Danone is committed to pursuing the "Innovated in China, Made in China" journey to serve China's health strategy, said the head of the global food and beverage player.

Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone, underlined the company's pledge to the "big health" concept and its ongoing contribution toward a healthier China during the three-day China Development Forum. In a discussion that spanned the breadth of Danone's global mission and localized efforts, de Saint-Affrique shared insights into how food is instrumental in promoting health and well-being, aligning closely with China's health aspirations.

"Healthy consumption is rapidly gaining momentum among consumers as people's health awareness continues to expand and evolve. Besides the medical sector, health-related consumption now encompasses a wider spectrum, including nutritional products and healthy foods," said de Saint-Affrique, who believed such a trend has broadened the concept of "big health".

He highlighted in his speech on March 24 that China's demographic shift toward an aging society presents both challenges and immense opportunities. "At Danone, we are determined to address these challenges and seize these opportunities by integrating the concept of nutrition into the health agenda," he said.

In China, Danone seeks to advocate for healthier life by offering a diverse range of delicious and nutritious food and beverage options through continuous innovation, echoing the Healthy China 2030 strategy.

According to the strategy's guidelines, China proposes to take a comprehensive approach to address health-related challenges at the national strategic level and put people's health at its core. Meanwhile, China's health food market is on the rise. A report by iiMedia Research projects health food sales in China to reach 423.7 billion yuan ($58.65 billion) by 2027.

To cater to the unique needs of Chinese consumers while helping address the health challenges in China, Danone took a significant step by establishing the Open Science Research Center in Shanghai in 2020. This state-of-the-art facility serves as an innovation hub with an open, dynamic research eco-system, bringing together medical nutrition professionals, algorithm organizations, universities, and laboratories.

A latest example of such local collaboration is the breast milk research carried out by Danone together with Jiangnan University in Jiangsu province, an internationally renowned institution of food science. The two sides joined hands to deep dive into the composition and structure of breast milk lipids of Chinese mothers, while comparing that with Nuturis fat globules, a novel lipid structure developed by Danone, in terms of digestion and absorption. According to de Saint-Affrique, such local collaboration is essential to make progress in "big health" while unlocking the economic and social benefits.

Building on dynamic local research collaborations, the center so far has made remarkable strides in advancing scientific knowledge and developing novel solutions. It has conducted 26 localized studies, published 49 papers and reports, applied for 17 patents, and carried out six evidence-based studies related to breast milk, gut health and immunity.

The research breakthrough has also been transformed into nutrition innovations. According to Danone, the company is also actively addressing the demographic changes by offering suitable and healthy products innovated in China, for China. For example, as the Chinese population is aging and the incidence of chronic disease is on the rise, Danone has launched Fortimel Balanced, its first medical nutrition product in the adult Foods for Special Medical Purposes category in China. The company is seeking to offer a comprehensive range of nutrition solutions for the elders in the coming years, echoing the country's latest pledge of "providing more products and services for senior citizens" at this year's top political sessions.

"By integrating the concept of nutrition into the health agenda, we can improve the lives of millions of older Chinese citizens, foster commercial prosperity, and drive social progress. Let's work together to harness the power of nutrition to create a healthier, more prosperous, and sustainable future for all," said de Saint-Affrique.