Programme

The IPA World Congress + Probiota Global 2027 will consist of three-days of engaging, inspiring, and informative content:

• State of the Market

  As consumer understanding and awareness of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics soars, the category continues to be a shining light for the food supplements and functional food space. This session will dig into the market data and the key category trends. We’ll also explore some emerging markets within the EU and hear from leading brands and retailers.

  




• Claims substantiation

  While general guidance exists for designing and reporting clinical trials, probiotics present unique challenges because they are live microorganisms whose viability, strain identity, stability, and dose can influence study outcomes. This session will explore the challenges of substantiating claims for probiotics. It examines endpoint selection, population heterogeneity, and biomarker validation to generate robust, reproducible evidence.

  




• Regulatory

  This panel will examine how regulatory priorities are evolving across the EU, APAC, and North America in response to sustainability, public health, and socio-economic drivers. It will cover developments with EFSA, initiatives in the U.S. that impact the microbiome modulation space, and updates from key markets in APAC, including Australia.

  




• Women’s Health – focus on PMOS

  Once largely overlooked, women’s microbiome health is now emerging as a major scientific and commercial opportunity. With growing interest in managing Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS), this session will examine how probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics may support metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive health. Experts will explore the latest evidence, innovation opportunities, and future directions for microbiome-targeted women’s health solutions.

  




• Gut-organ Axis

  Awareness of the gut-brain axis is increasing among consumers, but there’s a long way to go for other proposed axes, including gut-liver, gut-lung, gut-muscle, gut-skin, gut-bone and more. This session will explore the clinical evidence, mechanisms of action, ingredient innovation, and market trends shaping next-generation microbiome solutions.

  




• Emerging scientific opportunities: Extracellular vesicles, quorum sensing, and phages

  This session explores emerging frontiers in microbiome science with potential applications for next-generation dietary supplements. Experts will examine how extracellular vesicles mediate host-microbe communication, how quorum sensing shapes microbial behavior and ecosystem function, and how bacteriophages can selectively modulate microbiome composition. Attendees will gain insights into novel mechanisms, translational opportunities, and the future of precision microbiome interventions.

  




• Teen biotics

  Microbiome-targeted solutions for teenagers are emerging as a major opportunity for the food supplements industry. This session will explore the latest science and market trends shaping probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics for adolescents, highlighting opportunities to support development, digestive, immune, mood, and metabolic health.

  




• One Health

  The microbiome is redefining health through the lens of the holobiont—recognizing humans, animals, and ecosystems as interconnected biological communities. This session explores microbial cross-pollination across the farm-to-fork continuum, soil exposure, and shared environments, highlighting impacts on health, disease, behavior, and cognition. Experts will examine microbiome decontamination, ecosystem restoration, and the emerging concepts of the rights of microbes and rights to beneficial microbial exposure within a One Health framework.