Forum programme at Anuga FoodTec to address key issues in the food industry:

The international trade food and drinks fair Anuga FoodTec, which takes place from 4-7th April in Cologne, Germany, will offer a comprehensive conference programme that addresses three key topics that affect the international food industry today:
- Robotics in the food industry
- Milk Technology
- Combined meat and patry-based convenience products.
Presented in English and German, the forum programme is organised by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) who, together with Koeln Messe, is also joint organiser of Anuga FoodTec which takes place every three years. Full details about the forum programme can be consulted at www.DLG.org/AnugaFoodTecForums.
The two-day DLG forum programme on 5-6th April includes 14 specialist presentations and discussions, ranging from the most recent trends in industrial robotics, milk processing and packaging to new processing techniques for combined meat and dough-based convenience foods.
"The topics of the DLG forum programme have been put together on the basis of systematic feedback from our contacts in the international food industry - from the practitioner to the academic expert," said Professor Dr. Herbert Buckenhueskes, Manager Food Technology, DLG Competence Center for Agriculture and Food.
Right now, advances in robotics and milk technology are key to future competitiveness. Increasingly consumers want convenience products that are based on pastry and meat products combined. What we are offering here is the latest state of developments in these areas."
Amongst the many organisations contributing their know-how and expertise are the German Institute of Food Technology, German Academic Exchange Service, the European Design Group of Hygiene Equipment, Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation, German Society for Food Technology, the International Food Information Service as well as several other organisations in the food industry.

A number of other events will also take place during Anuga FoodTec:
- International Fruit Juice Week
- European Federation of Food Science and Technology Congress
- German Society for Volume Bakeries event
- Seminar organised by Behr, a publishing house specialising in food technologies.
Focus points of Anuga FoodTec: Liquid Processing, Cereal and Baking Technologies and Robotics and Automation
Traditionally, Anuga FoodTech presents the latest technological developments in liquid or pasteurised products such as drinks, dairy, fruit juice and soups. These topics will be covered at the Anuga FoodTech itself by the International Fruit Juice Week and at the European Federation of Food Science and Technology Congress. Cereal and baking technologies encompassing extrusion and convenience products based on meat and dough-products will also be addressed as will hygienic aspects in the handing of dry products. A third topic is the focus on automation and the increasing use of robotics in the food industry which also includes related topic of how this affects sensory perception.
The closing date for registration to the three forums organised by the German Agricultural Society (DLG): Robotics in the food industry, milk technology and combined meat and dough-based convenience products is 24th March, 2006. The Robotics forum in the food industry is free. The attendance fee for milk technology and combined meat and dough-based convenience products is 145 Euros and 195 Euros for non-members.