APEC Project Database

Project Title

Standardizing Senior-Friendly Food Design: A Pathway to Innovation and Healthy Aging in APEC

Project Year

2025

Project Number

SCSC_105_2025A

Project Session

Session 1

Project Type

Standard

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Project No.

SCSC_105_2025A

Project Title

Standardizing Senior-Friendly Food Design: A Pathway to Innovation and Healthy Aging in APEC

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Fund Account

APEC Support Fund

Sub-fund

ASF: Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth (IERG)

Project Year

2025

Project Session

Session 1

APEC Funding

80,000

Co-funding Amount

Total Project Value

80,000

Sponsoring Forum

Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC)

Topics

Health; Science and Technology; Standards and Conformance

Committee

Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI)

Other Fora Involved

Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved

Proposing Economy(ies)

China

Co-Sponsoring Economies

Hong Kong, China; Japan; Korea; Singapore

Expected Start Date

01/11/2025

Expected Completion Date

31/12/2026

Project Proponent Name 1

Sicheng Sun

Job Title 1

Assistant Researcher

Organization 1

China National Institute of Standardisation (CNIS)

Telephone 1

+8601058811655

Email 1

sunsc@cnis.ac.cn

Project Proponent Name 2

Not Applicable

Job Title 2

Not Applicable

Organization 2

Not Applicable

Telephone 2

Not Applicable

Email 2

Not Applicable

Declaration

Sicheng Sun

Project Summary

This project addresses the growing need for senior-friendly foods in APEC economies, where aging populations face challenges like chewing and swallowing difficulties and specific nutritional requirements. Furthermore，the form and method of food consumption should also be taken into consideration. However， the lack of standardized guidelines for designing and producing such foods limits innovation, trade, and consumer trust. To address this, the project will organize 2-day International Seminar in Beijing（2026）, involving government agencies, food manufacturers, research institutions, and international organizations. Activities will focus on discussing standards for food texture, nutrition, and packaging design tailored to seniors, emphasizing the role of standards in ensuring quality, safety, and consistency. The project will also explore uniform labeling systems to build consumer confidence and share best practices across economies. By prioritizing standardization and fostering regional collaboration, this initiative aims to create accessible, safe, and nutritious senior-friendly foods, promoting healthy aging and strengthening economic integration across APEC economies.

Relevance

Region

This project directly responds to the growing demographic trend of aging across APEC economies, where the proportion of senior citizens is rapidly increasing. By promoting the standardization of senior-friendly food design, the project will help economies develop food products that are safe, nutritious, easy to chew and swallow, and tailored to the physical and metabolic needs of older adults.

Regionally, the project will:

1) Enhance food innovation in the Asia-Pacific by encouraging industries to create specialized food products using standardized formats (e.g., texture-modified, liquefied, or nutrient-fortified), supporting both domestic markets and cross-border trade.

2) Facilitate regulatory convergence by exploring and harmonizing relevant food design principles and quality/safety standards among member economies, reducing technical barriers to trade in elderly-targeted food products.

Eligibility and Fund Priorities

Alignment with Eligibility Criteria and Specific Priorities:

Develops senior-friendly foods using advanced technologies（AI） to meet aging populations' needs（Innovative Development）. Harmonizes standards across economies, reducing trade barriers and promoting regulatory alignment（Economic Reform）. Expands senior-friendly food markets, driving investment and regional economic growth（Growth）.Strengthens food security and reduces healthcare costs through tailored nutrition solutions（Enhancing Economic Resilience）. Improves quality of life for aging populations while creating business opportunities（Fostering Inclusive Growth）. Advances food production and standardization with cutting-edge technologies and international collaboration（Promoting Innovation. The project achieves "Carrying out relevant projects that promote experience sharing, policy dialogue, capacity building, and practical cooperation" through workshops, facilitating knowledge exchange, regulatory discussions, technical training, and collaborative initiatives among stakeholders.

Capacity Building

This project seeks to enhance the capacity of APEC economies, particularly developing ones, to address the challenges posed by aging populations through the design and production of senior-friendly foods. Participants, including government agencies, food manufacturers, and research institutions, will gain practical knowledge on creating foods with suitable textures, optimized nutrition, and user-friendly packaging tailored to the specific needs of seniors. Through expert-led workshop and experience-sharing sessions, participants will learn best practices for food design, nutrition standards, and packaging solutions, while also having access to valuable resources such as case studies, guidelines, and technical documents. This will empower participants to apply the insights gained to improve their local food systems. The project’s capacity- building approach focuses on fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among APEC economies, where participants can exchange experiences and solutions to common challenges. By encouraging this exchange, the project will help participants develop senior-friendly food products, align with regional standards, and foster innovation within the food sector. For developing APEC economies, such as Viet Nam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the project will address the challenges they face, including limited resources and technological capabilities. Through the sharing of expertise and providing targeted support, this project will help these economies strengthen their food systems, improve product accessibility, and align with regional standards. By creating opportunities for trade and innovation, the project will support the development of senior-friendly foods, benefiting aging populations by improving their access to quality, nutritious products. Ultimately, the project will contribute to sustainable economic growth in these developing economies while supporting the health and well-being of aging populations across the APEC region.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to enhance the capacity of APEC economies to design and develop senior-friendly foods through discussions on technical standards for food texture, nutrition, and packaging. By fostering regional collaboration and sharing best practices, the project seeks to address the unique dietary needs of aging populations, promote healthy aging, and facilitate cross-border trade of senior-friendly foods. The longer-term impact includes improving food accessibility and quality for seniors, strengthening economic integration among APEC economies, and supporting the development of standardized approaches to senior nutrition across the region.

