maximum. Registration includes access to the entire program and Expo, presentation materials, and networking with expert speakers and organizing committee members.

Cancellation Policy: Before February 28, 2024: 75% refund; before April 30th, 2024: 50% refund; after April 30th, 2024: No refund. Reimbursements will be sent after the conference. Notice of cancellation of registration must be received in writing to the Conference Secretariat. All refunds will be provided after the conference within 14 days.

Conference registration fees are in USD . 

*M: Members of Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds; **N: Nonmembers(N); ***If an exhibitor wants a larger space, they can rent bigger space; **** Local organizations;
A. Conference is offering a 25% reduced registration fee to residents of UN list of least developed countries (https://unctad.org/topic/least-developed-countries/list); B. 50% discount for virtual participation for Regular Registration Rate. For local

Venue and Accommodations:

Our venue will be located at Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan, Armenia.

Address: Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, Teryan 74

The Armenian National Agrarian University is the foremost university in the field of agri-food system in Armenia. The University has achieved great success in science and education, and a large number of its alumni are well-known for their contribution to the agricultural field. Enhancing instruction and carrying out current scientific and research projects in a thorough and precise manner are the top priorities for university administration. One of the most well-liked and prestigious universities in the nation, the University has established a reputation for excellence through its many years of success and traditions.

Click here to learn more information about the Armenian National Agrarian University.

Tourist Attractions

If you are looking to tour Yerevan during your stay, here's a list of destinations worth exploring in Yerevan, Armenia. From its Historical Museums to Art showcases, Yerevan will leave tourists in awe of its deep culture and heritage.

• Cascade Complex (15 minutes walking distance to Armenian National Agrarian University). The many sculptures in Cascade Complex, also called the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, highlight Armenia's rich historical and cultural legacy. It is among the most significant locations in Armenia to visit. Click this link to view the Cascade Complex's breathtaking beauty.                                                                                                                                                                                               

• History Museum of Armenia (25 minutes walking distance to Armenian National Agrarian University). The Republic of Armenia's first museum was founded in 1919 and is called the History Museum of Armenia. It is a center for studying Armenian history and culture and collects rare ethnological and archeological artifacts. To view the historical museum, click the following link.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

• Republic Square (15 minutes walking distance to Armenian National Agrarian University). Republic Square, which lies in the center of Yerevan, Armenia, is one of the country's architectural highlights. Every building that encircles Republic Square features distinctive architectural design. Click this link to see what it's like to visit the Square.

Information about Hotel:

Ani Grand Hotel Yerevan: It is about 15 minutes walking distance to Armenian National Agrarian University. Click here to reserve your room

Scientific and Organizing Committee Members

--Gayane Avagyan, PhD, Scientific Secretary of ANAU, Associate Professor of the Department of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yerevan, Armenia

--Gayane Martirosyan, PhD, Head of Department of Seed Production and Primary Products Processing, Scientific Center of Vegetable and Industrial Crops, Darakert, Ararat Marz, Armenia

--Gayane Gasparyan, PhD, Acting Director of H. Petrosyan Scientific Center of Soil Science, Melioration and Agrochemistry, ANAU, Yerevan, Armenia

--Gayane Melyan, PhD, Managing Director, Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnology, Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan Armenia

--Meruzhan Zadayan, PhD, Agro-Food Business, One Health Initiative, Yerevan, Armenia

--Mkrtich Avagyan, MD, Head, Center of Rehabilitation, Preventive and Traditional Medicine "AltMed", Yerevan, Armenia 

--Gagik Santrosyan, PhD, Professor, Fruit growing and Physiology Department, Voskehat Educational and Research Center of Enology, ANAU Foundation Branch, Yerevan, Armenia

--Ruzanna Sadoyan, PhD, Director, Scientific Center of Agriculture,  Ministry of Economy of Armenia, Vagharshapat, Armenia

--Sirine Shogeryan, PhD, Head of the Department of Ecology and Sustainable Developmnent at the Armenian State Pedagogical University named after Kh. Abovyan, Yerevan, Armenia

--Knarik Shamilyan, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia

--Laura Galachyan, PhD, Institute of Hydroponics Problems G.S.Davtyan NAS, Yerevan Armenia

--Syuzanna Esoyan, PhD, Researcher, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia

--Lusine Mnatsakanyan, Chief of Staff, Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan, Armenia

--Danik Martirosyan, PhD, Functional Food Center, Dallas, TX USA; Functional Food Institute, San Diego, CA, USA

--Hrachya Zaqoyan, Rector of ANAU, PhD, Professor, Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan, Armenia

Deadlines: 

• The deadline for the abstract submission has been extended due to multiple requests from the researchers. The absolute last day to submit abstracts for the Satellite Conference is August 27th, 2024: Late abstract publication fee is $99.00. Please review our sample abstract for formatting ideas.
• Full-text papers (full review or research articles) for oral presentations or posters will receive 75% discount for the article publication fee. Please note that the submission of full text papers are mandatory for oral presenters. Please review the author guidlenes before submitting your article. We will chose your article for publication in the following 3 open-access, peer-reviewed journals in accordance to your article content and other parameters: 1. The Journal of "Functional Foods in Health and Disease" (FFHD), is indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. 2. The Journal of "Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease" (BCHD) is indexed in Scopus. 3. The Journal of Functional Food Science (FFS) will be submitted for Scopus indexing. Full-text paper submission deadline extended to August 27th, 2024.
• Power Points for oral presentations should be submitted before September 1st, 2024. 

