Our top five supplier stories for the year feature the latest views from the region's biggest hitters — DSM, DuPont, Kewpie, Danone and Morinaga.
Take a look at the stories below to see the latest priorities for these firms across the region, and where they think they can help manufactures tap into rising health and nutrition awareness across the region.
1) VIDEO: Cognitive health — the challenge to educate consumers as Asia's population rapidly ages
As Asia's population rapidly ages, opportunities abound for the cognitive health sector, but consumers need to be educated that supplements should be considered before old age, according to supplier DSM.
2) 'Smart ageing': Why yogurt, chocolate and supplements are ripe for product innovation in Japan — DuPont
DuPont in Japan says it is striving to spur innovation in the supplement and functional food space for the ageing population by launching 11 'smart ageing' concepts at this year's HI Japan show.
3) Beauty from within in Japan: New regulations and ageing population driving product launches — Kewpie
Japanese supplier Kewpie has seen more than 60 products launched in the country using its hyaluron ingredient Hyabest, with a raft of products touting its beauty or joint pain benefits for the ageing population in the wake of more relaxed regulations.
4) Infant gut microbiota composition could be early allergy indicator: Danone
Elevated pathogen / bacteria ratio in infants could be an early microbiota biomarker for allergies, according to researchers in Singapore, the UK and the Netherlands.
5) Halal status raises Morinaga's sales hopes for immunity-boosting Lactobacillus strain
Japanese ingredient giant Morinaga said it was hoping for a South East Asia sales boom for its 'immunogenics' probiotic LAC-Shield product after receiving halal accreditation.