Alignment

Beneficiaries and Outputs

Output

1) Project Research Report

The project will carry out an in-depth study on policies, technical standards, and practical approaches to senior-friendly food design across target APEC economies（Japen，China，Korea，Singapore，HongKong

China，Thailand，Viet Nam，Malaysia，Chinese Taipei）. In the target

economies, the trend of population aging is becoming increasingly severe,

and in the next 10 to 30 years, the elderly population will constitute the dominant segment of society. Therefore, these economies will serve as the primary targets of the survey. This will be achieved through structured

questionnaires and comprehensive research（A questionnaire-based quantitative study supported by a literature review）, culminating in a Project Research Report.

Survey respondents will include policy-makers (covering frameworks for elderly nutrition, regulatory mechanisms, technical standards, and evaluation approaches), food enterprises (focusing on formulation, processing techniques, and management practices for elderly-targeted products), and academic or research bodies (examining nutritional challenges, consumption behavior, and design strategies for aging populations).

The Project Research Report will comprise no fewer than 10 pages (excluding annexes) and will be an annex to the Project Summary Report, which is an APEC Publication. Its findings will shape the Seminar's discussion topics. The completed Report will be distributed to participants in advance and serve as a key reference for the seminar. Responsibility for drafting the Report lies with the Project Overseer.

2) 2-Day International Seminar

The project intends to organize a two-day international seminar in Beijing, with around 30 participants expected to attend. The seminar will begin with the presentation of survey findings and key research results on senior-friendly food design during the morning session of Day 1. In the afternoon of the first day and the morning of the second day, experts from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies will deliver presentations and engage in discussions with participants. Topics will include innovative technologies and practices in developing food products suitable for the elderly, such as texture modification, nutrient fortification, and packaging design, as well as national experiences in formulating relevant standards and guidelines.

The 2-day International Seminar is tentatively scheduled for 17–18 June 2026, with each day running from 09:00 to 16:00. The program will begin with an opening session featuring welcome remarks and introductions, followed by expert presentations in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Each half-day will include a discussion session held in parallel with coffee breaks, where the proposed experts will engage in interactive exchanges with participants. At the end of each day, the sessions will be wrapped up with a brief conclusion, and on Day 2 a Post-Seminar Questionnaire will be distributed to all participants and collected before the closing of the seminar. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, interactive discussions, and the feedback process, the proposed experts will be actively engaged throughout the two-day event. To ensure the seminar goes beyond information sharing and contributes to practical capacity building, the final session will summarize key insights and facilitate an open dialogue on how participants can apply new knowledge and tools within their own economies. The session will also highlight the challenges faced by women working in food science and elderly care, and explore how the project could support greater female participation in the development of senior nutrition solutions, both in industry and research.

3) Project Summary Report

The Project Summary Report will be no less than 20 pages in length (excluding annexes) and will cover, but not be limited to, the following elements:

An overview of the project background and objectives,
Key findings from the questionnaire survey and literature review,
Summaries of expert presentations delivered during the seminar,
Key points from discussions held throughout the seminar,
A consolidation of major takeaways and insights gained during the event,
Actionable recommendations based on the seminar outcomes.

The Project Research Report will be attached as a supporting document. It is intended to be published as an APEC Publication. The drafting of the Project Summary Report will be undertaken by the Project Overseer (PO).

Outcome

1) Promote knowledge exchange among member economies regarding the nutritional needs of aging populations and food product design tailored to those needs.

2) Facilitate alignment of standards and regulations by identifying best practices and common challenges in the development and implementation of senior-friendly food framework;

3) Support capacity building by equipping participants with practical tools and shared experiences that can inform national strategies;

4) Encourage inclusive innovation by highlighting the importance of accessibility, texture modification, and nutrient delivery in product development; and

5) Lay the groundwork for future collaboration, including potential international standardization initiatives.

Beneficiaries

The project offers significant benefits to economies and stakeholders by addressing aging-related challenges through the development of senior-friendly food standards. Seniors, as long-term beneficiaries, will enjoy safer, tailored food products that meet their nutritional and physical needs, improving quality of life and health outcomes. Food manufacturers will access technical knowledge to innovate and develop products tailored to seniors. Academics and researchers will leverage workshop materials to advance studies on senior nutrition, collaborate across economies, and contribute to global standards. Policymakers and standards developers will gain insights to enhance regulations and frameworks. By driving innovation and advancing the senior-friendly food industry, this project contributes to Overcoming the Middle-Income Trap by helping developing economies shift toward higher-value food manufacturing, enhance trade competitiveness, and unlock new economic prospects.

Dissemination

The Project Summary Report will be published as an official APEC Publication and made accessible via the APEC Publication Database. The primary target audience includes government officials, industry stakeholders, and academic researchers. There will be no commercial intent or sale of the project outputs.

The report will include, but is not limited to, the following sections: an overview of the project, key findings from the questionnaire and literature review, highlights of seminar presentations, summaries of seminar discussions, and forward-looking recommendations. The Project Research Report will be provided as an annex to supplement the main report.

In accordance with APEC publication guidelines, no personal information of project participants. For instance， names, gender, economy, social media accounts, or institutional affiliations of speakers, experts, or contractors—will be disclosed in any publicly released materials related to this project.

Gender