The flavors and fragrances industry listens to the earth

The 5th edition of the technical day dedicated to fragrances and flavors will be held on November 30, 2023 in Grasse. It will be preceded by a launch event on the evening of November 29, featuring pitch sessions for innovative startups at the Villa Blu by Robertet.

Following the success of previous editions, with an average attendance of almost 150 delegates, this year's "From Flowers to Fragrances and Flavors" technical day will focus on mobilizing the filière's industrial players in the face of the climate challenge, and in particular that of rechauffement. Organized by the Innov'Alliance competitiveness cluster, in association with the Robertet group, it is positioned as the must-attend event on the aromatic industry's know-how, creativity and innovation.

Experts, researchers and global industry leaders will present their visions and innovations during this day of conferences.

Startups from the cluster showcased at the iconic Villa Blu by Robertet

This edition will innovate with an officiel launch the evening before, on November 29, at Villa Blu By Robertet, the gas pedal of the world leader in natural ingredients. Key players in innovation, the startups of the Innov'Alliance cluster will be presenting their solutions for tackling the major defi of climate change together.

A comprehensive review of innovations across the entire flavor industry value chain

Extreme events such as record heat waves in 2022, mild winters and water shortages at the start of the year are regular reminders of the urgency of climate change. Innovation is the key response, and a comprehensive review of innovative solutions across the value chain will illustrate the mobilization of the flavors and fragrances industry.

• Perfume plant cultivation: the impact of climate warming on the filière's key raw materials and the contribution of innovative technologies to perfume plant cultivation, whether through regenerative agriculture or soil-less cultivation of violets, will be investigated to ensure the production of ecoresponsible perfume plants.

• Production of aromatic ingredients: To produce aromatic extracts with low environmental impact, levers for action will be presented: transformation processes with low environmental impact, tools for managing their impact and organizational innovation coupled with innovative technologies.

• Creation: At the creation stage, perfumers and flavourists will present tools and strategies to guarantee compositions with low environmental impact. All fields of creativity will be explored, from tools specifically developed by industry leaders to independent perfumers.

• Formulation: Three major issues will be addressed: ecotoxicology, fragrance in water and the aromatization of plant protein-based products. Major innovations will be presented, including the power of in silico models to predict the ecotoxicology of complex natural substances of little-known composition, the formulation of alcohol-free perfume with oil/water perfuming microemulsions, and the aromatization of plant protein-based products to support the dietary transition.

• Marketing: Enfin, this conference will provide answers to the strong consumer demand for products with low environmental impacts through the analysis of market trends and the contribution of new blockchain tools, guaranteeing transparency as well as the ethical and low environmental impact character of the product.

A fence to initiate a global and systemic impact

In order to generate a global and systemic impact, the cluster will propose a closing session aimed at giving a wider dimension to local initiatives: the respectful cultivation of fragrance plants - the Indication Géographique Absolue Pays de Grasse carried by Fleurs d'Exception du Pays de Grasse, and the Flor-Index developed by Technicoflor to assess the environmental and social impact of its fragrance compositions.

The technical day in brief 

• A unique opportunity for the aromatic, cosmetics and agri-food industries to exchange views on a major issue: climate change.
• An original vision of the flavors and fragrances industry, covering its entire value chain: from sustainable agriculture of the perfume plant to the marketing of cosmetics and fragrances.
• A dynamic, interactive approach with 11 startup pitches and 16 high-quality conferences presented by experts (Antoine Lie), major innovations (Sorga Technology, Neovix Biosciences, Kreatis, Eden Ecosystem) and world leaders in their field (Groupe Robertet, Firmenich, Mane).
• A multidisciplinary audience: CEOs, R&D, researchers, perfumers, marketing and regulatory assessors, etc.
• 150 to 200 participants expected
• In emblematic locations: November 29 evening at the Villa Blu by Robertet in Grasse, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., November 30, 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Grasse, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.