Please note that the program and sessions are subject to change. For more information about the conference, please contact us by e-mail at ffc@functionalfoodscenter.net.

We expecting more than 5000 registered attendees (in-person and virtual) at this conference and we are welcoming representatives from over 125 countries.

Sessions and Topics:

Session 1: Definition of Functional Foods, classification and Regulation: Japan, USA, and EU

        a. How to define Healthy, Functional and Medical Foods: similarities and differences.

        b. How to create and bring to the market functional foods with bioactive compounds.

        c. The vision of Functional Food Center for the creation of Functional Food product.

d. The regulations, policy, and labeling of functional foods in Japan and other countries.

e. Classification of functional foods.

Session 2: Diet and Traditional Healthy Foods in Different Countries

a. Japanese traditional medicine (Kampo medicine) and traditional healthy food formulations/recipes.

b. Indian traditional healthy formulations (Ayurveda).

c. Greece and Italian traditional foods and healthy diet (Mediterranian Diet).

d. Traditional Healthy Food and Medicine in Armenia

e.  Traditional medicine and healthy foods in different countries.

e. How to create new functional food products by using traditional medicines and traditional healthy foods?

Session 3: Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds for Viral Diseases

a. Nutritional support for fighting COVID-19.

b. Food bioactive compounds with potential against viral proteins of SARS-CoV-2.

c. Food for the gut in COVID-19 times.

d. Micronutrients responsible for the normal function of the immune system.

e. Functional foods and Mediterranean diet: an alternative source to combat viral infections, including COVID-19.

Session 4: Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds for the Management of Chronic Diseases

 a. Mental Disorders: Mechanism of bioactive molecules in improving mental disorders.

 b. Obesity: Molecular mechanisms of the anti-obesity effect of bioactive compounds in healthy and functional foods.

 c. Cardiovascular Disease: Food bioactive compounds In cardiovascular diseases.

 d. Diabetes: Bioactive compounds in diabetes care and prevention.

 e. Cancer: Anticancer activities of selected bioactive compounds.

 f. Other Chronic Diseases

Session 5: Diet and Functional Foods in Healthy Aging

 a. Current look and future predictions for aging demographic in the world.

 b. Aging and increased disease risk.

 c. Aging and increased health care expenditure.

 d. Potential for functional foods to contribute to healthy aging.

Session 6:  Discovery, Sources, Health Benefits, and Safety Aspects of Bioactive Compounds/Molecules

a.  Food bioactive compounds: molecules that can present therapeutic potential by reducing pro-inflammatory state, oxidative stress, and metabolic disorders.

b.  Discovery of bioactive compunds

c. Sources of bioactive compounds

c. Health benefits of bioactive compounds

        1. Bioactive Compounds and antioxidant activity in different fruits and vegetables.

        2. Bioactive Compounds and Inflammation.

        3. Therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds and their properties to reduce metabolic disorders.

d. Safety aspects of bioactive compounds.

Session 7: Functional Food and Health: A Paradigm Shift in Agriculture

        a. Connection between food insecurity and diet-related chronic diseases.

        b. Food Security - all members of the population, can access enough food for healthy life.

        c. Nutrition Security - consistent access and affordability of healthy and functional foods. 

        d. Meat as a functional food: Concepts and breakthrough.

Session 8: Bioactive Compounds/Molecules, their occurrence in foods, and health-promoting properties

         a. Natural Bioactive Compounds: isolation and purification from biological materials.

         b. Determination of relevant bioactive compound(s) in functional foods

         c. Establishment of the appropriate dosage of bioactive compound(s) in functional foods

         d. Determination of the specific pathway and mechanism of action of bioactive compounds 

         b. New dairy bioactive compounds for Functional Food Products.

         c. Bioactive compounds developed from dairy proteins, oligosaccharides and plant dietary fiber.

         d. Novel bioactive prebiotic oligosaccharides from plant and animal sources.

         e. Bioactive compounds and their health-promoting properties.

Session 9: Functional Foods and Economics

 a. Functional foods market size and forecast.

 b. Economic aspects of functional foods.

 c. Market, regulatory, and agricultural economics studies.

Session 10: Nutrition and Gut Microbiota

         a. Functions of gut microbiota.

         b. Probiotics: Live bacterial biotherapeutics.

         c. Prebiotics: Nourishing probiotic preparations.

         d. Microbiome–gut–brain axis.

         e. Gut microbiota and disease management.

         i. Influence of diet on the gut microbiome.

Session 11: One Health Approach to Combat Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance 

a. Educate society (including medical personnel) about the antimicrobial resistance (AMR), improve hygiene measures, and reduce the risk of the emergence of the new resistant strain.
b. Historical data, understanding of the molecular basis of AMR and development of new mechanisms of resistance.
c. Develop new vaccines and alternatives to antimicrobials such as antibodies, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, among others.
d. Build a global coalition for action against AMR and address it using One Health approach.

