Make the Gluten-free choice! Gluten-free foods will be available throughout the Symposium coffee breaks, lunches and at the conference dinner. Find more conference details at http://gf2013.icc.or.at/

Register now for the 3^rd International Symposium on Gluten-Free Cereal Products and Beverages to be held in Vienna, Austria, 12-14 June 2013, at http://gf2013.icc.or.at/register.

An exciting conference programme has been developed and is available online at http://gf2013.icc.or.at/programme. The following keynote lectures and technical sessions are included in the programme:

• Keynote lecture by Dr. Harald Vogelsang, Vienna General Hospital, Austria, on "Clinics and diagnosis of adult celiac disease and non CD gluten sensitivity"
• Keynote lecture on "Special considerations regarding celiac disease in the pediatric population and experiences of an adolescent living with celiac disease" by Andreas and Paul Vecsei, St. Anna Children's Hospital, Austria
• The Gluten-Free Diet
• Searching of the limits – analytical aspects of gluten detection
• Gluten-free food processing and products – new trends
• Cereal foods I: Novel approaches towards healthier gluten-free bread and pasta products
• Cereal foods II: Deeper insights in gluten-free baking and processing
• Recent efforts in plant breeding for gluten-free raw materials
• Traditional food processing of minor cereals- future use for gluten-free processing?
• Cereal Foods III: And in the end of the day a beer – developments in gluten-free beer brewing
• Podium discussion: Gluten-Free: State-of-the-Art and Future Needs

Attention potential sponsors and exhibitors: there is only limited space available to exhibit at the conference. Table tops will be reserved on a first-come-first-serve basis. Sign up today for your sponsoring package at http://gf2013.icc.or.at/sponsoring or for your table top exhibition at http://gf2013.icc.or.at/exhibitors.

Please mind also some satellite meetings taking place around the GF13:

• 10-11 June 2013, at ICC Headquarters - ICC Governing Committee Meeting (by invitation only)
• 11 June 2013, 14:00-18:00, at ICC Headquarters - ICC Technical Committee Meeting (by invitation only)
• 13 June 2013, 14:00-18:00, at ICC Headquarters - MoniQA Food Allergen Reference Materials Workshop (invitation may be obtained through MoniQA Association)
• 17-21 June 2013, 14:00-18:00, at BOKU Vienna - Joint MoniQA/BOKU Workshop on Reference Material and Method Validation

For more details please go to the conference website at http://gf2013.icc.or.at.

We look forward to meeting you in Vienna!

Dr. Regine Schoenlechner, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
Dr. Roland Ernest Poms, International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC), Vienna, Austria

On behalf of the GF13 Scientific Committee

Roland Poms, Secretary General of ICC and MoniQA Association will lecture on "Reference materials and method validation in food safety assurance" at BOKU - University of Life Sciences and Natural Resources, Vienna, Austria. Apart from enrolled MSc and PhD students, ICC and MoniQA members have access to a maximum of 10 places. If interested, please register by 1 June 2013 by email to office [AT] icc [dot] or [dot] at. The lectures, excursions and workshop activities are on 5 afternoons 17-21 June 2013, 13:00-17:00. Invited speakers from international standardisation organisations will enrich the workshop programme and give a global perspective and the value of international standards.

The aim of the workshop on "Reference materials and method validation in food safety assurance" is to describe the issues and challenges involved in the international comparability and validity of analytical results in the assurance of food safety and quality. On the basis of practical examples the focus will be on current hot topics, such as mycotoxins, food allergens, pathogenic micro-organisms, GMOs, etc., the analytical possibilities (including rapid methods), and the corresponding EU regulations. Additionally, an overview of international standardization bodies and examples of international validation studies will be given.

ICC and AGSA would like to invite you to attend the ICC Conference 2013 in association with the 63^rd Australian Cereal Chemistry Conference 25-28 August 2013 in Fremantle, Perth, WA, Australia.

This conference will be a three day event, and will span the grain food supply chain from agricultural over analytical and processing to consumer and industrial aspects. It addresses international scientists and technologists, specialists from health professionals, breeders, millers, bakers, noodle and pasta makers, food processors, suppliers, marketers and traders to discuss relevant aspects of grain / cereal products and beverages.

Sessions will be organised that cover the following topics:

• Grain functionality (special session)
• Health & nutrition (special session)
• Latest research in Durum wheat (special session)
• Latest research in oats barley and sorghum (special session)
• New genes for better grain quality
• Rapid testing technology and applications
• Emerging world markets
• Agricultural perspective (plant breeding)

Please submit your abstract to icc-agsa2013 [AT] giwa [dot] org [dot] au by 15 May 2013. For abstract guidelines and other important information please go to the Conference Website at www.ausgrainscience.org.au/conference.

