NZ seeks tie-ups in advanced food ventures
MALAYSIAN companies are invited to form partnership with their counterparts from New Zealand to develop advanced food products and tap the potential billion-dollar business.
Developing advanced food products for the 21st century and foods with proven health claims for various conditions is the new frontier for the country's food and beverage companies, said New Zealand's Trade Commissioner to Malaysia, Fiona Acheson, in an interview last week.
New Zealand, which has high rates of diabetes, is increasing its effort to develop advanced food and nutraceutical products that will optimise the first 1,000 days of a newborn's life.
"While there are examples of New Zealand food and beverage products that are nutritional and tasty as well as safe to eat for those with diabetes, there is room to develop more," said Acheson.
"One area that needs more research and development (R&D) is products that cater to Malaysian and Asian tastes, and Malaysian and New Zealand companies are well placed to do this together," she added.
In a more developed countries, supermarkets have a dedicated section for diabetes-friendly and advanced food products, an area that could be looked into by Malaysian supermarkets.
Advanced food is a value-added food product with nutritional benefits that could halter the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes.
This is vital to address the staggering rise in chronic diseases, especially since research has shown that the nine months that a baby spends in its mother's womb is important to its well-being in later life.
It is projected that by 2020, some 300 million people in Asia would suffer from diabetes. Research has also shown that more than 25 per cent of pregnant women developed diabetes.
"There is a compelling evidence that chronic diseases such as diabetes are linked to the mother's health while being pregnant. What she eats, whether she develops gestational diabetes as well as what the baby is given to eat in his/her first few years of life all contribute to the risk of developing a chronic disease later in life," said chief science adviser to New Zealand Prime Minister, Sir Peter Gluckman.
The Massey University in New Zealand is undertaking the research to create and develop a functional food with specific health- enhancing effects for menopausal women.
Another project, to be led by Plant and Food Research (a New Zealand Crown Research Unit), is using mass spectrometry to develop a "metabolic atlas" of the chemical composition of allium vegetables, such as onions and garlic, which the horticultural industry could use to develop new food products with health benefits.
Gluckman encourages Malaysian companies to form a commercial tie-up with New Zealand partners to leverage on its raw material, R&D and innovation to develop this high-in-demand nutritional products and functional food.
The Malaysia-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA), which was finalised in August 2010, is another advantage for both countries to strengthen their partnership.
The FTA eliminates tariffs on 100 per cent of tariff lines by 2016 for Malaysian companies exporting to New Zealand and 99.5 per cent for New Zealand companies exporting to Malaysia.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 23 February 2012
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