Gifu University held the 11th Press Conference by the President on March 20, 2019. On behalf of President Hisataka Moriwaki, Dr. Fumiaki Suzuki, Executive Director for International Affairs and Public Relations spoke about functional polysaccharide for extension of healthy life expectancy and its role in Gifu University's Future Vision toward 2025. Professor Tomio Yabe of the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences then introduced his research achievements, and a partnership with Gifu Prefecture and the private sector within the prefecture.

One of major challenges for our graying society is the frail elderly citizens in a state of malnutrition. Professor Yabe noticed soluble fiber pectin contained in vegetables and fruits, and started to work Gifu Prefecture and research organizations to find more about pectin in 2017. He announced that he and his team are now working for extracting pectin from fruits such as persimmons being disposed of at production sites within the prefecture. The goal of their research is the development of heath food to overcome malnourishment problems among the elderly.

The Gifu Prefectural Research Institute for Food Sciences is scheduled to be established within the premises of Gifu University in April 2019. Joint research activities and human resource development for the growth of food businesses and industries within the prefecture, will be pursued and carried out at the university laboratories on the third floor of the same building. They are expected to become a center for academia-business collaboration.

We pledge to play a role as a new base for food industry, and contribute to the regional revitalization.