Biotropics Malaysia Berhad took part in the first International Conference on Food as Medicine (ICFAM 2026), held by Monash University Malaysia at its Sunway campus from 13 to 15 January 2026. The university’s Food as Medicine research group organised the conference for researchers, healthcare professionals, nutritionists and industry.
What the conference covered
ICFAM 2026 brought together research on how nutrition and specific food components can help prevent and manage chronic disease, alongside conventional care. Plenary sessions, talks and posters covered:
- Bioactive compounds in managing non-communicable diseases
- Diet, immunity and the gut microbiome
- Community nutrition for long-term health
Workshops after the conference went further into gut health, metagenomic analysis and applied nutrition.
At the Biotropics booth
Students and researchers at the booth asked about Malaysian botanicals and the science behind them. The conversations showed how much credible, clinically supported herbal ingredients depend on industry and universities working together.
Five takeaways
From nutrition to precision
Food as medicine is moving toward approaches guided by genes, the microbiome and metabolites. That creates demand for botanicals with defined actives, consistent standardisation and studies in the right populations.
Prevention leads
Cognitive ageing, metabolic health, muscle loss with age, immunity and men’s health are now core areas, where tropical botanicals with a known mechanism stand out from generic nutrients.
The microbiome matters
Ingredients are increasingly expected to work with the microbiome. Extracts need to be designed around how the body converts them, as well as around their isolated compounds.
New ingredients need human data
Pigments, tocotrienols, botanical extracts and gut-brain actives show promise. The gap is human data that carries through to real populations, which is where Biotropics’ model of clinically studied, branded ingredients fits.
Sustainability needs science
Plants and their by-products carry environmental value. Ingredients now stand out on proven effect, reproducible results and quality, with sustainability as part of the case.