3. Conclusion

Carbohydrates, like other nutrients such as lipids and proteins, have been the subject of much research, publication and patenting for many years. While research into sugars and their applications in the agri-food industry has been carried out, often by industrial players with a presence in these markets, other, more specialized fields are concerned with the specific properties of carbohydrates, and are more often than not the preserve of research institutes. Glyco-chemistry and glyco-sciences have been the focus of interest in many countries for several decades now.

In France, the CERMAV (Centre de Recherche sur les Macromolécules Végétales), a multidisciplinary institute founded in 1966 by the CNRS, is the benchmark for studies on carbohydrates and their applications in a wide variety of fields