FDBusiness.com

Nestlé is to intensify its research in the field of epigenetics, the science of how eating behaviours and other environmental factors can affect your genes, health and that of your offspring, for future generations to come.

The company has announced it will contribute SFr22 million (Eur18 million) to a six-year research partnership with an international alliance of researchers at institutions in Southampton, Auckland and Singapore, who make up the EpiGen Consortium.

The jointly-funded public-private partnership will be one of the largest of its kind.

Nestlé has been collaborating with the Consortium since 2011, studying how the diet and lifestyles of pregnant women influence the activity of their baby’s genes and how these subtle epigenetic changes impact the future healthy growth and development of their children.

“This is an important collaboration for Nestlé as it will help to better develop our understanding of the influence of nutrition and genetics at the beginning of life and continue to build our knowledge in this important area,” says the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Stefan Catsicas.

“To be involved in such cutting-edge research in such a vital and exciting field will enable us to create products that have a proven, positive impact on the health of mothers and their children. Ultimately, being a leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness company is about improving the quality of peoples’ lives.”

The collaboration aims to improve nutrition and reduce risk factors of pregnancy-related conditions such as gestational diabetes, a growing problem affecting about 20% of pregnancies in the South-East Asia region. Gestational diabetes is known to negatively impact the growth and development of children as well as the mother’s future health.

“Science shows that the nutrition infants and young children receive in the first 1,000 days from conception has a long-lasting influence on their health, wellness and quality of life,” says Heiko Schipper, CEO of Nestlé Nutrition. “At Nestlé, we embrace this unique window of opportunity to nurture a healthier generation by providing them with science-based products.”