IFEAT 2015 Sri Lanka Conference Report

IFEAT 2015 Sri Lanka Conference 27th September – 1st October 2015

The 2015 IFEAT Conference was held at the magnificent Cinnamon Grand Hotel, located right in the heart of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The theme for the conference was “Asia: Source of Essential Oils and Medicinal Plants” incorporating a number of important topics of interest in the flavour and fragrance industry. The programme covered a variety of subjects such as market trends in the Asian region, social and technical developments, legislative and regulatory issues and a very interesting session on the use of medicinal plants in healthcare, food and cosmetics. There were some very good presentations on biotechnology and new production techniques in the “Market Trends” session. A new session held on the Tuesday afternoon, entitled “Social Achievements in the F & F Industry” also proved to be a popular session with delegates. There was a change to the conference programme this year, with two sessions per day (morning and afternoon) instead of three. The new format worked well, with delegates able to arrange their meetings around the programme and attend more presentations. Networking, as ever, was an important part of the conference for many, with delegates appreciating the time to meet face-to-face with their existing trading partners and friends as well as with potential new suppliers and customers. The IFEAT AGM and Business Session was held on the morning of 29th September. During this session a report was given on the successful 2015 French Study Tour and there were presentations on next year’s Study Tour to USA and the 2016 IFEAT Conference to be held in Dubai. Presentations were made by ICATS and the University of Reading on the two IFEAT sponsored education courses. Pei-Lun Lin from Taiwan, who participated in the Reading flavour course, was presented with her Best Student medal. Unfortunately the ICATS 2015 Best Student, Lisa Lam, was unable to attend. Dr R.O.B. Wijesekera then gave a fascinating Medal Lecture on “Science as the key to nature’s bounty”. His career over six decades has seen huge changes in the essential oils industry, and the possibilities opened up by scientific developments were eloquently described. Dr Wijesekera was presented with his medal by IFEAT President, Raul Amigo. As usual there was a break in formal proceedings on the Wednesday. Two workshops were held; the Perfumery Workshop given by Joanna Norman and the Medicinal Plants Workshop given by Professor Geoffrey Cordell. Both were attended by around 30 delegates who appreciated the opportunity to look at these topics in more detail with recognised experts. Delegates also had the opportunity to join one of three field trips; a trip to Galle to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a visit to Dassanayake Walauwa Plantation and HDDES Extracts (Pvt) Ltd to see the cultivation and processing of cinnamon and an industry visit to Link Natural Products (Pvt) Ltd in Dompe. Spectacular evening functions While there was a comprehensive formal programme of presentations, the important social character of IFEAT conferences was not neglected in Colombo. The Welcome Reception, held in the Kingsbury Hotel, on Sunday 27th September, provided a wonderful start to the proceedings, with guests welcomed by an elephant, representing one of the most important cultural and religious symbols of Sri Lanka. Music and dancing then followed, and guests were able to greet each other while being provided with a range of delicious local food. The IFEAT Dinner on Tuesday, which was attended by 484 people, was hosted at one of the most wonderful sites of Sri Lanka’s west coast, the Jetwing Blue Hotel’s beach in Negombo. This region is known not only for its beaches, but also for its warm tropical weather. Guests enjoyed a charming evening right beside the shore with good music and plenty of local delicacies. The evening was livened up by amazing performances, with dancers, fire-eaters, Bollywood performances and a versatile band with a huge repertory creating a very spirited and joyful atmosphere. The spectacular fireworks lighting up the ocean definitely left a lasting impression of a superb evening on the shores of Sri Lanka. The Closing Banquet on Thursday evening, attended by 677 participants, was held in the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre, near the beautiful Beira Lake. To herald the start of this last evening, the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka gave a breathtaking concert and turned the convention centre into an elegant concert hall for almost an hour. The guests were able to enjoy Sri Lankan culinary delights and the performances of about 100 artists throughout the evening. Dancing continued well into the night, bringing to an end another very successful IFEAT Conference. Our thanks go to all the speakers who gave us such a fascinating week.