**We are planning workshop on this section whcih will offer strategies for improving efficiency of "One Health Aproach" to build a global coalition for action against Antibiotic/Antimicrobial and Radiation Resistance.

Session 12:  Research and Development of New Functional Food Products for Chronic and Infectious Diseases and for General Health

        a. Incentives for functional and healthy food research and development.

        b. Consumer acceptance of healthy and functional food products.

        c. Functional food composition and dietary intake databases.

        d. Food vehicles for delivery bioactive compounds.

        e. Research, development and marketing of new healthy and functional food products.

        f. Evaluation of Functional Food Products by using Basic Principles of Functional Food Science.

*Please note: Abstract Submission Deadline is: April 30th, 2024 5 pm (PST)

Sponsorship Opportunities

Dear Future Sponsor,

I wish to inform you about an excellent sponsorship opportunity for your company to gain high-quality exposure in the health food industry. Functional foods and bioactive compounds are currently receiving an increased amount of attention from the scientific community, as well as the public. The Functional Food Center’s 32nd International Conference will be held in the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in San Diego, California, USA. It will be both an In-Person and Virtual/Live Online Event and we anticipate over 5000 registered attendees, representing more than 125 countries. It will be timely in presenting new and relevant information focused on the importance of bioactive compounds and functional foods.

Since 1998, the Functional Food Center has been a pioneer in the functional food industry. It combines cutting-edge expertise in the biomedical sciences with practical business experience, to aid further research, development, and commercialization of functional food innovations in both domestic and international markets. The Functional Food Center connects a global network of professionals (scientists, functional food experts, and food industry representatives) to a conducive environment for innovative research collaboration. Since 2004, the FFC has organized conferences together with top universities. Scientists, researchers, and food industry professionals present their research and discoveries about healthy, functional, and medical foods with bioactive compounds. In response to the growth of this field, we are proud to introduce the Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds. This society of medical doctors, scientists, dietitians, nutritionists and other food and medical industry professionals will be strictly dedicated to the research and development of functional and medical foods, bioactive compounds, and the discovery of new ingredients.

Partnering with the Functional Food Center by sponsoring our upcoming conference will provide your company with several valuable benefits. These include but are not limited to:

1. Your names and logos endlessly stay on our website.

2. Your logo will be included in the conference website, promotional materials, and Functional Food Center’s bi-monthly newsletter, which is received by scientists, medical doctors, nutritionists and dieticians.

3. FDA, USDA, and NIH representatives attend our conferences, and you may contact them directly at the time of conference

4. An option for annual and lifetime sponsorship.

5. Each level of sponsorship will contain a certain number of attendee rights, which allow free-of-charge admission to our conference.

6. You will have the unique opportunity to meet with decision-makers in this field, receive information/support on how to make a new, healthy product, and provide oral presentations about a related topic.

7. The Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds and Functional Food Center can advise you on how to create a new, healthy and functional product (this can be a separate discussion).

We look forward hearing from you.

Sponsorship Prospects

Please join us for an exciting opportunity!

We are pleased to invite you to a conference in San Diego, California on October 2^nd to October 4^th, 2024.

The Functional Food Center, The Journal of Functional Foods in Health and Disease, Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds would all be honored for you to join us at our conference. We will bring together experts in medicine, biology and the food industry to discuss the contribution of functional/medical foods and bioactive compounds in the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

With over 1000 expected participants (conference and EXPO attendees), the conference provides a great opportunity to increase the visibility of your company and exhibit products and services to an international group of researchers, clinicians, post-docs and next-generation scientists.

Sponsors and exhibitors will be exposed to a wide audience and will have many promotional opportunities.

Below are details regarding the sponsorship and exhibitor packages.

Since 2004, the Functional Food Center has organized conferences where scientists, researchers, and food industry professionals present their discoveries in the realm of functional foods and bioactive compounds.

The Functional Food Center is a valuable resource for businesses in the food industry. The benefits of sponsorship include but are not limited to:

• Developing various connections through conference participation, such as medical doctors, food scientists, food industry representatives, dieticians and nutritionists.
• Information on the latest research and discoveries in the realm of functional foods and bioactive compounds, to develop, market and commercialize healthy products.
• The ability (if eligible) to gain recognition in the food industry by joining our board of Medical and Food Industry Experts.

Sponsorship funding goes to support conference organization and conference promotion. We are also willing to work with companies who are interested in specifically sponsoring student registration, student travel, international scientist travel, conference lunches, conference receptions, or abstract book publication.

Chairman: Danik M. Martirosyan, Ph.D., President, Functional Food Center/Functional Food Institute; Editor-In-Chief, The Journal of Functional Foods in Health and Disease, Dallas, TX, USA.

Exclusive Sponsorship and Benefits

Terms of Agreement

1. Sponsorship will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sponsorship will not be reserved until full payment is received.
2. The sponsor is responsible for all materials, printing, customization and shipping-related costs associated with supplying the logo materials to FFC

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact us.