The Faculty of Food Technology Osijek and ICC, the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology cordially invite you to the 7^th International Congress "Flour-Bread '13" and the 9^th Croatian Congress of Cereal Technologists "Brašno-Kruh '13", taking place in Opatija, Croatia, 16 - 18 October 2013.

Following the tradition of previous "Flour-Bread" congresses, the main aim of this event is to feature the latest advances in cereal science and technology. The congress will also provide a forum for disseminating and gathering ideas and research results by leading scientists, government representatives, as well as business leaders in the cereals field. Conference languages will be English and Croatian with simultaneous translation provided. Programme topics will be:

• Breeding and quality of cereal grains
• Grain storage and milling technology
• Analytical and rheological methods
• Baking technology
• Improvers and additives
• Starch and modified starch
• Extrusion and pasta production
• Biscuit and pastry products
• Nutritional quality of cereals
• Cereal food safetyCereal functional food

Abstracts submission for oral and poster presentations is now open: deadline is 15 June 2013. To register and to find further details for abstract submission go to www.ptfos.unios.hr/flour-bread.

Roland Poms, ICC Secretary General, visited Curtin University on 19-20 March 2013. Roland Poms was in Perth to meet with Lara Cato (AEGIC) and Vicky Solah, who are on the organising committee for the ICC Conference in Association with the 63^rd Cereal Chemistry Conference, Fremantle, Perth, 25 – 28 August 2013 www.ausgrainscience.org.au/conference and to discuss final conference arrangements.

Roland Poms also met with Bruce Maycock (Head of School of Public Health), Charlie Thorn (ORD) and Janet Bornman (Director, International Institute of Agri-Food Security- IIAFS) and Food Science and Nutrition researchers to discuss international research opportunities and the "International Food Security Research Collaborators meeting" which will be organised by Curtin University and also held in August 2013.

Photo: Associate Professor Deb Kerr, Director, Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science with Professor Roland Poms (ICC) and Associate Professor Vicky Solah.

The Austrian based ICC – International Association for Cereal Science and Technology www.icc.or.at and Romer Labs Singapore www.romerlabs.com (ICC Corporate Member since 2006) organised a series of workshops in Australia to provide training and up-to-date information on effective food allergen management and analysis. Locally the meetings were managed and accompanied by Sydney based Louis Petrin from Arrow Scientific www.arrowscientific.com.au.

Over 70 participants from food industry, consulting firms, and policy makers, used this unique opportunity to learn and discuss about the basics of food allergens and the specific challenges in effectively managing the potential risks of undeclared allergens or cross-contaminating allergens in food products. Labelling requirements and best practice examples, production strategies to avoid cross-contact with various allergenic foods not intended as ingredient were included in the selected topics as well as theoretical and practical training on how to best monitor and test for product safety and thus documenting an effective food allergen management system.

The workshops were held in Brisbane (Monday 11 March 2013), Sydney (Wednesday 13 March 2013) and Melbourne (Friday 15 March 2013). Australian and international food allergen experts and method developers gave in depth insight in the most recent findings and the latest technologies.

As official conference supporters, ICC and MoniQA would like to invite you to the 17^th edition of the EuroFoodChem, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, 7-10 May 2013, organised and chaired by the ICC National Delegate of Turkey and coopted MoniQA Supervisory Board Member, Prof. Hamit Köksel from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey. The location has been chosen to reflect the role of Istanbul as a meeting point for East and West as the crossroads of different continents and cultures.

EuroFoodChem XVII is the latest in the series of flagship conferences organised by the Food Chemistry Division of EuCheMS and the European Association of Chemical and Molecular Sciences.

The EuroFoodChem XVII Local Organising Committee is delighted to announce that there has been an overwhelming response to the conference with over 800 abstracts received from more than 80 countries.

Details including specific topics of the conference are available at www.eurofoodchemxvii.org.

The world's biggest ever study of allergies - spearheaded by the University of Manchester - officially kicked-off 18^th to 20^th March 2013. The € 9 million project builds on an earlier € 14.3 million research study and will involve the world's leading experts in the UK, Europe, Australia and US. Together they mark the biggest study of food allergy in the world.

Coordinated by Clare Mills from University of Manchester, the iFAAM Project (Integrated Approaches to Food Allergen and Allergy Risk Management) aims at developing evidence-based approaches and tools for MANAGEMENT of ALLERGENS in FOOD and integrate knowledge derived from their application and new knowledge from intervention studies into FOOD ALLERGY MANAGEMENT plans and dietary advice. The MoniQA Association leads a WP on translating iFAAM developed tools and food allergen management approaches to practise. ICC supports the project as 3^rd Party.

iFAAM receives funding from the European Commission 7^th Framework Programme (Grant Agreement N° 312147).

