Welcome

It's with great pleasure that we announce the upcoming 5th Beneficial Microbes Conference, to be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 10-12 October 2016.

The 5th Beneficial Microbes Conference will focus on pre- and probiotics for lifelong human and animal health.

Pre- and probiotics have been studied for both human and animal applications, and worldwide research on this topic has accelerated in recent years. Reviews on the impact of pre- and probiotics on human and animal health and disease are numerous and have emphasised different components of the field, such as oral and gut health, immunomodulation, gut-brain communication, obesity, diabetes, cancer and drug efficiency.

The impact of pre- and probiotics seems too diverse to be beneficial to the average man/woman as different life stages have different needs: newborns; infants; children; adults; women (pregnant, breastfeeding, menopausal); and seniors. In addition, age-related health issues may develop in these stages. Stages of exercise and physical activities, blood groups, ethnicity, etc., are of influence, too.

The above considerations do not only apply to humans but also to animals, such as pigs, poultry, cattle, horses, dogs and cats, as well as to aquaculture. Species differences also play a role here.

The 5th Beneficial Microbes Conference will inform you on the latest scientific results and future developments from a new perspective, that is, the impact of pre- and probiotics related to the specific needs of human and animal growth and development.

The members of the Advisory Committee are looking forward to meeting you in Amsterdam! We aim at a networking meeting to create new initiatives for the customised application of pre- and probiotics in food, feed and healthcare.

On behalf of the Advisory Committee,

Dr. Koen Venema
Conference chair