What role does the European Sensory Network play for sensory consumer research, and why did you help found this organisation?
For sensory research, ESN is an important platform for co-operative research and integrated services to the industry. It was founded for two principal reasons. In contrast to companies in the US, it is grounded on mutual assistance instead of competition. In addition, Europe is a continent with great regional diversity of products and traditions. There was and is a need to understand this diversity and how it relates to the industry, and ESN fulfils this need. Over the years, ESN has also contributed to the development and spread of better sensory and consumer research methodology and techniques. As a rather limited and closed group in the early years of its existence, it profited from an optimal climate for mutual understanding between partners from different national and scientific backgrounds. As ESN grows, it is of great importance to safeguard these values while admitting more European organisations and seeking out a wide variety of (e.g industrial) partners. What role do you thin