EMPORA (E-Mobile Power Austria) is Austria's largest collaborative research project with 22 partners elaborating system solutions for electro-mobility. The three main priorities set out in the project are vehicle technology, infrastructure and usability. In a trial run lasting until May 2013, some 25 users can test the developed solutions. The cooperation and interaction with role-model regions and international projects enable the partners to contribute their experience to further solution development and to be in touch with international trends. The project is funded by the means of the "Climate- and Energy Funds" of the Austrian Federal Government.

ICC's Secretary General Roland Ernest Poms is one of 25 participating test users. His personal interests in supporting new technologies and to respond to social and corporate responsibility pairs well with ICC's commitment to sustainability and environmental performance.

ICC was EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) certified in 2005 and is being evaluated annually on its sustainability, indirect environmental impact, and its innovative approaches to avoid wastes and save natural resources.

EMAS is a voluntary tool available for any kind of organisation aiming to:

• Improve its environmental and financial performance
• Communicate its environmental achievements to stakeholders and society in general

At the annual Royal Award Day, 26 April 2013, Jan Willem van der Kamp, was awarded the prestigious title "Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau" endorsed by the Queen of the Netherlands. Jan Willem van der Kamp, who has been a long standing ICC official in various functions (ICC Honorary President, Chair of the ICC Academy, ICC Region Representative for Europe, and member of the ICC Governing and Executive Committees), was honoured by the decision of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013 Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands) due to Jan Willem van der Kamp's volunteer work for:

• The Remonstrant (Arminian) Church, in Rotterdam, and at the national level as Chair of the Board 2006-2011
• The Music School at Nieuwerkerk, as Chairman of the Board 1983-1995
• His activities for ICC, at the national and international level.

ICC proudly congratulates Jan Willem van der Kamp to this honour. ICC would like to thank Jan Willem van der Kamp for promoting ICC and its activities around the globe and even to her majesty's attention.

From 26-27 March 2013 the biannual HEALTHGRAIN Forum Spring Meeting took place at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK. The meeting covered interesting topics such as metabolomics of phytochemicals in grains; new scientific findings in the field of processing and chemistry as well as consumption and health. The meeting was attended by some 50 HEALTHGRAIN Forum members.

• Brazil, represented by Fernanda Siqueira, Granotec do Brasil S.A.
  
  
• India, represented by Mr. Ajit Kumar, NIFTEM - National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management
  
  
• New Zealand, represented by Dr. Charles Brennan, Lincoln University

ICC welcomes its newest Country Members complementing to the global reach of ICC's collaboration partners and international expertise. Considering persistent and emerging issues concerning globalization, food security, food safety, disparity in knowledgebase and wealth distribution, a global approach to solving these issues locally is of great importance. With its longstanding and trusted expertise in managing and supporting research, innovation, training and dissemination activities, ICC membership offers a whole range benefits and access points to third party funded research projects, method development and standardization, workshop and training opportunities and discounts on conferences and publications.

To find out more about ICC Membership benefits, please go to www.icc.or.at/membership.

What started as a service open to HEALTHGRAIN Forum members only is now open to anyone with an interest in nutrition legislation with emphasis on EU regulations.

The Scientific & Regulatory Updates prepared by David Richardson, DPR Nutrition Limited, UK, and published by ICC Services GmbH, provide detailed information about legislative changes in the field of nutrition. The Updates, supported by legislative documents, provide detailed information about regulatory changes in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health which regulate health and nutrition claims in the EU; newly published EFSA scientific opinions; European Commission guidance documents, recommendations, and proposals for legislative changes; and regulatory changes at the level of the FAO and WHO.

To receive your Scientific & Regulatory Updates and any supporting documents, you need to subscribe and sign up at icc-gmbh [AT] icc [dot] or [dot] at

The Scientific & Regulatory Updates appear 10 times per year. A yearly subscription per institution costs € 1,000 + VAT.

Download an example Scientific & Regulatory Update here.

Dear Colleagues,

It is a great honor to act as the new President of ICC for 2013-2014. I am very honoured, but I also measure all responsibility of this task in difficult times ahead. Indeed the world is facing at least four main challenges:

• A food challenge to satisfy the quantitative and qualitative food needs of the growing world population.
• An environmental challenge to deal with the deterioration of our natural resources, the loss of biodiversity, and global warming.
• An energy challenge with the gradual depletion of fossil fuels and the generalisation of energy consumption patterns over the world.
• A social challenge to cope with unequal standards of living and levels of development in the world.

Cereal grains, as the basis of our diet and our civilisations, are the first to be affected by these trends. Only a global approach is able to answer to these systemic challenges. Accordingly, the role of ICC, the world organization in the science and technology of cereal products, will become more and more crucial. Already central in terms of international collaboration and of standardization, ICC's activities have to be widened to mobilize all new ideas and energies to find new ways to prepare the expected breakthroughs in research and innovation. This will be pursued by strengthening the international collaboration and by a larger mobilization of resources and skills.