The European Confederation of Yeast Producers, COFALEC, hosted the conference “Why Yeast Matters: The Art and Science of Bread Making” on May 21 at iba in Düsseldorf.
Participants – bakery, food science and fermentation professionals and enthusiasts – gathered to explore the role of yeast in baking and to exchange insights on current practices and future innovations.
Throughout the 90-minute session, expert speakers delivered in-depth presentations.
Vincent Saingier, President of COFALEC, opened the conference with a welcome address that underscored the association’s role in promoting the image of yeast, and said: “COFALEC is committed to advancing both the science and art of baking. Today’s discussions reaffirm yeast’s central role in feeding Europe sustainably”.
Thomas Lesaffre (Lesaffre International) detailed the process behind yeast generation and its various functions and applications, and underscored: “We don’t produce yeast, we grow yeast”.
Torsten Pietsch (AB Mauri) also said: “It is always fascinating to realize how the enzymes of the yeast contribute to formulating the diverse flavor compounds in the bread”, while he examined what is the impact of yeast on bread, highlighting the benefits for consumers and bakers.
During his presentation ‘Yeast applications in bread baking, present and future’, Dr. Michael Quantz (VH Berlin) shared that: “The consumer habits change, new bread products and process requirements for baking ingredients, like yeast, come up. There is a future for baking with yeast with special traits, either found or developed”.
Pietro Grechi (Lallemand) closed the session: “Baking yeast is a small yet essential protagonist of our culinary tradition and culture”. He continued: “The yeast production chain is a remarkable example of how tradition and innovation can intertwine: a real dialogue between nature and science, between artisanal knowledge and cutting-edge technologies that must be preserved and appreciated”.
COFALEC is an association representing the European Union yeast producers. The association was founded in 1959 and gathers 29 factories throughout Europe.
Photo: COFALEC LinkedIn
