Doctor Gerrit Smit unveils the top 10 innovations. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Yili Innovation Center (Europe) unveiled its top ten innovations from the last decade at an event in the Netherlands on April 18. These innovations span various domains, including breastfeeding research, probiotic development, cheese innovation, sugar reduction, food safety, and AI technology application, showcasing the center's dedication to advancing health and nutrition.

In collaboration with prestigious institutions like Wageningen University and the University of Cambridge, the center made breakthroughs in breastfeeding research, focusing on essential components like proteins and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). This research led to 12 patented technologies, enhancing the nutritional quality of infant formula, notably in Yili's Jinlingguan product line.

Doctor Gerrit Smit introduces the research achievements in the field of HMOs. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The center's cheese research was aimed at tailoring cheese products to meet the evolving preferences of Chinese consumers by leveraging European expertise. They optimized cheese composition and production processes, contributing to Yili's growth in the cheese market.

Additionally, the center excelled in probiotic development, encapsulated calcium enhancement, sugar reduction techniques, food safety protocols, and AI-driven product innovations. These advancements align with Yili's vision of becoming a global leader in providing healthy food options.

Doctor Gerrit Smit outlined the center's future research directions, including exploring disruptive technologies, developing functional ingredients, creating specialized medical food, and integrating AI in product development. These initiatives underscore the center's ongoing commitment to pushing boundaries in the health and nutrition sectors.

Doctor Gerrit Smit introduces the future research directions of the Yili Innovation Center (Europe). [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]