2026 Roundtable topics

From Performance to Recovery: Powering the Next Wave of Active Nutrition
Host: Oana Claudia Caldararu, Sales Manager at Balchem
Join this roundtable discussion to explore how recovery is becoming a powerful pillar of active nutrition. Today's consumers want products that not only support performance but also help reduce the wear and tear linked to exercise, including joint stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation. With 75% of people planning to invest more time and money in healthier lifestyles, and 79% seeking functional claims when choosing products, recovery-focused solutions offer a strong innovation opportunity. Discover how Balchem's research-based ingredients can help brands create differentiated products that support active consumers before, during, and after exercise.
Whey & Collagen: The Protein Power Couple
Host: Akua Baawah Sey, Application Scientist, & Tim de Lange, Global Director of Applications at Rousselot
Join their roundtable to learn about how the bioactive benefits of premium collagen peptides can help create smarter, cost-effective formulations that deliver a complete protein profile. During the roundtable, they will discuss how blending whey with collagen overcomes major formulation challenges such as rising ingredient costs while meeting surging consumer demand for active wellness. We will also delve into how a dynamic protein combination can help build highly differentiated active nutrition products that better support muscle, joint and metabolic recovery and truly stand out on the shelf.
Functional ingredients for health, performance & longevity (ActivAMP®, HydroCurc® & Levagen®+)
Host: Mariko Hill, Director of Scientific Affairs-EMEA & APAC at Saanroo/Pharmako Biotechnologies
At this roundtable, they will discuss how science-backed functional ingredients that target cellular energy, bioavailability, and inflammation management can transform healthy ageing and human performance. Join them to learn about the clinical efficacy and synergistic applications of ActivAMP®, HydroCurc®, and Levagen®+ in modern dietary formulations. This discussion will cover key mechanisms that enhance metabolic health, accelerate exercise recovery, and promote joint comfort, along with strategies to overcome formulation barriers and deliver high-potency, targeted solutions for longevity-focused consumers.
Beyond Protein Content: What Will Define the Next Generation of Sports Nutrition?
Host: Dr. Winston Sun, Head of R&D of Angle Yeast European Innovation Center SRL at Angel Yeast
During the roundtable they will discuss whether the future of sports nutrition is about more protein — or better protein. Join their table to learn about how protein quality, digestibility, taste, functionality and sustainability are reshaping the way we develop sports nutrition products. This discussion will cover the challenges of balancing nutrition, sensory experience and sustainability, and whether emerging proteins such as yeast and other fermentation-derived proteins can help bridge the gap.
When Great Science Makes a Terrible Product: Turning Sports Nutrition Science into Products Consumers Will Actually Use
Host: Lory Martin – BSc (Hons) MSc, Product and Commercial Manager at Cambridge Commodities
This roundtable explores the gap between compelling sports nutrition science and the realities of creating products consumers will actually use. Bringing together expertise from science, formulation and product development, they will examine the practical challenges of translating promising ingredients into effective, convenient and appealing products, from dose, format and stability to taste, compliance and consumer expectations. Where does great science meet formulation reality, and what compromises are acceptable when developing the next generation of sports nutrition products?
TetraSOD® as a Cellular-Health Promoter Supporting an Active Lifestyle while Bridging Lifespan and Heathspan
Host: Enrique Castaño, Sales and Business Development Director at Fitoplancton marino
As interest in healthspan grows, researchers and industry are looking beyond individual aging pathways towards approaches that support cellular resilience across multiple systems. This roundtable will examine what we currently know about the interconnected roles of oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial health, muscle function, immunity and the gut microbiome in healthy ageing. They’ll discuss the potential for nutritional interventions and TetraSOD to influence these processes, and discuss how scientific findings can translate into real-world outcomes.