This symposium
organised by the Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology was held on
8–10 November 2000 at Tsukuba City, which was the site of the second
international NIR spectroscopy conference in 1989. The attendance of the
symposium was 175. The varied programme offered information and recent trends
in near infrared spectroscopy and other nondestructive measurement techniques.
On the first day, Dr Y. Ozaki (Kwansei-Gakuin University) and Dr K. Miyamoto
(Wakayama Fruit Tree Experiment Station) presented basic lectures for NIR
users: the principles of near infrared spectroscopy and basic statistics
(chemometrics). On the second day, three keynote speakers presented exciting
and stimulating lectures. Mr K.H. Norris who is well known as the “Father” of
NIR spectroscopy, (“the first generation” of the first generations in NIR),
presented “The birth of NIR Spectroscopy and the future”. He reviewed the
development of spectroscopic measurements in five decades. His lecture varied
from the development of equipment for grading egg shells to the latest
instruments. He completed his lecture by the words “My story does not have an
ending”, from which the audience realised the importance of taking a leaf out of
a wise man’s book. The next keynote speaker Professor R. Cho from Kyungpook
National University presented the overall trend of NIR spectroscopy in Korea.
He also announced the establishment of the Korean Society of Near Infrared
Spectroscopy and the arrangements for the 10th International Conference on Near
Infrared Spectroscopy. The last keynote speaker Dr S. Turza from the Central
Food Research Institute of Hungary introduced NIR spectroscopy in the
agriculture and food industry in Hungary. Next, two topics were delivered in
Session 1. Dr J. Sugiyama from the National Food Research Institute of Japan
reviewed the present status and future prospects for near infrared imaging
analysis. Professor K. Toko from Kyushu University introduced an intelligent
taste sensor using lipid/polymer membranes. After lunch, NIR Advance Awards
were presented to Dr M. Otsuka (Kobe Pharmaceutical University) and Dr H.
Takamura (Nara Women’s University) by Dr Y. Matoba who is professor of Nara
Women’s University and Chairman of this symposium. Dr Otsuka established the
comparative procedure of quantitative analysis of indomethacin polymorphic
crystalline contents by using principle component regression analysis based on
NIR spectroscopy and conventional powder X-ray diffractometry. Dr Tkamura
contributed to the determination of food components and water pollution derived
from foods by NIR spectroscopy. Their works were eminently suitable for the
receipt of these encouraging awards. They presented commemorative lectures. In
Session 2, three speakers gave interesting talks about the routine quality
inspection of grains by NIR instruments. Mr M. Chiba from Japan Grain
Inspection Association presented an application of a NIR whole-grain analyser
to grain quality inspection. Mr S. Shimada from Hokkaido Rice Quality
Inspection Centre introduced the practical situation about the grading of
protein content in brown rice. Mr J. Kato from Hokkaido Central Agricultural
Experiment Station reported on the quality evaluation of major upland crops by
NIR spectroscopy. In this symposium, about 20 posters were presented which
covered a range of topics related to NIR spectroscopy and many useful
discussions were reported. A “Best Poster” prize was awarded for the first time
at this symposium, which was won by Dr J. Sugiyama, Dr M. Tsuta and Dr Y.
Sagara. Many participants were interested in their poster about the development
and application of NIR imaging techniques. The Banquet, which was opened by Mr
K. Norris, was held in a relaxed and friendly mood. On the last day, many
exciting topics concerned with non-destructive measurements in medical fields
were discussed in Session 3. Mr M. Takahashi from Shiseido Research Centre
presented the application of non-invasive methods to skin bioengineering. Dr S.
Sato from The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research introduced the
application of near infrared laser spectroscopy to biomedical studies. Dr M.
Kanashiro from National Cardiovascular Centre Research Institute presented the
clinical application of near infrared spectroscopy. After the coffee break and
poster session, some sponsors for this symposium (Nireco, Bran+Luebbe, Kett
Electric Laboratory, Seki Technotron, PerkinElmer Japan, Japan Food Research
Laboratories and Japan Bruker) introduced new instruments and projects.
Furthermore, various corporations exhibited commercial products related to NIR
instruments or software. At the end of programme as Session 4, four topics were
presented from the animal science or art field. Mr M. Irie from Osaka Prefectural
Agricultural and Forestry Research Center introduced the non-destructive
evaluation of meat quality. Mr H. Masago from Jasco Co. presented the
development of a portable meat analyser and its application. Dr F. Tereda from
the National Institute of Animal Industry introduced the development of new
nutritional and medical check-up system based on NIR spectroscopy for dairy
cattle. Mr S. Shimoyama from DEN Material Co. presented the non-destructive
determination of dyestuffs by the three-dimensional display of fluorescence
spectra. The participants could appreciate the wide variety and the
applicability of near infrared spectroscopy throughout this exciting and
impressive symposium. The next meeting will be held at Tsukuba in November
2001.