State of Science :: Events & Presentations
2006 AAAS Annual Meeting -- Understanding and Nourishing the Roots of Food Quality
February 2006
The "Understanding and Nourishing the Roots of Food Quality" symposium at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) summarized recent data on dietary trends and challenges, focusing on the long-term decline in nutrient content and factors leading to this decline.
Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, Director of the Antioxidants Research Lab at the USDA Human Nutrition Center on Aging, Tufts University, provided an overview of the role of antioxidants in health promotion and preliminary results of research funded by The Organic Center.
Dr. Don Davis, University of Texas-Austin, presented data on long-term trends in nutrient content, highlighting declines in a half-dozen essential nutrients. He discusses the "dilution effect" as one possible explanation.
Dr. Neal Davies, Washington State University School of Pharmacology, presented intriguing data on differences in the levels and forms of antioxidants in organic and conventional food, based on research funded in part by The Organic Center.
Dr. Preston Andrews, Department of Horticulture, Washington State Univeristy, presented data on differences in the nutritional quality and sensory appeal of organic versus conventional apples and strawberries.
