NutraIngredients and the International Probiotics Association (IPA) welcomed attendees to Copenhagen for the IPA World Congress + Probiota 2025.
Over the three days, the agenda sparked scientific and business innovation among academics, business leaders and regulators. The event returned to Copenhagen after being held there in 2022, growing exponentially and moving to a larger venue—the Bella Center.
The opening of the congress was marked by a warm welcome from two key figures in the event: Stephen Daniells, PhD, editor-in-chief of NutraIngredients, and George Paraskevakos, executive director of IPA.
Together, they welcomed attendees with enthusiasm and optimism, setting the tone for a dynamic and impactful event filled with learning, networking and innovation in the field of probiotics, prebiotics and beyond.
The panel discussion on “Postbiotics: Knowledge Gaps and Opportunities” examined the knowledge gaps surrounding postbiotics, debated the most promising applications and health endpoints, and explored enumeration and quality considerations.
The program featured extended networking breaks and provided numerous opportunities for delegates to interact with one another. This included speed networking sessions, allowing participants to engage in meaningful conversations and foster valuable connections throughout the event.
Experts are actively exploring the microbiota–gut–brain axis, investigating its potential to modulate gut microbiota and influence cognitive function, mood, mental health, stress management and sleep quality.
During this panel, leading experts discussed key questions in the field.
Each year, NutraIngredients invites start-ups focused on science, technology, and consumer health to apply for the ‘Probiota Pioneer’ award. For 2025, three winners were selected to showcase their solutions live on stage. During the session, each pioneer presented their company and later joined a panel discussion exploring their visions and entrepreneurial journeys.
Alba Health, a Danish-Swedish company founded in 2022 by Eleonora Cavani and Prof. Willem M. de Vos, aims to improve children’s gut health; Migalis introduced its dietary supplement solutions designed to enhance gut health and mitochondrial function; and Perseus Biomics presented its DynaMAP technology, which revolutionized microbiome analysis by using Optical DNA Mapping and fluorocoding to enable same-day microbiome profiling.
Ewa Hudson, director of insights at Lumina Intelligence, shared how microbiome science and health technology reshape consumer choices. She examined how the evolution of e-commerce and the rise of health data transforms consumer health habits, creating new market opportunities. Using recent exclusive survey data, she investigated the influence of health goals and medication use—especially GLP-1 agonists—on microbiome health and purchasing behaviors.
Participants started their day on the right foot with an invigorating morning run and walk! It was the perfect way to energize while enjoying great company.
NutraIngredients conducted a search for this year’s Scientific Frontiers, with an independent scientific committee carefully reviewing abstracts from industry and student research.
The top-rated industry and student researchers shared their key findings and the impact of their research: Dr. Julia Rode, associate senior lecturer at Örebro University presented “Micro-Encapsulation May Contribute to Differential Delivery Site-Specific Probiotic Effects”, and Connor Parker, lecturer and PhD researcher at Nottingham Trent University presented “The Effects of a 6-Week Prebiotic Intervention on Markers of Gastrointestinal Damage, Immunity and Illness Following a Simulated Football Protocol in the Heat”.
Delegates joined one of 46 roundtables, each hosted by a leading industry expert in the microbiome field. These provided for dynamic discussions that tackled the hottest topics in the industry, offering invaluable insights and lively debates. Seats filled up fast, so those who secured a spot dived straight into thought-provoking conversations over lunch in the conference room.
The Probiota Social Evening featured a live band, dancing and food trucks. Attendees enjoyed delicious Danish cuisine, raised glasses with refreshing drinks and captured memorable moments at the photo booth. The lively atmosphere set by the band encouraged both dancing and networking. The event was kindly hosted by Diamond Partners, and it offered the perfect blend of fun and networking, providing a relaxed environment to unwind after a day filled with innovation and insights.
IFF Health Sciences hosted a rejuvenating yoga session suitable for all levels, designed to help participants energize before the final day of the conference. The well-rounded practice included meditation and breathwork, followed by a series of flowing warm-up postures, along with mindfulness exercises that left attendees feeling refreshed and centered for the day.
As more strains emerge and novel technologies like CRISPR are explored, the boundaries for what is and isn’t a next-generation probiotic is expanded and blurred. An expert panel discussed the definitional issue, the industrial challenges and how much clinicians and healthcare professionals understand about these organisms.
The final panel discussion, “Looking to the Future“, concluded the event with a quick-fire exchange. The panelists shared their key takeaways from the IPA World Congress + Probiota in Copenhagen, highlighting major trends and issues in the microbiome space.
