October 24, 2013—Cereal grain scientists from around the world met in Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 29–October 2, 2013, for the AACC International (AACCI) Annual Meeting. Almost 1,000 cereal grain scientists from 34 countries represented a broad range of expertise throughout academia, industry, and government.
AACCI President David Hahn, along with Program Chair Koushik Seetharaman and the 2013 Annual Meeting Technical Program Planning Committee, offered a technical program that included 233 posters, 10 oral technical sessions, 3 PosterTalk sessions, 2 premeeting sessions, 13 symposia, and 3 Science Cafés all focused on issues of importance within cereal grain science. "We are incredibly happy with the outcome of the Annual Meeting—it is through collaboration and sharing of new ideas that our science and industry advance forward," said Hahn.
Two Hot Topic sessions covered critical issues within cereal grain science today: the first session, titled "Sustainability, Genetics, and Future Cultivars," provided an overview of current breeding technologies for grains and oil seeds, new crops, potential food benefits, and the corresponding updates in molecular detection methods to manage authentication in the food supply chain. The second Hot Topic session, titled, "Grain Brain for Grain Brains: A Look at Grains and Cognition, Dementia, and Mental Health," tested the strength of the argument that foods containing wheat, sugar, and carbohydrates are detrimental to optimum brain functionality against existing literature on grains and carbohydrates.
The series, "Conversations That Matter" also addressed key issues being debated within the science. The four topic areas covered were the perception of whole-grain foods, gluten-free products, the formulation of healthy foods, and the measurement of dietary fiber.
As a kickoff to AACCI's 2015 Centennial year activities, the 2013 meeting honored the association’s first 50 years from 1915 to 1965 by convening a panel composed of three eminent colleagues who provided their perspectives on the state and nature of cereal science and industry during the early 20th century (1915–1965). Eric Bertoft of Abo University highlighted key aspects of development in science during this period and its impact on cereal science; David Lineback of the University of Maryland discussed scientists and the nature of collaborations between different countries; and Don Sullins of ADM examined the state of the industry in that time period.
Video of the opening and closing sessions and photos from the meeting are available online.
