Functional Grains Centre research was presented at the AACC International conference, Cereals and Grains 18, held in London.

AACC International is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the knowledge and understanding of cereal grain science through research leadership, education, superior technical service, and advocacy.

Some of the FGC students attending share their experiences.

James Lee

The Cereals and Grains 18 conference provided a perspective on grain science beyond the Australasian region. By viewing these presentations and engaging in discussions with others at the conference I have been exposed to a wide range of trends in grain science and product development applications within the food industry and market.

Presenting my poster allowed me to share my research and network with those who were interested in my project. I found the tour to Rothamstead research facility for long-term agricultural experiments fascinating.

Nancy Saji

The four-day day conference consisted of several noteworthy speakers, symposiums, discussion sessions and oral presentations along with the chance to view hundreds of technical posters and to connect with others who share similar interests.

I was able to network, meet new people who work in the same field, gain more knowledge on the projects to which I am currently assigned and learn more about the latest technologies and developments. It was a great opportunity to get feedback and suggestions via further interactions between peers and to develop future research collaborations.

Esther Callcott

Presenting my work on an international platform enabled me to make contacts with other laboratories that may have future work or collaborations. Furthermore, I was able to liaise with other post-graduate students and find out more about the work they are currently undertaking. A common theme at most of the presentations was that human health studies are needed in order to fully demonstrate the potential health benefits of particular cereals, grains or cereal-based products. I also attended forum discussions based on health and it was clear that early-career researchers are needed to help bridge the gap between current research leaders and the direction we should be heading in terms of research and industry development.